Name of the tour:
10 Days Bale Mountains Trekking And Omo Valley Cultural Experience
Day 1: Arrival to Bale Mountains
We leave Addis Ababa for the Bale mountains and on arrival we shall check in at the park headquarters for clearance and instructions. We shall then begin our hike where we shall have chances of seeing the endemic and rare Menilik’sBuchbuck and Mountain Nyala. Other specials here are the Warthog, Reedbuck, Gray Duikers and Baboons. Some of the bird life here are Black-headed siskin, Wattled Ibis, and Abyssinian cat and all these will be easily found in the woodland sector of the Bale Mountains.
Overnight at Dinsho Campsite.3100masl.
Day 2:Trek Dinsho to Sodota Campsite
On this second say, we shall have our breakfast and hike about 18 kilometers to Sodota. The trek from here is full of stunning views and scenery. We shall see below the Web valley and the FinchaHabera waterfall.It is here that the rivers of Web and Wolla meet. This spot is also a good place to search for the rare Ethiopian Wolf and other endemic birds like the Blue Winged Goose.
Overnight Sodota Campsite 3500masl.
Day 03:Trek Sodota to wasema
Our next day is for a Hike to the area with stunning landscape and beautiful views, Wasema. This trek will take us through the Mararo valley which is known for the Lammergeyer and Verraux Eagles that nest here. The Ethiopian wolf has been spotted here on several occasions as well. The hike is about 7 hours.
Overnight Wasema Campsite at a b 3900masl.
Day 04: Trek Wasema to Rafu
On this day, the wilderness we explore will give us better views of the Massif Mountains. You will see a lot of volcanic activity influence on the landscape here since it’s the process by which this mountain was also formed. The hike will take about 6 hours.
Overnight Rafu Campsite 4000 masl.
Day 05: Trekking to sanneti Plateau
We are heading to the stunning Sanetti Plateau from the beautiful Rafu. Some of the notable wildlife we expect to see here are Falcons, high possibilities of the Ethiopian wolf and raptors. The Afro-alpine Moor land vegetation will give us great views and we shall also explore the lakes on the plateau.
OvernightTokuma Hotel.
Day 06: Bale Mountains – Drive to Arbaminch
We shall drive to the southern part of the country from the Bale mountains to the township of Arbaminch. We shall make stops enroute and on arrival we shall check into our accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Overnight Tourist Hotel.
Day 7. Visit The Dorze Tribe
We shall take a boat on lake Cahmo as we look for the largest crocodiles in Africa. There is a place called Arba Minch in between Abaya and Chamo lakes with green hills, this is great scenery you will have to look out for. After our cruise we shall set out to the Dorze people. These people are known for their beehive like houses made out of bamboo. These houses area movable and can be moved in some cases like a termite infestation.
Overnight: Arbaminch, Tourist Hotel.
Day 8. Drive to Turmi Visit Konso and Hammer Tribe
After our breakfast, we shall drive to a small town of Turmi and it’s also the centre of the Omo tribes. We shall make a brief stop at the Konso people area and do a village visit. They are known for the way they terrace their farm fields and the totems made of wood in honour of the dead. The villages here are known worldwide as heritage sites due to their cultural significance. We shall continue south after lunch in the forest of Turmi. One of the tribes here are the Hammer people. They are famous for their art work mostly the pottery and how they style their hair with clay.
Overnight: Turmi, Emerald Lodge.
Day 9. Drive To Omorate Visit Dassenech Tribe Then Continue To Jinka
This morning, we wake up with a target move 75 kilometres to the land of the Dassenech people. They live on the banks of river omo on the Kenyan border. These people are nomads. They have many clans that are found in Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia. The Dassenech people are famous for their hair buns. We shall later drive back to Turmi where we shall have our lunch. Later in the afternoon, we shall then drive to Jinka to visit the Ari People. They live in the lush bushes. They mostly grow coffee and fruits which they mostly consume in the community. They have alot of Bananas, avocado and mangoes. The market here is unique as it collects all the omo tribes in one place.
Overnight: Jinka, Nasa Hotel
DAY 10. Discover The Mursi Tribe Then Fly Back To Addis
We shall head to Mago National park where we shall also explore the nearby villages which are occupied by the Mursi People. They are famous for the women putting clay plates to elongate their lower lips. They are among the few tribes in Africa that still cherish this practice. We shall later return to Jinka and fly back to Addis Ababa.
