04 NIGHTS 05 DAYS OMO VALLEY(Cultural Tours)

Overview

Duration:  4 nights/ 5 days
Means of Transport:   Surface
Description: Omo Valley:

The Lower Omo Valley is situated within Africa’s famous and, geologically-speaking, rapidly expanding Great Rift Valley. Here, in south-west Ethiopia’s awkwardly named “Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region”, bordering Kenya and Sudan, the great Omo River dominates this dry savanna valley, resulting in some of Africa’s most well developed and best preserved arid-zone riverine forests. The Omo River rises from the Shewan highlands and flows 470 miles (750 kms), mostly southwards, before entering Lake Turkana (previously Lake Rudolf) near the Kenyan border.

The importance of the Lower Omo Valley has been recognized by UNESCO, which has declared it a cultural World Heritage site. It also contains two expansive national parks and several Important Bird Areas. This vast, scenic valley is however most famous for its staggering cultural diversity. Over a dozen distinctive ethnic groups exist here, many of whom live lives little touched by the modern world. This is largely due to the area’s remoteness and prior near-inaccessibility, forming a natural barrier to modernization and the detribalization of the Omo Valley. Our tour aims to spend time with the Dorze, Konso, Arbore, Hamar, Benna, Karo, Ari and Mursi tribes (all now justly famous for their dress, body adornments and unique culture) and we will also encounter other tribes when visiting market villages. In addition, we will of course take time to enjoy the spectacular scenery and wildlife of this remote and fascinating region.