Ethiopia cultural tour; omo river; ethiopian tribes

Omo River Tribal Dance

In the savanna of the Omo River Valley in southern Ethiopia live a fascinating mix of nomadic tribes, from the Bume and Karo to the Bena and Hamar. We visit the Omo tribes as well as the Orthodox Christian monuments of Ethiopia’s mountain highlands.

Photo by John Warburton Lee / Danita Delimont Agency

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Lost Worlds of Ethiopia

Tribes of the Omo Valley and Spectacular Christian Festivals

Ethiopia is like no other place in Africa, from its Orthodox Christian heritage, revealed in stunning 12th century rock-hewn churches, to its kaleidoscopic array of traditional tribes in the Great Rift Valley. In the craggy green highlands, we discover Ethiopia’s genuine mystique at fascinating places including Axum, Ethiopia’s ancient holy city, and imperial Gondar, seat of Ethiopia’s emperors. Heading to southern Ethiopia, we encounter an amazing tribal heritage that includes the Mursi, with their enormous clay lip plates, and the nomadic Karo, known for their elaborate body painting. All departures include an extraordinary festival: our January trips witness Timkat, Ethiopia’s exuberant Epiphany celebration, and the September trip is timed for Meskal, with its dancing, bonfires, and floats covered with golden meskal flowers.

Highlights

  • Enjoy the colorful pageantry of Ethiopia’s Christian Orthodox festivals
  • Visit the wondrous rock churches of Lalibela and the holy city of Axum
  • Encounter the fantastic tribal people of southern Ethiopia

Details

  • 17-day trip begins and ends in Addis Ababa
  • 13 nights in best-available hotels, 3 nights in basic riverside lodge
  • All meals included
  • Rugged road travel by 4WD vehicle, easy walks

Tour Costs

$6395 (4-8 members)

Single supplement: $950
Internal airfare: $1490-$1750 (subject to change)

Prices are for 2010 dates

Departures & Leaders

Sep 11-27, 2010
Jan 4-20, 2011
Jan 11-27, 2011
Sep 11-27, 2011

*January departures are the Timkat Festival, September departures are the Meskal Festival

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
Lost Worlds of Ethiopia route-map

Days 1-3
Addis Ababa / Axum

In Addis, we meet with a deacon of the Orthodox church and visit the National Museum, home to the famous hominid skeleton “Lucy,” discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. We fly to Axum, Ethiopia’s most sacred city, where according to Ethiopian legend, the Ark of the Covenant resides within a special chapel. This fascinating highland town was founded in the 5th century BC and its unusual archaeological sites include the impressive ruins of the Queen of Sheba’s palace.

Days 4-6
Lalibela / Gondar / Lake Tana

At Lalibela, we explore the astounding churches that were chiseled into solid rock here in the 12th century. Now a World Heritage Site, these churches have a stunning range of architectural styles, from Grecian pillars and Arabesque windows to Egyptian motifs. We also visit the medieval mountain town of Gondar, Ethiopia’s royal capital until 1868, and boat out into Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile, to explore a serene island-monastery dating from the Middle Ages.

Days 7-10
Harar / Timkat Festival (January departures)

After a visit to Harar, an ancient walled city, we head to Addis to witness dramatic Timkat celebrations that include lively outdoor processions of Orthodox priests in brilliantly-hued gowns followed by throngs of parishioners in the dazzling white of traditional Ethiopian dress. Ringing bells, blowing trumpets, wafting incense, and blessing rituals add to Timkat’s mystique.

Days 11-17
Omo River Valley / Tribal Ethiopia

Heading south into the Great Rift Valley as far as the Omo River, we encounter a fascinating mix of nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, from the Bume and Karo to the Bena and Hamar, who coexist in a harsh land that is all but forgotten by the rest of the world. We meet the Dorze people, famous for their weavings, with a chance to explore the weekly market. We also visit the Karo, who excel in body painting using pulverized red and yellow chalk-like minerals to create elaborate face and body decorations for ceremonial dances. The men of the Mursi tribe, renowned warriors, practice scarification and shave their heads in geometric patterns. We make daily excursions to visit villages and meet a wide variety of tribal peoples, then return to Addis on Day 16 and depart on Day 17.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure