Special South

Day 1
ADDIS ABABA
Guests arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and are met by a representative and are transferred to their hotel. After a short break to cool off, guests will embark on a tour of Addis Ababa, the third highest capital in the world.

Tour includes Entoto Hills, the place from which King Menelik, the founder of Addis Ababa, descended to the plains and panoramic views of the city and the historic churches built by King Menelik. City tour also includes the old Menelik Palace which still has real artefacts, the National Museum of Ethiopia which houses important archaeological relics including the fossil skeleton of Selam Australopithecus Aphaeresis hominid, found in Dikika, Afar region of northern Ethiopia.

Finally, guests will go to the vibrant Mercato, the largest open market in East Africa.
Overnight at The Magnolia Hotel or similar – Breakfast.

Day 2
ARBA MINCH
After breakfast, guests will transfer by road to the city of Arba Minch in southern Ethiopia passing several lakes in the Great Rift Valley. Lunch at a local restaurant. Guests arrive at Arba Minch, and the rest of the day is spent at leisure.
Overnight at Swaynes Hotel or similar – Dinner, and breakfast.

Day 3
ARBA MINCH
After breakfast, guests will visit Chencha, home of the Dorze ethnic group who live in distinctive traditional structures and are recognized as expert weavers of cotton “shama” fabric. Lunch is served at the hotel, followed by a boat excursion on Lake Chamo where guests can see hippo and crocodiles at very close range.
Overnight at Swaynes Hotel or similar – Lunch, dinner, and breakfast.

Day 4
TURMI
After breakfast, guests will drive to Turmi. Along the way are cultural stops to visit the sheep-herding and merchant Erbore people. Further on are the Tsemay, traditional farmers and livestock keepers living at the south-western end of the Omo River valley. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant, and the afternoon journey includes a stop at Dimeka which is known for its weekly market.
Overnight at Emerald Lodge or similar – Dinner, and breakfast.

Day 5
TURMI
After breakfast, depart for the village of Omorate about 70km, and cross the Omo River by canoe to visit the Dasenech villages of the Galeb tribe, who are most renowned for skin scarification. Lunch is in Turmi at a local restaurant. Guests enjoy an afternoon excursion to Muruelle, which leads to the Duss and Korcho villages of the Karo tribe, one of Ethiopia’s smallest ethnic groups.

There are only about 1 500 Karo people but in addition to body scarification, they are masters in the art of body painting using natural chalk and wearing white feather head adornments during special celebrations.
Overnight at the Emerald Lodge – Dinner, and breakfast.

Day 6
JINKA
items and modern household goods. In addition to the various grains and hair dyes, decorated pumpkins are offered, traditional musical instruments that compete for space with different types of skins and jewels, as well as many plastic objects such as buckets and brooms. Food can be enjoyed in a local restaurant.
Overnight at the Orit Hotel – Dinner, and breakfast.

Day 7
KONSO
After breakfast, guests take an early morning departure by road for Mago National Park, about 40km away. Here guests are likely to see wildlife such as bushbuck, dik dik, baboons and colobus monkeys. Continue another 60km to the Mursi tribe who raise cattle in the high plateaus of the Omo River.

An eccentric people, they are one of the original occupants of Ethiopia of the Nilotic language group. They are famous also for physical scarification and the large decorative lip plates of the married women. The tour returns to Jinka, and then continues on to Konso. Lunch is at a local restaurant on the way.
Overnight at the Kanta Lodge – Dinner, and breakfast.

Day 8
DEPARTURE
After breakfast, visit the Konso villages. The Konso are known for their intricate terraces of cultivated earth sculpted on the hills of the surrounding mountains, for their fine fabrics and totems carved in wood with which they decorate their tombs. There will be time to walk through the cultivation terraces and explore some villages.

After the visit, transfer directly to the airport of Arba Minch to take a scheduled flight to Addis Ababa. On arrival in Addis Ababa, guests can check-in at the hotel for day use of the room. Finally, enjoy a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant, and later transfer to the airport for scheduled flight to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport for any further travel arrangements.

Inclusions

Accommodation: As specified
Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
Activities: As specified
Transfers: Arrival and departure airport transfers
Entrance fees: Park fees, historic sites as per itinerary
Guide: Qualified English speaking driver-guide

Exclusions

All international / domestic flights and taxes
Visas
Travel and personal accident insurance
Personal expenses
Excursions / activities not specified
Gratuities