South Omo and Bale Mountain
Tour Code: FTE-SOCT and BMT 02
Duration: 10 Days and 9 Nights
Transportation: Surface drive 4x4
Tour starts: Addis Ababa
Tour ends: Addis Ababa
Day 1: Addis Ababa – Butajira - Arbaminch
Starting off from Addis Ababa early morning, you will be heading down South to Arbaminch via Butajira and Hosaina. At Tiya, you will have a brief stopover to visit the UNESCO-registered Stale fields of Tiya. With lunch break at Wolaita Sodo, you will proceed to Arbaminch, arriving late afternoon and overnight at Arbaminch.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Arbaminch
Day 2: Arbamich – Konso - Jinka
In the morning, you will head down South to Konso. Arrival at Konso, you will be able to visit a local Konso village, their terraced farm fields and totems. The Konsos are known to be the ones who first initiated terrace farming. Driving further down into the Lower Omo Valley past the Weito Plains, you will be able to see the Tsemai tribe. Further on at Key Afer, you will be able to visit the Bena tribe. Arrival in Jinka late afternoon, you will spend overnight at Jimka.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Jinka
Day 3: Jinka – Mago National Park – Jinka
In the morning, you will be heading into Mago National Park, home to the Mursi tribe. Settled in the lowland plains of the Park, you will visit a local village of the Mursis. Returning back to Jinka, you will be able to visit the local South Omo Museum, an opportunity that will give you a good overall insight into the various tribes of the South.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Jimka
Day 4: Jinka – Key Afer - Turmi
Starting off from Jinka in the morning, you will be heading to Turmi with a brief stopover at Key Afer. Arrival at Key Afer, you will be able to join into the local weekly Bena market, same a very colorful market that attracts neighboring tribes in the area the Aris from Jinka, the Tsemais from Weito, the local Benas and the Hamers from Dimeka area. Attending to this market will allow you to compare the dressing patterns, ornamentation techniques etc. of the various tribes in the area. After lunch at Key Afer, you will be proceeding to Turmi via Dimeka. Arrive in Turmi late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Keske Campsite / Evangadi Campsite or alternatively at the bungalows in Buska Lodge / Turmi Lodge.
Day 5: Turmi – Korcho - Turmi
In the morning, you will be heading to Korcho, home to the Karo tribe. Settled around the banks of the Omo River, the Karo tribe is known for their body paintings, same done for beautifying purposes. From this particular village, the view of the Omo River is magnificent, a high ground view seeing off the Omo River flowing down South into the Turkana Lake. Mid-afternoon, you will be heading back to Turmi where upon arrival; you will be camping overnight at the Evangadi Campsite / Keske Campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Keske Campsite / Evangadi Campsite or alternatively at the bungalows in Buska Lodge / Turmi Lodge.
NB:During any of your evenings in Turmi you will be able to see an Evangadi dancing ceremony of the Hamers. With luck, you may also be able to attend to a bull- jumping ceremony of the Hamers – a marriage initiation right of the young men that allows them for transformation from childhood to adulthood, a right that comes with a lot of social responsibilities as well.
Day 6: Turmi – Dimeka - Turmi
Mid-morning, you will be heading to Dimeka, another Hamer tribe settlement 28kms out. Saturday being the weekly Hamer market in Dimeka, you will be able to join in at this market, see their day-to-day activities. Returning back to Turmi early afternoon, you will visit a local Hamer village. End of the day, you will be:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Keske Campsite / Evangadi Campsite or alternatively at the bungalows in Buska Lodge / Turmi Lodge.
Day 7: Turmi – Arbore - Arbaminch
Heading to Arbaminch in the morning, you will be driving by the Buska Mountain chain. Extending for roughly 96kms in the Weito Plains parallel to Lake Stephanie for certain parts; you will be visiting the Arbore tribe. With lunch stop at Weito, you will head to Arbaminch where upon arrival you will be spending overnight at Arbminch.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Aribaminch
Day 8: Arbaminch to Bale Mountain Park
Long drive to Bale National Park via the gateway cities of Adaba & Dodola at an altitude 2400m. Approaching the park the scenery becomes increasingly spectacular, and as soon as we enter the park itself, we may come upon the endemic Mountain Nyala, Abyssinian Long eared owl, White backed black Tit, Abyssinian catbird, Black-winged Lovebird, Golden backed woodpecker and, if very fortunate, maybe even the Black-headed Siskin. The Bale Mountain National Park is known for its wildlife. Over 60 species of mammal and 260 birds (11 of which are endemic to Ethiopia) have been recorded here. (Approximately 9 hours’ drive)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay at Dinsho lodge/camping
Day 9: Bale Mountain Park – Sanetti Plateau
Drive to the Sanetti plateau. The Sanetti plateau is the best place in Ethiopia to see the elegant animal- Ethiopian Wolf, and the winding road atop the plateau, one of the highest all-weather roads in Africa, is an ideal spot for viewings. The plateau is crawling with rodents, the largest being the giant molerat, found only in the Bale Mountains. Explore the area on foot, marveling at the lichen clad rocks, indicators of pure air. Look to the sky for soaring birds of prey: golden, tawny and Verreaux’s eagles as well as the bearded vulture (lammergeyer), lanner falcon, and augur buzzard. Continuing again by car, you will pass Tulu Dimtu or “the Red Mountain” just 4km off the main road. This is the second highest mountain in Ethiopia at 4,377m. The summit is reachable by car or by foot in under an hour. As you reach the end of the plateau, you enter the Harenna escarpment, plunging more than 2,000m towards a vast tropical forest in just 8km. driving down switchback roads; you’ll be treated to magnificent views.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay at the Goba Wabi Shebelle Hotel
Day 10: Bale Mountain National Park to Addis Ababa
In the morning drive back to Addis with the stunning landscape. If you pass through the plateau
during early morning you may encounter Ethiopian wolves as they gather for social occasions and patrol their territory before they retire to sleep. Upon arrival in Addis Ababa trip arrangements conclude. We will be dropped off at central hotels or at the airport.
PRICE INCLUDES:
Accommodation at the hotel specified on double/twin room full board basis.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
All entrance fees.
Village fees.
Boat trip over Lake Chamo.
All tour and transfer including international airport transfer out.
Professional English speaking guide service for the whole tour.
Local guide service is a must for the historic tour.
Comfortable air condition 4x4 vehicles for the whole tour including fuel and driver allowance.
Porter Fees
2 liter bottled water.
Vat & local taxes.
PRICE EXCLUDES:
International airfare
Alcoholic drinks.
Personal travel insurance.
Photography, tips and all expenses of personal nature
Any deviation from the itinerary.