6 Days 5 Nights Out of Africa Expedition Safari

6 Days 5 Nights out of Africa expedition safari tour itinerary

Day 1: Addis Ababa city tour

Morning drive to discover Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Menelik II and situated at an elevation of around 2438m making it the 3^rd highest capital city in the world. It enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25°C. Our city tour takes us to visit the National museum housing some of the country’s historic treasures like the 3.5 million year old remains of ‘Lucy’, the oldest hominid ever found. We proceed to the Ethnographic Museum and the church of the Holy Trinity, Ethiopia’s main cathedral and home to the remains of the last emperor, Haile Selassie. Dinner and overnight at Monarch Hotel (www.monarchaddis.com) or similar in Addis Ababa

Day 2: Arba Minch / Chencha Village

After breakfast, transfer to the airpot for your local flight to Arba Minch where you are met by our team and drive for some 40 kms northwest of Arba Minch to Guge Mountains to visit the Dorze and hencha villages. Once warriors, the Dorze have now turned to farming and weaving to earn a living. They speak an Omotic tongue and the Dorze name is synonymous with the best woven cotton cloth. Also, the Dorze beehive-shaped houses are constructed entirely of organic material and has its own small garden surrounded by beds of spices, cabbage and tobacco. Some of Ethiopia’s best woven cottons come from Chencha, which is located 8 km northwest of Dorze Village. Men weave and women spin. Dinner and overnight at Paradise Lodge (www.paradiselodgeethiopia.com) or Haile Resort or similar

Day 3: Jinka via Konso / Kay Afer

After early breakfast, drive to Konso where colorfully costumed dress, impressive terracing of the land and unusually engraved wooden statues used as grave markers can be seen. Differing from their neighbors, the Konso are pure agriculturists, famed for their use of the stone terraces that they utilise to such good effect in this dry and barren region of basalt hills. Originally from the east and speaking an east Cushitic language, the Konso live in settlements that are surrounded by stone walls. The age of each town is classified by a generation pole and each family lives in compounds that are accessible only through gateways that require the visitor to enter on all fours thereby rendering any potential attackers vulnerable. We shall keep driving to Key Afer for the colourful Thursday market where we should see and photograph the Ari, Bena, Hamer and Tsemay people. The Bena and Hamer women usually favour red clay braids in their hair, shiny with butter and perfumed with incense. The long beaded skirts of the Tsemay have a stick incorporated in the back to denote a married woman and the men have elaborately plaited hairstyles decorated with feathers and colourful beads. After visiting the market we drive on to Jinka, often called the gateway to the Omo Valley. Dinner and overnight at Jinka Resort or Eco-Omo Lodge (www.eco-omo.com) or similar

Day 4: Mago national park / Turmi

After early breakfast, drive to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi highlands where the most illustrious of Ethiopia’s unique tribes live. The Mursi are known all over the world, for their decorative lip plates that adorn the lower lips of the Mursi women. The plates stretch the lower lip beyond imagination and the women’s beauty, pride and desirability is determined in direct proportion to the size of the plate. The Mursi men have deep crescent incisions on their arms that represent each enemy they have killed in battle. The men are also famous for their hairstyle. Drive back to Jinka for your lunch. In the afternoon, we proceed driving through the Omo Valley region to Turmi via Dimeka for visiting the Hamer tribes. The Hamer tribe is one of the largest groups in the Valley. The Hamer cultivate millet, vegetables, tobacco and cotton as well as raising cattle and goats. They are known for the fine pottery they produce as well as their remarkable hairstyling. Most dramatic of all are the clay hair buns with ostrich feathers that the men don when they have killed a fierce animal. The women wear beaded necklaces and iron coils around their arms and decorate their skin with cowry shells. Dinner and overnight at Turmi Lodge or Buska Lodge (www.buskalodge.com) or Paradise Lodge or similar

Day 5: Murulle / Turmi / Arba Minch

After breakfast, we continue through the savannah along tracks that are barely visible passing through a vast meadowland with shrubs and umbellifers (‘umbrella’ acacia trees) for an excursion to the Murulle area. We arrive at Korcho village with beautiful views over the Omo River to see the Karo ethnic group, experts in body painting, using clay and locally available vegetable pigments to paint fantastic patterns on each other’s faces, chests, arms and legs. These designs have no special symbolic significance, but are created purely for fun and aesthetic effect, each artist trying to out-do their fellow artists. Karo men also sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes, with special ochre “caps” of hair usually containing several ostrich feathers. In early afternoon, we will start driving to Arba Minch through Konso. Dinner and overnight at Paradise Lodge (www.paradiselodgeethiopia.com) or Haile Resort or similar

Day 6: Watersports on Lake Chamo / Addis Ababa

After breakfast, we will have a boat trip on clear blue waters of Lake Chamo to see the crocodiles, hippos & aquatic bird species. The northern shores of Lake Chamo are famous for its large crocodiles which can be seen in great numbers. The lake is about 32km long and provides a lush wetland habitat for many species of flora and fauna. At noon, transfer to the Arba Minch Airport for your domestic flight to Addis Ababa.

Group Size per vehicle (adults) – 2 Pax, 3 Pax,4 Pax,5 Pax, 6 Pax

What is Included on the safari price:-

• 5-night accommodation & meals as per the program
• All tours as per the itinerary
• Transport as per program
• English speaking guide, Entrance fees to all sites as per the itinerary
• One-way regular flight Arba minch/addis ababa
• The itinerary
• Bottled water during the tours
• All service charges and taxes

What is Excluded on the Safari price:-

• International flights and taxes
• Entry visa
• Airport transfers
• Personal expense
• Optional activities not included above
• Gratuities
• Tips
• Personal insurance cover
• Deviation from above program