Realm of the Original African Animal Safari
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zanzibar and Mombasa
Wild, adventurous and wonderful. Immense concentrations of wildlife, amazing birdlife, rich and diverse cultures…places like no where else on earth: Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, Masai Mara, Serengeti plains, Murchison Falls - source of the great River Nile, the long, timeless white-sand beaches of Zanzibar…East Africa, the home of safari.
Prices effective:
01 January 2012 - 31 December 2012
Package: USD $2551.00 (Per Person - sharing)
Single Supplement: USD $414.00 (Per Person - single occupancy)
10 Day Ethiopia Omo Valley Cultural Route
Travel this fascinating and ancient country, learning about some of Ethiopia's 80 different peoples and admiring their unique customs, villages, farming and cultivation methods. Coupled with the traditional safari experience and sightings of animals such as the endemic Swaynes hartebeest, zebra, lesser kudu, Africa's largest crocodiles and more, this itinerary is perfect for anyone interested in an adventure through mankind's beginnings.
Day 1 | Arrival Addis Ababa
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 m 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 Merkato. It also has a good number of restaurants and discotheques. Dinner, overnight stay and breakfast in a four-star hotel, Ghion Hotel.
Day 2 | Addis Ababa – Arbaminch
Drive through the crater lakes of Debrezeith and the three Rift Valley lakes of Shala, Abyata and Langano. Visit the Sidamo peoples’ houses and learn about their culture. Continue driving to Arbaminch, which in Amharic means “40 springs”, with lunch on the way. Once there, admire the fantastic views and follow the traditional life of the Wolayta people, especially the cultivation of the false banana tree (from its roots they extract their traditional bread, the Kotcho) Dinner and overnight in Swaynes Hotel.
Day 3 | Arbaminch
Morning visit to the Netch Sar Park with spectacular views over the lakes and different mammals, such as the endemic Swaynes hartebeest, Zebra, lesser kudu, and others. Back for lunch in Arbaminch. A boat trip on Lake Chamo follows in the afternoon. Admire crocodiles and hippos (here crocodiles are some of the longest in Africa, with lengths of 6 meters and more). Dinner and overnight in Swaynes or Bekele Molla Hotel.
Day 4 | Arbaminch – Jinka
Drive to Jinka, admiring on the way the interesting Konso, Derashe, Ari, Benna and Tsemay peoples, famous for their hairstyles and unique culture and traditions, including displaying ornaments all over their bodies. The Konso people are known for their terracing agricultural works and traditional villages. Overnight in Jinka Resort Hotel.
Day 5 | Jinka – Mago
Mago National Park of is located on the east bank of the river Omo and ranges in altitude from 450 to 2,528 meters above sea level. Arrive at a secluded camp after about 2 hours of rough road,. The campsite is near the river Neri in a beautiful clearing among towering, shade-providing trees. We 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 farm the land and breed livestock; they live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world. We return to the camp; there are not many animals visible during the day in the park, but by night we are surrounded by thousands of sounds, among which is the trumpeting of elephants. Dinner, followed by overnight in tents.
Day 6 | Mago - Turmi
Visit with the Hammer people, one of the most beautiful and dignified people of the Omo basin. The women color their hair with red earth and butter, and wear elegant leather skirts festooned with tiny pearls. While visiting their villages we will possibly see some dances and the unique marriage ceremonies, filled with bull jumping and more. If the day of arrival is Monday or Saturday, guests can admire the colorful markets of the Hammer, Karo and Dassanech tribes at Turmi or Dimeka villages. Overnight in Turmi.
Day 7 | Turmi
Continue through the savannah along tracks that are barely visible, passing through a vast meadowland with shrubs and umbellifers (‘umbrella’ acacia trees). Along the way is the village of Omorate on the Omo River, where guests may encounter the Galeb people bathing and washing their clothes in the river. We arrive in Turmi and camp in a square under mango trees. The Hammer people gather water from a nearby well and carry it off to their villages. Dinner and overnight camping.
Day 8 | Turmi – Arba Minch
Drive to Konso via Woito. The road continues into the savannah, running alongside the mountains of Men, and then rises up the Karkerte Mountains – providing splendid panoramic views – until it reaches the soft, terraced hills of Konso. Along the way, visit the Derase, Ari, Benna and Tsemay and Konso peoples. Continue driving to Arbaminch on the banks of Lake Chamo, with a visit to Lake Chamo. We have dinner and stay in the same hotel as previously.
Day 9 | Arbaminch – Langano
In the morning visit the Nech-Sar Park. Nech-Sar is located between Lakes Chamo and Abaya, populated by gazelles and zebras. Return northwards to the Rift Valley lakes. The Rift Valley is a deep fission that extends for over 6,000 km from the Middle East to Mozambique – a testament to the (most recent) violent and massive shifting of the earth’s tectonic plates. The rift contains a marvelous series of lakes, which are teeming with fish and provide a habitat for hundreds of species of birds. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Day 10 | Langano – Addis
After relaxing in the morning, drive back to Addis Ababa, admiring on the way the crater lakes of Debrezeith and the Rift Valley lakes of Shala and Abyata. There will be a chance to visit one of the many museums or the interesting Merkato. Throughout the city are shops that sell typical artisan wares, materials and antiques, Dinner at a traditional restaurant with folk dances from the different Ethiopian regions. Transfer to the airport for departure.
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