Itinerary

1. Day 1: Addis to Arba Minch

   • Fly from Addis to Arba Minch. 

   • Drive to Konso.

2. Day 2: Kolcho village -Hamer Village- Turmi

   • This morning, travel out to the Karo people at Kolcho village on the banks of the Omo River. Karo people excel in traditional body painting. 

   • This evening, visit a Hamer Village near to your accommodation. The Hamer are fine-looking people taking great pride in their appearance – the women, with their red-dyed plaited hair, wear leather skirts decorated with shells, are beautiful. Each Hamer village is amazingly still free from western influences and non-organic materials. Their homes are constructed entirely of local materials, mud, wood and thatch. Each village consists of a single extended family unit of approximately 10-15 huts around which daily life rotates. 

   Overnight Turmi, Turmi Lodge.

3. Day 3: Jinka

   • Driving across dry sandy plains to Key Afar then into more fertile rolling hills to the small town of Jinka. 

   • Visit a small museum that gives valuable insight into some tribal customs.

   • Then take an optional walk down to the town meeting the people on the way, before driving out to your accommodation. 

   Tonight’s accommodation is at a Jinka resort.

4. Day 4: Mursi Village-Konso.

   • Taking an early start and drive across the mountains through some of the most beautiful Ethiopian scenery into the drier Mago National Park area, where you may see Dik Dik and the lesser Kudu. 
   • Out on the dry plains, visit a Mursi Village. These people are known for their decorated clay plates which are inserted in the lower lips of women. Starting at adolescence, the plates eventually become larger. Some plates are finally reaching the dimensions of a bread and butter plate. This custom seems to be used less now, and many of the older women have loose skin with no plate inserted.
   • Drive to Konso.

   Overnight Kenta Lodge.

5. Day 5: Abra Minch- Dorze village- Lake Chamo

   • Early start today as the drive from the fertile soils, across the dry plains until reaching Abra Minch known for its Ensete (false) bananas. Arba Minch, meaning Forty Springs, is a fertile fruit-producing valley. 
   • Drive into the Chencha mountains to visit a Dorze village. Noted for their fine weaving in wool and cotton (great shopping). Their distinctive thatched homes are tall and beehive-shaped.
   • Visit home and see some weaving and demonstrate the many uses of the “false” banana. 
   • After a picnic lunch, drive to Lake Chamo and take a boat trip in search of the enormous crocodiles and possibly even hippopotamus before returning to the airport. 

   Fly from Arba Minch to Addis.