Ethiopia Cultural Explorer - 10 Days

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel.

The name of the city, in Amharic, means “new flower”. Founded in 1886 by Menelik II, it is located at 2,500 meters above sea level in one of the highest parts of the Entoto mountain chain (3,000 meters above sea level). It enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25°C. Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacaranda trees, interesting museums and one of the largest open air markets in Africa, known as the “Mercato”. It also has a good number of restaurants and discotheques.

We will have a tour of Haile Selassie’s former palace which is now the home of the Ethnological Museum. Exhibits here represent the best of the arts and crafts of the country and give an in-depth insight into the various peoples of Ethiopia. Next is a visit to the National Museum, known to be the best museum in Africa, where cultural and archaeological relics, including a plaster cast of "Lucy," the 3.2 million-year-old Hominid, are displayed.

Time permitting, we will see Mercato, eastern Africa’s largest market or Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 meters and offers a panoramic view of the metropolis.

Overnight: Jupiter Hotel or similar.
Meals: Dinner at At Jupiter Hotel.

Today we shall journey to Arba Minch via Butajira, arriving at our destination at dusk. Arba Minch, meaning ‘Forty Springs’ in Amharic, takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest area.

After breakfast we will have a full day boat trip on Lake Chamo, where one can spot many hippos and the world's most spectacular concentration of giant crocodiles. The water birds are great and the scenery is truly unforgettable. We then proceed to visit the Netch Sar National Park with spectacular views over the lake and a variety of mammals and birds.

Overnight: Paradise Lodge or similar.
Meals: Breakfast: At Paradise Lodge; Picnic lunch from Paradise Lodge; Dinner at Paradise Lodge.

In the morning we will visit the Dorze tribe and their village, famed for their bee hive shaped houses and their weaving skills. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze. They are also farmers, who prevent soil erosion by ingenious terracing of the mountainsides. Around their huts they have their own little garden with vegetables, spices, tobacco and Enset (false banana tree). In the afternoon we journey to Jinka for the night. If the day falls on a Thursday, we will be able to visit the Key Afer market. On the road you might also see the Benna and Tsemai tribes.

Overnight: Jinka Resorts or similar.
Distance / Time: 260 km; approx. 6 hours.
Meals: Breakfast at Paradise lodge; Picnic lunch from Paradise Lodge; Dinner at Jinka Resort.

Jinka is the nearest town set in the hills above the Mago National Park. On this excursion we will witness the widespread custom of half-naked Mursi women, the insertion of wooden and terra-cotta discs into the ear lobes, the split and stretching of their lower lips to make room for similar discs. Though these 'lip plates' may appear bizarre to outsiders, the Mursi regard them as signs of beauty. Generally speaking, the larger the lip plate the more desirable the wearer. In the afternoon we shall journey to Turmi for overnight.

Overnight: Turmi Lodge or similar.
Distance / Time: Jinka – Mursi – Jinka: 160 km; approx. 4 hours
                             Jinka – Turmi: 120 km; approx. 4 hours.
Meals: Breakfast at Jinka Resort; Picnic lunch from Jinka Resort; Dinner at Turmi Lodge.

On this day we will drive to Koricho, a settlement for the Karo ethnic groups, perhaps the most beautiful, with its lofty views over the Omo River and traditional Karo dwelling. They are experts in body painting, using clay and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic pattern on each face, chest, arm and leg. Karo men also sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes topped off with several ostrich feathers. If the day falls on a Monday, we will visit the Turmi Market which is attended by the Hamer tribe.

This morning, we drive closer to the Kenyan border to visit the people of the Desanech tribe. We will cross Omo River, one of the major rivers of the country and drains into Lake Turkana of Kenya, on local canoes or small motor boats to visit one of the villages of the Desanech tribe; one of the tribes you will visit settling on the bank of Omo River. In the afternoon, we visit one of the villages of the Hammer tribe nearby Turmi. If the day falls on a Saturday, we will have the opportunity to visit the Dimeka Market which is attended by the Hamer tribe.

After breakfast we shall drive to Arba Minch. En-route we will visit the Konso tribal village, who managed to develop a highly specialized agriculture economy and, in the process, one of Africa’s most fascinating culture.

In the morning, we shall drive to Langano Rift Valley Lake via Sodo and Shashemene. The Lake Langano area is considered to be the most popular resort area with splendid beach dotted with acacia trees, pinkish volcanic water ideal for swimming.

On this day drive we shall drive back to Addis Ababa via Butajira. Enroute we shall visit the Tiya Stelae and Adadi Maryam church. Adadi Maryam is said to be the southernmost rock hewn church. It is believed to date the 12th or 13th century, Adadi Maryam is a semi-monolithic church and has a touch of Lalibela and Tigray churches of North.

Tiya is also said to be the most important of several stelae clusters that dot the country side all the way to Dila. The site contains around 36 ancient stelae, 32 of which are engraved with enigmatic symbols, notably swords. Afterwards, we shall continue our drive to Addis. In the evening, there is a farewell traditional dinner where you will experience live cultural music and dance. In the evening you will be transferred to the Bole International Airport for your departure.