Ethiopia Safari

The most culturally diverse circuit in Ethiopia, the Great Ethiopian Route: the Cultural Mosaic of the South passes through areas dominated by Islam, Orthodox Christianity, various Protestant denominations, and traditional animists. It also incorporates what is perhaps Ethiopia’s most important location for ethnographic tourism in the form of the South Omo Valley, whose astonishing mix of small, contrasting and utterly fascinating ethnic groups includes the Hamer, Gangatom, Karo, Dassench, Bodi, Mursi, Surma and Arbore. Here, visitors have the opportunity to witness a variety of authentic African tradition, including colorful ornaments, elaborate hairstyles, colorful body painting, and unique traditional performing arts.

Arbaminch Tour

Day 1: Addis Ababa

Arrive in Mombasa in the afternoon, Meet and greet at Sarova Whitesands airport desk arrive at Bole international airport and be met and assisted by ET-holidays representative. Depending on your arrival time, you will have Addis Ababa city tour. Addis Ababa sightseeing will include Mount Entoto for the panoramic view of Addis Ababa, National museum: home for the oldest and famous hominid fossil ‘Lucy’, Trinity cathedral church, Ethnographic museum the then palace of Emperor Hailesellase known as little Ethiopia and Merkato: the biggest open-air market in East Africa. En route, you will visit significant historical monuments of Addis Ababa.

Day 2 of Ethiopia Safari: Addis Ababa – Arba Minch

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Arba Minch. On your arrival in Arbaminch, you will directly drive to Dorze Village, 42km northwest of Arbaminch at about 3000m above sea level. Dorze people are famous for their unique elephant face houses built from bamboo tree, Unique dancing, traditional weaving, and the authentic lifestyle.

Day 3: Boat trip on Lake Chamo

Morning you will visit the ‘crocodile market’ on Lake Chamo. This will be a great experience where you will see the Hippos, crocodiles and plenty of aquatic birds side by side. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking. After lunch enjoys at the magnificent resort and admires the sunset over Lake Abaya and Chamo.

Day 4 of Ethiopia Safari: Arbaminch – Addis Ababa

Morning at leisure until check out then you will be transferred to the airport for flight back to Addis Ababa: The rest of the day is leisure. In the evening attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The traditional coffee ceremony will also be served. Later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

South Cultural Tour

Day 1: Addis Ababa

Arrive at Bole international airport and be met and assisted by ET-holidays representative. Depending on your arrival time, you will have Addis Ababa city tour. Addis Ababa sightseeing will include Mount Entoto for the panoramic view of Addis Ababa, National museum: home for the oldest and famous hominid fossil ‘Lucy’, Trinity cathedral church, Ethnographic museum the then palace of Emperor Hailesellase known as little Ethiopia and Merkato: the biggest open-air market in East Africa. Enroute you will visit significant historical monuments of Addis Ababa. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Hotel.

Day 2 of Ethiopia Safari: Addis Ababa – Arba Minch

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Arba Minch. On your arrival in Arbaminch, you will directly drive to Dorze Village, 42km North West of Arbaminch at about 3000m above sea level. Dorze people are famous for their unique elephant face houses built from bamboo tree, Unique dancing, traditional weaving, and the authentic lifestyle. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Hotel.

Day 3: Drive to Jinka

Morning you will visit the ‘crocodile market’ on Lake Chamo. This will be a great experience where you will see the Hippos, crocodiles and plenty of aquatic birds side by side. The surrounding scenery is breath taking. After lunch drive to Jinka via konso. Enroute you may encounter Benna and Tsemai tribes with their interesting dressing patterns and ornamentation.

After check in to your hotel in Jinka, you will visit the Ari village. Ari people are privileged to have the largest territory of all the tribes in the area. They have the most fertile land for growing several types of plantations. The women are known for selling pottery and wearing skirts made from banana trees. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Hotel.

Day 4: Jinka – Mursi- Turmi

Early in the morning, you will drive to visit the Mursi tribes through Mago National park where you may encounter some game animals that suddenly emerge to the road sometimes. The Mursi are known for their lip plate, earlobes and stick fighting (Donga).

After Lunch, drive to Turmi, home of the Hamar tribe. The Hamar women are striking; wearing beautiful colorful beaded skins, ornate necklaces, and metal bangles around their wrist and ankles. Famous for their hairstyle — a crown of long dread-lock braids covered in ocher — the Hamer women are the most colorful of the Omo people. And spend the rest of the day exploring around the villages. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Hotel.

Day 5: Turmi – Murule – Turmi

In the morning, you will be heading to Korcho, home to the Karo tribe. The people have settled around the eastern bank of the Omo River. The Karo tribe is very well known for their body paintings and scarification. From this particular village, the view of the Omo River is magnificent, the Omo River flowing down South into Lake Turkana.

In the late afternoon, we drive to the closer village of the Hamer tribe which is worth to visit the Hamer way of life who are famous for their unique traditional night dance ”Evangadi” (Bull-jumping ritual depending on the season) Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Hotel.

Day 6: Turmi – Konso – Arbaminch

Drive to Arbaminch, on the way visit Konso (one of the world Heritage town). Konso is known for its stone wall village and cultural landscape particularly recognized for their communal sustainable work of terrace system registered by UNESCO. Their village is also well known for traditional wooden totem “waka” as a symbol of grave marks for their clan chief and warriors. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Hotel

Day 7 of Ethiopia Safari: Arbaminch – Hawassa

Morning drive from Arbaminch to Hawassa en route you will visit Alaba village. In the late afternoon, you will admire the sunset over Lake Hawassa. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Hotel.

Day 8: Hawassa – Addis Ababa

Morning visits the daily local fish market at the shore of Lake Hawassa. This market will give you an experience where local people enjoy different variety of fish cuisines including the Ethiopian version “Sushi”. Here, a lot of aquatic birds can be spotted. Then, proceed driving to Addis Ababa. En route, visit the birds on Lake Ziway, including one of the largest birds: the marabou stork. In the evening you will have fare well dinner at traditional restaurant and departure back to home. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Omo Valley tour

Day 1: Addis Ababa

Arrive at Bole international airport and be met and assisted by ET-holidays representative. Depending on your arrival time, you will have Addis Ababa city tour. Addis Ababa sightseeing will include Mount Entoto for the panoramic view of Addis Ababa, National museum: home for the oldest and famous hominid fossil ‘Lucy’, Trinity cathedral church, Ethnographic museum the then palace of Emperor Hailesellase known as little Ethiopia and Merkato: the biggest open-air market in East Africa. En route, you will visit significant historical monuments of Addis Ababa.

Day 2 of Ethiopia Safari: Addis Ababa – Arba Minch

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Arba Minch. On your arrival in Arbaminch, you will directly drive to Dorze Village, 42km northwest of Arbaminch at about 3000m above sea level. Dorze people are famous for their unique elephant face houses built from bamboo tree, Unique dancing, traditional weaving, and the authentic lifestyle.

Day 3: Drive to Jinka

Morning you will visit the ‘crocodile market’ on Lake Chamo. This will be a great experience where you will see the Hippos, crocodiles and plenty of aquatic birds side by side. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking. Then, proceed to Konso known for its stone wall village and cultural landscape particularly recognized for their communal sustainable work of terrace system registered by UNESCO.

Their village is also well known for traditional wooden totem “waka” as a symbol of grave marks for their clan chief and warriors. Then, drive to Jinka. Enroute you may encounter Benna and Tsemai tribes with their interesting dressing patterns and ornamentation.

Day 4 of Ethiopia Safari: Jinka – Mursi- Turmi

Early in the morning, you will drive to visit the Mursi tribes through Mago National park where you may encounter some game animals that suddenly emerge to the road sometimes. The Mursi are known for their lip plate, earlobes and stick fighting (Donga).

After Lunch, drive to Turmi, home of the Hamar tribe. The Hamar women are striking; wearing beautiful colorful beaded skins, ornate necklaces, and metal bangles around their wrist and ankles. Famous for their hairstyle — a crown of long dread-lock braids covered in ocher — the Hamer women are the most colorful of the Omo people. And spend the rest of the day exploring around the villages.

Day 5: Turmi – Omorate – Konso

This morning we take a day excursion to Omorate to visit the semi-nomadic pastoral Dassanech people at the bank of the Omo River. We will cross the river by dug-out canoe to the villages of the Dassanech which their village set up at the edge of Omo River. After lunch drives back to Konso.

Day 6 of Ethiopia Safari: Konso – Arbaminch – ADDIS ABABA

Click to see Ethiopia Tour Package (Stopover Tour)