Day 1: Addis to Arba Minch
Fly to Arba Minch. Upon your arrival, you will picked up from Arba Minch Airport (AMH) and check-in to the hotel. After check-in, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo and on the way you will see local hippos. Cross over lake Chamo to Nech Sar National Park. Here you will drive inside the park to see the local wildlife, such as zebras, and later on drive back to Arba Minch. You will stay for the night at Paradise Lodge.
Day 2: Drive to Turmi
In the morning, depart to for afterwards, depart from Arba Minch to Turmi. On the way you will pass through the village of Weyto (market day Saturday), which is home to the Tsemai tribe. Continue through the Weyto Valley to Erbore, where you will have a brief visit to a local Erbore village (market day is Saturday). Finally, proceed to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribe. At night, you can see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer tribe, known as evangadi. You will stay for the night at Turmi Lodge.
Day 3: Visit Hamer village
This day you will travel out to the Karo people at Kolcho village on the banks of the Omo river. The Karo people excel in traditional body painting. In the evening you will visit a Hamer village near to the accommodation. The Hamer are fine looking people taking great pride in their appearance - the women, with their red dyed plaited hair wear leather skirts decorated with shells, are beautiful. Each Hamer village is amazingly still free from western influences and non-organic materials. Their homes are constructed entirely of local materials, mud, wood, and thatch. Each village consists of a single extended family unit of approximately 10-15 huts in close proximity around which daily life rotates. You will stay for the night at Turmi Lodge.
Day 4: Drive to Jinka
Driving across dry sandy plains to Key Afar then into more fertile rolling hills to the small town of Jinka. You will visit a small museum which gives valuable insight into some tribal customs, then take an optional walk down to the town meeting the people on the way, before driving out to Kanta Lodge in Konso for overnight.
Day 5: Visit the Konso Village and drive back to Arba Minch
After breakfast, depart from Jinka to Arba Minch via Key Afar and Konso. Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods. This is another very popular market in the region. After the visit, proceed to Konso (market days are Mondays and Thursdays). The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing. Today you will have a brief opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. After the visit, you will stay for the night at Kanta Lodge in Konso.
Day 6: Dorze Village visit and fly back to Addis
Early start today as you drive from the fertile soils, across the dry plains until reaching Abra Minch, known for its Ensete (false) bananas Arba Minch, meaning Forty Springs. It is a fertile fruit producing valley. Drive into the Chencha mountains to visit a Dorze village, noted for their fine weaving in wool and cot-ton (great shopping). After Dorze village visit you will be transferred to the airport and fly back to Addis.
