Surma and West bank Omo Valley Tribes – 15 days

Inside Surma and Western Ethiopia tour will lead you to one of the richest land in Ethiopia in terms of agriculture and green landscapes. You will be able to sneak in coffee plantations and witness the daily lifestyles of the cattle breeders and farmers. It will also be a great opportunity to see Ethiopian wildlife in the Omo National Park and visit some local tribes such as Surma, Nyangatom, Hamer and Mursi to enjoy their ancient traditions. If you ever wonder where to find those iconic pics from ational Geographic featuring colourful and beautiful tribes full of body decorations, this is your tour.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ROUTE

• Ethiopian coffee plantations
• The unknown Surma and Nyangatom tribes
• Camping by the Koka River
• Wilderness and beauty of the Omo National Park

Day 1
Drive to Jimma through Wolkite meeting en route the Gurage ethnic group and the Gelgel Gibe dam. Overnight in Jimma (hotel) .
Day 2
Drive to Mizan Teferi, visiting the coffee plantation and the densely forested path, where the Banchi people are found. Overnight in Mizan Teferi (hotel).
Day 3
Drive to Tulgit, via the coffee and tea plantations, passing through the Dima village. Overnight in Tulgit (camping).
Day 4
Drive to Kibish to visit the Surma tribes, popular for their body paintings and the women’s lip plates and walk around the village.
Day 5
Full day walking through the subtropical forest visiting different Surma Villages. Overnight in Kibish (camping).
Day 6
Leave back the Surma area and enter savannah landscapes into the Omo National Park. In the afternoon, trek around the park to spot some wild animals. Overnight at Omo NP Headquarters (camping).
Day 7
Road trip until the Omo river, crossing over the bridge in Kangate, the capital of the Nyangatom tribe. Continue until Murulle (lodge).
Day 8
Visit the Karo tribe at the river bank and continue to Turmi, meeting the Hammer tribe. Overnight in Turmi (lodge)
Day 9
Excursion to Omorate to meet the Geleb and Dassenech tribes. Overnight in Turmi (lodge).
Day 10
Today we change scenery to Jinka and its high tropical hills. There we will meet the Ari tribe to discover their local crafts. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, a South Omo research center where we will learn about the history of the tribes. Overnight in Jinka (hotel).
Day 11
Drive to Mago National Park and meet the Mursi tribe, known for the clay plates used by the women on their lower lip. Overnight in Jinka (hotel).
Day 12
Drive to Arba Minch through Erbore and Tsemay tribe villages. In Konso visit the stonewalled terraces and fortified settlements declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Overnight in Arba Minch (hotel).
Day 13
Visit the Nechisar National Park on a boat trip on Lake Chamo to see crocodiles, hippopotamus and abundant bird species. Overnight in Arba Minch (hotel).
Day 14
Drive up to the village of the Dorze tribe, famous for their cotton-weaving skills and their bee-hives looking houses. Continue to Hawassa (hotel).