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A 14 Day Tour to Southern Ethiopia

Brief Description:

This 14 day travel to the fascinating tribes of southern Ethiopia starts with a drive to Hosanna which passes along the Melka Kuntere archeological spot. The long straight road to Arba Minch, overlooking the Abaya and Chamo is a drive to remember. We will reach Mago in the 5th day, after passing Jinka town, and will camp on the edges of Omo River . Driving within the  forest with no real driving track, meeting fascinating tribes along the off road tracks are some of your travel experiences. We will drive through Konso and reach Arba Minch. The tour also includes a visit to Awassa, and Lanagano lakes and Africa ’s best spot to see pelicans – the Abijata Shall lake. The trip ends with a tour of Addis Ababa .

Itinerary

Day 1: Upon arrival in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , You will be greeted with the traditional Ethiopian hospitality at the airport and transferred to the hotel. (Depending on your arrival time we can arrange afternoon or after hour city tour)

DAY 2: Addis Ababa – Hosaina (255 km). The journey commences that will take us to the south of Ethiopia , a region noted for its enormous variety of peoples and cultures. Along the route, visit the archeological site of Melkaquntre, the site of the ageless stele at Tiya and the Gurage villages mainly the False banana, the staple food of the Gurages. Overnight local hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Hosaina

DAY 3: Hosaina – Arba Minch. This is the region inhabited by the people of the Guragie, who were once nomads but are now farmers. A long section of the road offers magnificent views of lake Abaya, surrounded by mountains. The lake has volcanic origins and is almost pink in colour. Overnight stay at Bekele Mola Hotel with a panoramic view of lakes Abaya and Chamo. Overnight stay and dinner is in Arba Minch, where excellent fish from the lake is served.

DAY 4: Arba Minch – Jinka. The road crosses soft rolling hills with dark red soil and plentiful crops and woods. The Dorze people, famous for their textiles, inhabit the territory. Their bamboo houses are each surrounded by a small garden. Moving on, we meet the Konso people, excellent farmers who erect totem poles on the tombs of their dead. Southeast of the Konso village are the Borena, who are semi-nomadic shepherds. Overnight stay and dinner in Jinka, a large town on the edge of the southern savannah

DAY 5: We start our day with a drive to Mago which will take 33 kms. Mago National Park is located on the east bank of the river Omo with an altitude ranging from 450 to 2,528 metres. After 2 hours drive we will arrive at the camp where we will spend the night. The campsite is in a beautiful clearing among towering trees, which provide shade, and near the river Neri. Later we will visit the Mursi village, whose women have the custom of expanding their lower lips using disks that gradually get larger and larger. These are people who live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world. On the night time we will be able to hear sounds coming from thousands of spices which makes the night one of the nights which will be remembered for quite some time. Overnight and dinner is in a camp.

DAY 6: Early morning we will start driving to Murile which is a 50 km drive,  no real driving track, traveling through the savannah in a typically African landscape, frequently meeting herds of oryx and gazelle. We arrive at Murile Lodge: bungalows and campsite right on the river Omo and surrounded by huge trees. This is the land of the Karo tribe and it is possible to meet them along the river. We spend the night in Murile in a tent.

DAY 7: Early drive to Turmi through the savannah along tracks that is barely visible, passing through a vast meadowland with shrubs acacia trees. We will pass through the village of Omorate on the Omo River seeing the Galeb people. Later we will arrive at Turmi and camp. We will be able to see The Hamer people. Dinner and overnight stay in camp.

DAY 8: Early Monday morning there is a spectacular Hamer market in Turmi. The Hamer is one of the most beautiful and dignified people of the Omo basin. The women colour their hair with red earth and butter, and wear elegant leather skirts festooned with tiny pearls. The road continues into the savannah, running alongside the mountains of Men, then raises up the Karkerte Mountains – providing splendid panoramic views – until it reaches the soft, terraced hills of Konso. We camp for the night in Konso, sleeping in tents.

DAY 9: Early morning we will start returning northwards, towards the lakes of the Rift Valley, Arba Minch. The Rift Valley is a deep fission that extends for over 6,000 km from the Middle East to Mozambique . The rift valley contains a marvelous series of lakes, which are teeming with fish and provide a habitat for hundreds of species of birds. We will travel along the side of lake Chamo and arrive to Arba Minch towards lunchtime. In the afternoon, we visit the park of Nech Sar , located between lakes Chamo and Abaya, We will have dinner and stay in Arba Minch Bekel Mola Hotel

DAY 10: In the morning we will make a boat trip on lake Chamo, which is populated by crocodiles and hippos, and afterwards, we will take the road back to Awasa, crossing fertile land planted with bananas, cereals and tobacco, and inhabited first by the Oromo people and then by the Sidamo. All kinds of fruit are sold along the roadside. Lake Awasa is surrounded by mountains and populated by countless species of birds. Overnight stay in a hotel and dinner in the pleasant town of Awasa

DAY 11: Awasa – Langano. Crossing very fertile areas cultivated with all kinds of tropical fruits, we arrive after 30 km to the hot springs of Wondo Genet, where there is also a charming swimming pool. The site is an ancient and inactive crater, surrounded by a fine wood populated by baboons. After a long stay in Wondo Genet drive to Langano. We arrive at Langano towards evening. Overnight and dinner in a hotel with bungalows on the lake.

DAY 12: Langano. This is a holiday resort with a splendid beach dotted with acacia trees, pinkish volcanic water ideal for swimming. Later the day we will visit the nearby park around lakes Abyata and Shala. The park provides beautiful vistas over the two lakes and the valley covered in acacia trees. Numerous birds live on the shores, among whom the pink flamingo

DAY 13: Langano – Addis Ababa (250 km). Afternoon free to explore Addis Ababa ; We stay overnight in the same hotel as before and have dinner in one of the many restaurants of the capital

DAY 14: Addis Ababa is located at 2,500 meters above sea level at the footstep of the highest parts of series of Mountain chain. Addis is also the seat of African Union (AU) and many International offices and over 100 Embassies. It enjoys an excellent climate all year round; with an average temperature of 16°C. Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacarandas, interesting museums and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa , known as the Merkato. After early breakfast we will visit the National Museum (a multi-collections representing Ethiopia 's past and present image). Among the famous exhibits, the 3.5 million year old skeleton of 'Lucy' is worth visiting. We will also visit the Ethiopian Studies Institute Ethnological museum for its extraordinarily collection of the priceless and varied ethnic medley. Then we continue driving up to the mount (over 3000 meters) Entoto, the first seat of Emperor Menelik II before he established Addis Ababa as the capital of Ethiopia in 1886. Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit Trinity Cathedral and Merkato. Along our way we will have the chance to see avenues, squares, obelisks and many places of interests and shopping. Early evening, we will have a coffee ceremony to show our appreciation for touring with us, Fest Ethiopia Travel & Tour. Late at night transfer to the Bole International Airport and depart for home.

Other activities

Fest Ethiopia Travel & Tour Plc - 2010