Forgotten Tribes of Ethiopia

Transfer to the airport this morning for your Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jinka, the gateway to the Omo Valley. Upon arrival, meet your private guide and continue by road to visit the Ari people, one of the largest and most economically significant communities in southern Ethiopia.

Traditionally organised into a number of autonomous local communities, each led by its own chief and spiritual leader known as the Babi, the Ari have long been recognised for their agricultural way of life and skilled craftsmanship. Unlike many of their pastoral neighbours, they cultivate fertile land, producing crops such as sorghum, maize, coffee, and spices, while also creating distinctive pottery and woven goods.

Historically, Ari society permitted polygamous marriages for men who could support multiple families. Today, as Christianity has become more widely practised within the community, monogamous marriages have become increasingly common, reflecting the gradual evolution of traditional customs.

Following your visit, continue to Jinka, where the remainder of the day is at leisure before preparing for tomorrow’s exploration of the Omo Valley. (B,D)

Overnight – Eco Omo Lodge or similar

Travel into Mago National Park this morning to visit the Mursi, one of the most recognisable and traditional communities of the Omo Valley. Living in villages of simple huts built from locally sourced materials, the Mursi have maintained many longstanding cultural practices despite increasing contact with the outside world.

Mursi women are widely known for wearing large terracotta lip plates and stretched earlobe ornaments, traditions that have long been associated with beauty and social identity within the community. Men are recognised for their distinctive hairstyles, while decorative body scarification remains an important form of cultural expression for both men and women.

After your visit, continue south through the Omo Valley to Turmi, home of the Hamer people. This pastoral community is renowned for its elaborate personal adornment, with women applying a mixture of ochre and butter to their hair and decorating themselves with colourful beads, necklaces, and metal bracelets.

Learn about Hamer traditions, including the Evangadi, a vibrant moonlight dance held during community celebrations, and the famous bull-jumping ceremony, an important rite of passage marking a young man’s transition into adulthood. As these ceremonies take place only on special occasions, opportunities to witness them cannot be guaranteed. Following your village visit, continue to your lodge in Turmi for the evening. (B,D)

Overnight – Buska Lodge or Paradise Lodge or similar

After breakfast, depart Turmi and travel to Murulle on the banks of the Lower Omo River to visit the Karo, one of the smallest ethnic communities in the Omo Valley. Numbering fewer than 1,000 people, they are recognised as the principal non-nomadic agricultural community of the Lower Omo Valley, cultivating the fertile riverbanks while maintaining a rich cultural heritage.

The Karo are particularly renowned for their remarkable body and face painting. Using natural pigments including white chalk, coloured ochre, charcoal, yellow mineral stone, and powdered iron ore, they create intricate designs that are renewed regularly. These striking patterns are more than decorative, expressing identity, marking ceremonial occasions, and reflecting personal creativity within the community. Decorative scarification, elaborate hairstyles, and carefully crafted adornments further distinguish Karo cultural traditions. Spend time learning about daily life in this riverside community before returning to Turmi in the late afternoon. (B,D)

Overnight – Buska Lodge or Paradise Lodge or similar

Depart Turmi after breakfast and travel to Arbore village, home to one of the Omo Valley’s more traditional communities. The Arbore people are recognised for their distinctive dress and adornment, with many women wearing black veils, colourful beadwork, and traditional hairstyles that reflect cultural identity. Closely related to the neighbouring Tsemai people, the Arbore are believed to have migrated from the Konso Highlands to this region around two centuries ago.

Continue to the Konso region, where dramatic terraced hillsides and fortified hilltop villages showcase one of Ethiopia’s most remarkable cultural landscapes. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Konso Cultural Landscape reflects centuries of sustainable agriculture, with extensive stone terraces carefully constructed to cultivate the rugged terrain.

Visit a traditional kanta village, enclosed by protective stone walls and connected by narrow pathways leading to the mora, a large thatched communal gathering place where meetings, ceremonies, and community life take place. The Konso are also renowned for their finely woven textiles, skilled craftsmanship, and distinctive carved wooden grave markers, known as waka, which commemorate respected ancestors and notable members of the community. After exploring the Konso Highlands, continue through the scenic countryside to Arba Minch for your overnight stay. (B,D)

Overnight – Haile Resort or similar

Begin the day with a boat cruise on Lake Chamo, one of the highlights of the Arba Minch region. Cruise across the lake in search of large pods of hippopotamus and the impressive Nile crocodiles that inhabit its shores. A highlight is the renowned Crocodile Market (Azo Gebeya), where some of Africa’s largest Nile crocodiles can often be seen basking along the water’s edge. The lake is also home to a rich variety of birdlife, providing excellent opportunities for wildlife observation.

In the afternoon, travel into the highlands to Chencha, home of the Dorze people. Renowned throughout Ethiopia for their exceptional weaving traditions, the Dorze produce the finely crafted Shamma, as well as white Gabbi robes and colourful Netela scarves using locally grown cotton. Visit a traditional Dorze village to see their remarkable beehive-shaped bamboo houses, some of the most distinctive examples of traditional architecture in Africa, and gain insight into a way of life centred on farming and weaving.

Time permitting, explore the lively local market, where handcrafted textiles and regional produce offer a glimpse into daily life within the community. Later, return to Arba Minch for the evening. (B,D)

Overnight – Haile Resort or similar

Depart Arba Minch after breakfast and travel north through the landscapes of Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley towards Hawassa, a journey of approximately four hours. Along the way, pass fertile farmland, lakes, and rural villages before arriving in one of southern Ethiopia’s most attractive lakeside cities.

Situated on the shores of Lake Hawassa, Hawassa is the capital of the Sidama Region and is known for its relaxed atmosphere, tree-lined streets, and scenic waterfront. The city has grown into an important commercial and cultural centre while retaining its connection to the surrounding Rift Valley landscape.

Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the resort’s facilities or relax by the shores of Lake Hawassa, where the sunset provides a memorable end to the day. (B,D)

Overnight – Haile Resort or similar

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before visiting the lively fish market on the shores of Lake Hawassa, where local fishermen bring in their daily catch and the bustling waterfront offers an authentic glimpse into everyday life.

Depart Hawassa and travel north towards Addis Ababa, stopping en route at Abijatta–Shalla National Park. This protected area is known for its contrasting Rift Valley lakes and abundant birdlife. View the deep blue waters of Lake Shalla, Ethiopia’s deepest lake, formed within a dramatic volcanic caldera, before continuing to nearby Lake Abijatta, a shallow soda lake that seasonally attracts large flocks of flamingos and a variety of other waterbirds.

Continue to Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel. This evening, celebrate the conclusion of your journey with a traditional Ethiopian dinner accompanied by cultural performances showcasing music and dance from several of the country’s diverse ethnic communities. Enjoy a selection of regional dishes and, if you wish, sample Tej, Ethiopia’s traditional honey wine. (B,D)

Overnight – Ramada Addis or similar

Today, you’ll head to Addis Ababa International Airport to connect with your onward flight. You’ll leave Ethiopia with memories of an unforgettable journey. (B)