Welcome to South Omo Valley

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the mystical Omo Valley and discover the traditional lifestyles of its hospitable tribes - the Mursi, Benna, Bodi, Dassench, Karra, Hamar, Arbore, Gnangatom, Muguji ,Surma, Suri and Ari tribes. Immerse yourself in their enchanting customs by spending the night under the sparkling stars, partaking in age-old dances and listening to riveting stories told by tribal elders.

My tours are one-of-a-kind and tailored to your preferences, whether you're keen on exploring a particular tribe or wish to witness numerous ones. As a native of the region and founder of Explore Omo, I have developed a strong connection with the tribes, enabling me to curate exceptional tours accentuated by exclusive access to authentic events and ceremonies. You can choose from a variety of accommodations, ranging from comfortable hotels to camping in their villages.

Exceptional day tours or multi-day tours are offered with bespoke itineraries completely personalized to your preferences. Take a look at sample itineraries I have designed for my clients.

Day Trips

Day trips around Jinka

Mago National Park, Mursi tribe, Aari Village, South Omo Research Center (SORC)

  • Trip to enjoy the scenery of Mago National Park and meet the Mursi tribe. Return to Jinka to visit Aari village and South Omo Research Center (SORC) museum if time allows.

    hamar Tribe, Aari Village, South Omo Research Center (SORC)

  • Trip to meet the Hamar people and explore their villages. Return to Jinka visit Aari village and South Omo Research Center (SORC) museum.

Day trips from Arba Minch

Nech Sar National Park, Lake Chamo, Dorze Village

  • In the morning, enjoy a safari at the Nech Sar National Park. Optional boat sailing on Lake Chamo to see hippos and crocodiles. Drive back to Arba Minch for lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant where you can try many exotic local dishes and a traditional coffee ceremony. In the afternoon drive to Dorize village to visit a weaving company and experience the Dorize culture. Drive back to Arba Minch and finish the trip at 5:45 PM.

    Konso Village, Lake Chamo

  • Visit Konso villages and meet the Konso village chief. On the way, take in the beautiful landscapes of hills and stone terraces. In the afternoon, sail on Lake Chamo by boat and see hippos and crocodiles. Drive back to Arbaminch and finish the day trip at 5:45 PM. 

Multi-day Tours

South Omo 3 Days (2 nights) Tour

Hamar, Dassanach, & Mursi Tribes, Mago National Park

Day 1: Hamer Tribe (2 hours and 30 minute drive) Arrive Addis Ababa get connected ✈ Jinka BCO Airport.

In the afternoon we will pick you up from Jinka BCO Airport, have lunch at Jinka Besha Gojo Restaurant so that drive to a village to meet the Hamer tribe and to experience their culture. Overnight stay in Turmi Paradise lodge or Turmi Buska Lodge.

Day 2: Dassanach Tribe - Tribal market (4 hours and 30 minutes drive including stops )

Early morning drive down to Omorate to cross Omo river via dugout Canoe to meet Dassenech tribe and experience their culture's, in the afternoon to drive to Alduba to visit one of vibrant Tuesday market of Benna tribes trade tobacco, cows, goats, honey, butter and etc... afterward proceed to Jinka, Overnight stay in Jinka Eco Omo lodge or Jinka Resort.

Day 3: Mursi Tribe, Mago National Park, Jinka ( 4 hours drive which is back and forth while enjoying the scenery of wild life's and the environment )

Early morning drive to the village through Mago National Park to meet Mursi tribe, so that drive to Jinka have picnic lunch afterward we will transfer you to Jinka BCO airport.

South Omo 4 Days (3 nights) Tour

Hamar, Kara, Dassanach, Benna & Mursi Tribes, Mago National Park

Day 1: Hamer Tribe, (2 hours and 30 minutes drive) Arrive at Addis Ababa get connected ✈ Jinka BCO Airport

In the afternoon we will pick you up from Jinka BCO airport, have lunch at Jinka Besha Gojo restaurant so that drive to a village to meet the Hamer tribe and to experience their culture. Overnight stay in the village with Hamar tribe via tent accommodation.

Day 2: Kara and Dassenech Tribes (5 hours drive including stops)

Early morning drive to Korcho village to meet/visit Kara tribe and afterwards, drive to Turmi eat lunch in the lodge then visit Hamar tribe Monday market. Late afternoon when the sun goes down drive to Omorate cross omo river via Canoe to meet Dassenech tribe and experience their culture's. Overnight stay in Turmi Paradise lodge or Turmi Buska Lodge.

Day 3: Benna Tribe, Mago National Park (4 hours and 30 minutes drive including stops )

In the morning drive to Alduba to meet Benna tribe and to visit one of vibrant Tuesday tribal market in which the tribes trade tobacco, cows and etc... so that we can do hiking trails through Benna villages, then drive to Mursi village through Mago National Park, in route to see wildlifes. Overnight stay in the village with Mursi tribe via tent.

Day 4: Mursi Tribe, Mago National Park, Jinka (2 hours drive)

In the morning have experience with Mursi tribe so that drive to Jinka Resort where you can take shower and eat lunch so that we will transfer you to Jinka BCO airport at 13:00 for your flight that departs at 14:40 from Jinka to Addis Ababa.

South Omo & Arba Minch 8 Days (7 Nights) Tour

Dorze Village, Lake Chamo, Konso Village, Hamar, Kara, Dassanach, Benna & Mursi Tribes, Mago National Park

Day 1: Dorze Village (1 hour and 30 minutes drive)

Pick you up from Arbaminch Airport stop for lunch then drive to Chincha to meet/know and experience Dorze cultures and to visit their Monday market. This day expect 2 hours of driving from and to Arbaminch. Overnight stay in Arba Minch Haile Resort or Arba Minch Paradise Lodge.

Day 2: Lake Chamo, Konso Village ( 5 hours and 30 minutes drive including stops)

In the morning 30 minutes drive to the south to do boat trip over Lake Chamo to see crocodiles market, hippos and aquatic birds afterwards 2 hours drive to Konso to visit the villages, stone terraces and cultural landscape which is UNESCO heritage site, before we proceed 3 hours of driving to Jinka we can eat lunch @ Konso Kanta lodge then continue to Jinka while enjoying natural features such as mountains, hills, valleys, that is pleasing to look at. Overnight stay in Jinka Resort.

Day 3: Aari Village, Mursi Tribe, Mago National Park (2 hours and 30 minutes drive including stops)

Early morning start walk through a variety of terrains of Aari village to meet locals community and experience the culture then after we can eat lunch @ Besha Gojo restaurant. Late afternoon 2 hours drive through Mago National Park to meet Mursi tribe and experience their culture's, we will stop on the way to appreciate the sceneries and possibly to see wildlifes. Overnight stay in Mursi Merege village via tent accommodation.

Day 4: Mursi Tribe (4 hours drive including photo stops)

Morning time explore more villages to meet different families of Mursi tribes, so that drive back to Jinka have lunch and then proceed to Turmi ( small town in Hamer ) Overnight stay @ Turmi Buska lodge or @ Turmi paradise lodge.

Day 5: Kara Tribe, Nyangatom Tribe (3 hours and 30 minutes drive)

Early morning drive to the village to meet and photograph Kara tribe, afterward drive to Kangaten in route stop for lunch then keep going Kangaten Yesh hotel where to relax until midday sun goes down so that get to the village to meet and photograph Nyangatom tribe while experiencing their culture's. Overnight stay in the village with Nyangatom tribe via tent accommodation.

Day 6: Dassanach Tribe (4 hours drive )

Early morning still experience with Nyangatom tribe in different villages so that drive to the lodge in Turmi, to have lunch and relax until midday sun goes down so that get to Omorate to meet Dassenech tribe and experience their culture's. Overnight stay @ Turmi Buska lodge or Turmi paradise lodge.

Day 7: Hamer Tribe (1 hour and 30 minutes drive)

To meet Hamer tribe, experience their culture's, to visit their market and to see bull jumping ceremony by coincidence if one will take place. Overnight stay in the village with Hamer tribe via tent accommodation.

Day 8: Hamer Tribe, Jinka (2 hour and 30 minutes drive )

Early morning we will have time with Hamer tribe then drive to a hotel in Jinka where you can have picnic lunch and take shower afterward we will transfer you to Jinka BCO airport.

South Omo & Arba Minch 9 Days (8 nights) Tour

Dorze Village, Lake Chamo, Konso Village, Hamar, Kara, Dassanach, Benna, Airbore & Mursi Tribes, Mago National Park

Day 1: Jinka, Turmi (2 hours and 30 minutes driv )

In the afternoon we pick you up from Jinka BCO Airport, have lunch at Besha Gojo restaurant in Jinka and drive to Turmi town. Overnight stay in Turmi Buska lodge or Turmi paradise lodge.

Day 2: Karo Tribe, Nyangatom Tribe (3 hours and 30 minutes drive)

Early morning drive to Korcho the village to meet Kara tribe and experience their culture afterward drive to Kangaten Yesh hotel where we can stop to eat lunch and relax sometime until midday sun goes down so that drive to the village to meet and photograph Nyangatom tribe while experiencing their culture's. Overnight stay in the village with Nyangatom tribe.

Day 3: Nyangatom Tribe, Turmi (3 hours drive )

Early morning still experience with Nyangatom tribe in different villages so that drive to the lodge in Turmi, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax in the spacious gardens and walk around the dry river bed near the lodge. Overnight stay @ Turmi Buska lodge or Turmi paradise lodge.

Day 4: Dassanech Tribe, Hamer Tribe (4 hours drive including stops )

An early morning drive to cross Omo river and meet Dassenech tribe and photograph while experiencing their culture's, so that get back to the lodge for lunch, late afternoon drive to one of the remote village to meet Hamer tribe, experience their culture's and to spend the night with Hamer tribe. Overnight stay in the village with Hamer tribe via tent accommodation.

Day 5: Arbore Tribe, Benna Tribe (4 hours of drive)

Early morning drive through mountains scenic landscape to visit Arbore tribe then to a remote village to meet Benna tribe and to experience their traditions/customs. Overnight stay in the village with Benna tribes via tent accommodation.

Day 6: Jinka, Mago National Park, Mursi Tribe (3 hours and 30 minutes drive)

 Drive to Jinka Resort where you can take shower, charge battery, have lunch and relax so that late afternoon drive through the Mago national park to visit the famous Mursi people who are known for piercing the lower lip to put circular and square shaped clay materials to make themselves beautiful. While driving through Mago National Park, you will spot plenty of wild life. Overnight stay in the village with Mursi tribes via tent accommodation.

Day 7: Mursi Tribe, Konso Landscapes (5 hours drive)

To enjoy and photograph the spectacular landscape along the way. Overnight stay in Konso Kanta lodge or Konso Korebita Lodge.

Day 8: Konso Village, Dorze Village (4 hours drive)

In the morning visit one of the walled villages and stone terraces of the Konso tribe. The Konso villages are registered by UNESCO as cultural landscape heritage site. Late afternoon to visit the village of the Dorze people, famous for their intricately woven bamboo huts and weaving of traditional clothes. And to learn about false banana ( Enset ) which grows up to 10 meters, is a staple food for millions of people in the Ethiopian Highlands who turn this banana look like plant in to bread and porridge, construction materials, packaging, cattle feed, medicine, mattress and etc... Overnight stay in Arba Minch Haile Resort.

Day 9: Lake Chamo (1 hour and 30 minutes drive )

We will do boat trip on Lake Chamo where crocodiles can be seen in abundance. For thus it is known as the “crocodile market” since several crocodiles can be seen at a time. Hippos and plenty of birds can also be seen. After the boat trip drive Arba Minch tourist hotel where you can have picnic lunch so that we will transfer you to Arba Minch airport to fly ✈ Addis Ababa. 

Other Tours:

Trekking & Biking Tours

If you are an athlete or cyclist and want to add an extra bit of adventure to your trip, I also can provide bicycles along your journey. You can enjoy a peaceful and exciting ride along the rough terrains of Omo Valley and hop back into the car when you are tired!

For Researchers & Volunteers

I am always very eager to work with volunteers and researchers for various projects. Feel free to contact me if you have any short or long-term project. I am very excited to help you with anything you need to successfully finish your project.

Check out my FAQ page for any questions.