South 8 DAYS TOUR OMO VALLEY

Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your reserved hotel. After time to refresh, take a guided city tour of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital and the third highest capital in the world. You will start the tour with a visit to the National Museum, home to one of the world’s most important paleontological exhibits in the world; ‘Lucy’. Next, you will visit Entoto Mountain, which overlooks the whole of Addis Ababa. Marvel at the panoramic views of the capital amidst the fresh breeze of the eucalyptus forests. Then visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church. As the final resting place of much-loved Emperor Haile Selassie, Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the country’s most sacred places of worship. The city tour will end with an exploration of the colorful Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market.

Drive to Langano through the Ethiopian Rift valley which is part of the Afro-Arabian Rift system and offers eight spectacular chains of lakes. It is home to varied bird populations. Along the way, first, you’ll visit Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage site that contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stelae covered with enigmatic symbols. Then, stop at Lake Ziway which is famous for its Birdlife and Islands. Arrive at Lake Langano and transfer to your Lodge which is located close to the lake. The rest of the day will be free to relax and enjoy at the lakeside. A huge number of birds and other creatures come to the lake to swim and drink. You can enjoy a swim in the lake or just relax and read your favorite book

In the morning, visit Abijatta-Shalla Lakes Park. Besides the two lakes, the primary attractions of this national park are a number of hot springs on the northeast corner of Lake Abijatta, large numbers of flamingoes on the lake, and plenty of birds. There are also some mammals living in this park. Start driving to the Bale Mountains National Park. Arrive at the park headquarters at Dinsho and you will have a hike. You have a chance to spot two endemic mammals; Menelik’s Bushbuck and the Mountain Nyala. The endemic Rouget’s Rail and other several birds can be seen here. Covering 2,150 km2 in the south-eastern Ethiopian Highlands, Bale Mountains National Park is formed of ancient volcanic rocks broken by plugs and peaks, the spectacular landscapes of Bale Mountains National Park is characterized by dramatic gorges, alpine lakes and ponds, and numerous rivers and streams.

Early this morning, drive through Africa’s highest road to the Sanetti Plateau. Lying at an altitude of over 14,000 feet, the plateau is the home to the world’s rarest canid, the Ethiopian Wolf. The country’s second-highest peak Tulu Dimtu, (4,377m) is located on top of this plateau. You will hike or drive all the way up to the peak to admire the stunning scenery. Then drive further down to Harenna forest (the largest tropical rainforest in Ethiopia). The southern part of the national park holds unique vegetation and animals. It is home to Africa’s only forest-dwelling Lions and Wild Dogs. We explore parts of the pristine Harenna forest on foot and hopefully spot the endemic Bale monkeys as well as Colobus monkeys. Finally, drive back to Goba Town and transfer to your Accommodation.

Leave the Bale Mountains and travel to Yirgalem via Awassa. Yirgalem is the home of Sidama People and a lovely and tranquil area in which to relax and escape the rat race. Sidama people are blessed with unique geology, traditions, and a UNESCO-recognized calendar. They ate famous for growing sweeter, more acidic coffee beans with appeasing aroma and complex flavors. En route, you will stop at Awassa to visit the scenic lake and the fish market. Arrive at Yirgalem and transfer to your accommodation. In the afternoon, you will walk through the beautiful cultural villages of the Sidama People. The villages are filled with Enset (False Banana) and Coffee plantations. A Hanafa cultural tourist village showcases the culture and way of life of the Sidama people. You will see the traditional coffee ceremony, preparation of traditional Sidama food, and the ways of life of the local people.

After early morning breakfast, drive to Dorze Tribe Village via Sodo Town. Arrive at Dorze in the afternoon and transfer to your Accommodation. Then, you’ll go on a cultural safari to explore an authentic Dorze village, set in the mountains overlooking Arbaminch, and learn about the Dorze people. The Dorze are best known for the design of their homes (tall beehive-like houses) and their weaving abilities. Evening you will see and enjoy the traditional Dance of the Dorze people.

Short drive to the scenic Arbaminch, a town spectacularly perched on the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, overlooking the twin lakes of Abaya and Chamo. Arbaminch town is the portal to the South Omo Valley, a region hosting the densest concentration of distinct tribes in Ethiopia. In the afternoon, you will have a boat safari out onto Lake Chamo to see the Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, and Birds that call the region home. This boat ride takes you to the “crocodile market”, an area of the lake nicknamed as such due to the impressive crocodile population usually found there, and the local hippos.

Transfer to Airport to catch the return flight to Addis Ababa. After a lunch break, you will have time for shopping. Then you will be transferred to your hotel to prepare your luggage and get ready for your return flight back home. In the evening, before your international flight, farewell dinner at Ethiopian Cultural Restaurant. Finally, your driver will take you to Bole International Airport and take your flight back home. Your Ethiopian Adventure ends here.