Itinerary

1. Day 1: Addis Ababa – Arba Minch (465km)

   • After breakfast, we drive to Arba Minch (approx. 7 - 8 hrs.), with a stop on the way at Tiya (80km from Addis Ababa) to explore the Stelae field of Tiya, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Mysterious engraved stelae stretch across Southern Ethiopia. The field comprises some 45 stones of up to 2-3m in height. We then continue to Arba Minch with some fantastic scenery, including the best spot to view the two rift valley lakes, Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the South. We will arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon and you may relax at the lodge with stunning views from the terrace.

   Hotel: Arbaminch Tourist Hotel.

2. Day 2: Arbaminch – Lake Chamo – Arbaminch

   • After breakfast, we will visit the Dorze people with some fantastic scenery, including the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys. The Dorze village is found high in the Guge Mountains overlooking lake Abaya and lake Chamo.

3. Day 3: Arbaminch – Konso – Key Afer Market – Jinka (240 km)

   • After breakfast, we drive to Konso approx. (travelling time 3.5 hrs.). Konso is another UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. We will visit the village compound and the local museum, and usually, we are also welcomed in the Konso chief’s compound, which includes the family graveyard and house, mummies. The Konso people have a rich rural culture and construct ingenious terraces and walls that encircle their fields and villages for protection against livestock damage and flooding.
   • From Konso, we continue our journey to the colourful market of Key Afer (Thursdays only), frequented by several tribes of the Omo valley, such as Derase, Tsemay, Benna and Ari, before reaching Jinka in the late afternoon.

   Overnight: Nasa Hotel

4. Day 4: Jinka – Mago National Park (Mursi) — Turmi (160 km)

   • We enter the Mago National Park (travelling time approx. 2hrs), admiring different animals and birds on the way, and proceed to visit the Mursi tribe and their villages—one of the unique tribes in Africa. Here women use massive round lips plates for beauty reasons.
   • After lunch, we continue our trip to Turmi (approx. 3 hrs), where we will meet the fascinating Hamer tribe. Turmi is our base to explore the Southern tribes of the Omo Valley. The whole region of Southern Omo has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1980.

   Overnight: Emerald Lodge.

5. Day 5: Turmi – Dimeka Market – Turmi

   • After breakfast, we visited the colourful market in Dimeka near Turmi (Saturdays only), frequented by several tribes of the Omo Valley.
   • Turmi is well known for its traditional events, and with some luck, we will even participate in a Hamer marriage ceremony, with its bull jumping ceremony and more! In the late afternoon, we will also visit a nearby Hamer village and encounter the tribe in its daily surroundings. We may even witness a moonshine dance (Evangadi), a traditional dance of young Hamer men and women.

   Hotel: Emerald Lodge

6. Day 6: Turmi – Omorate – Konso

   • Today we take an excursion to visit the Dassanech Ethnic group (70 km, one way), famous for their nomad lifestyle and fascinating decoration and scarification on their bodies. There are also great views of the Omo River when crossing in a dugout canoe.
   • After lunch, we drive back to Konso (approx. 3.5 hrs.). We will reach the well-kept Kanta Lodge in the late afternoon.

   Overnight: Korebta Lodge, Konso

7. Day 7: Konso – Hawassa (350 km)

   • After breakfast, we drive to Hawassa (approx. 8hrs), the capital town of the southern people’s nations and nicknamed as “The town of Endless Love”. In Hawassa you can recover from the strengths of travelling in the 5-star resort of the famous Ethiopian runner Haile Gebre Selassie. From Sauna, steam bath to beauty treatment nothing should be missing here and the sunset is usually fantastic!
   • We arrive at the luxurious Haile Resort in Hawassa early enough to enjoy the beautiful sunset over the lake.

   Overnight: Lake View Hotel, Hawassa.

8. Day 8: Hawasa Sinkelle wildlife reserve

   • In the morning, leave Hawasa to senkelle wildlife reserve, where you can easily approach Sweynes, oribi, and some other mammals, on the way back, stop at Lake Chitu where we can spot numerous Flamingos, then drive back to Awasa.

   Hotel:  Hawasa lake view Hotel

9. Day 9: Hawassa – Dinsho – Goba (200 km)

   • We drive from Hawassa to the Bale Mountains National Park headquarters in Dinsho, where we will take a gentle but exciting walk and usually encounter a great variety of animals and birds, particularly many of the endemic Mountain Nyala.
   • We continue to Goba to where we will spend.

   Overnight: Wabeshebele Hotel, Goba

10. Day 10: Goba – Senetti Plateau (Bale Mountains) – Goba

    • We drive into the Bale Mountain National Park (34 km), the second national park in Ethiopia underway to become a UNESCO world nature site soon due to its stunning landscapes, rich flora and fauna. We explore the highest all-weather road in Africa to the largest moorland tract in Africa, the Senetti plateau. Luckily, we should encounter the endemic Ethiopian Wolf and its favourite prey, the Giant Mole Rat.  In addition to the Senetti Plateau, we will explore the Harena escarpments and its rainforests. Highland birding includes the Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker, White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Yellow-crowned Canary, Somali Chestnut-winged Starling, Olive Pigeon and Mountain Buzzard. In the late afternoon, we drive to the Bale Mountain Lodge for the night.

    Overnight: Wabeshebele Hotel, Goba.

11. Day 11: Goba – Lake Langano (250 km)

    • We leave the mountains and drive to Lake Langano in the heart of the Great Rift Valley (approx. 4hrs).
    • We may either visit Lake Abyata Shalla National Park, with great views over the Rift Valley, or you may relax at the beach of the Lake Resort (swimming is possible).

12. Day 12: Lake Langano – Addis Ababa (200 km)

    • We drive back to Addis through Debre Zeit (approx. 4hrs.) and reach Addis late in the afternoon (a day room until departure will be provided).
    • You will be invited to a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance show at a renowned restaurant in Addis Ababa in the evening. Then you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.