Welcome to Addis Ababa. On your arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, after clearing immigration and customs welcome by Gemsbok Safaris staff and get transferred to your hotel. Addis Ababa is the largest city of Ethiopia and its capital city at the same time. Addis Ababa, which in Amharic means "a new flower”, is located in the center of the country, 2100- 2300m above the sea. It is one of the highest-located capital cities in the world. Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with interesting museums and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, “Mercato”. Addis Ababa is Africa’s diplomatic capital with headquarters for the Organization of African Unity and the United Nation Economic Commissions for Africa. Based on your flight time the sightseeing of Addis can be arranged which you will commence with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum; ranks among the most important museums in sub-Sahara Africa. It housed the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy. Lucy is believed to be the ancestor of all Human kind. It has lots of ancient exhibits that reflect the importance of Ethiopia as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’. Its historic room features finery worn in the wars, such as crowns, weapons, and pictures of wartime heroes and kings. Continue your sightseeing to Ethnographic Museum, with its two main sections covering local crafts and on regions and people, this museum is an ideal place to start learning about Ethiopia's rich ethnic diversity. The museum has an impressive array of religious crosses, triptychs and murals, as well as Haile Selassie’s (Ethiopia’s last Emperor) bedroom and bathroom.

And continue to visit St. George’s Cathedral (Giorgis Cathedral) which lies at the north end of Churchill Rd. Designed in the traditional octagonal shape, this cathedral was built in 1896 to commemorate Ethiopia's victory over the Italians at the Battle of Adwa. The Cathedral houses the work of Afewerk Tekle, the renowned Ethiopian artist responsible for the stained-glass windows of the Africa Hall and also houses a small museum in the compound. Once you complete return back to your hotel.

Today, transfer to the airport for your ET flight to Jinka. Upon arrival, continue to drive to the Jinka city, which you will have en route visit the Ari people of Ethiopia are said to be one of the most culturally and economically dominant groups in the Omo valley. They currently live in a clan structure, but actually used to live independently until the late 19th century when they were conquered and unified as part of the Ethiopian empire. Their territories are divided into nine independent units, each with its own leader and a traditional spiritual leader known as Babi.

Like most other Omo Valley Tribes, Ari men are allowed to marry as many women as they want as long as they can provide for their families. However, this practice is becoming relegated as the Ari people embrace Christianity and polygamy becomes less common. Today, most Ari men have only one wife. Visit the South Omo Research Museum & local villages in Jinka and get acquainted to the local life, how they make local liquor made of Sorghum, Garlic and maize and how they make a pot.

Total driving distance 230kms/6-7hrs. Take a day excursion to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi village. The Mursi are one of the most original ethnic groups. They live in very low huts made of straw leaves. The women like to wear terra cotta on their enormously stretched lower lips and ear lobes. The men are famous for their hairstyles. They go in for body scarification and among the women the wearing of lip plates. The larger the lip plate, the greater the woman’s value when she is married. She removes her plate for eating and sleeping. They are easily distinguished by how their long, distended lips hang down from their mouths. Visit and drive to Turmi.

Turmi is a place for the Hamer tribes, visit the Hamer village they are a fine-looking people, both men and women take great pride in their appearance, shaving and coloring their hair, oiling their bodies and decorating themselves with beads and bracelets worn around arms and legs. They are famous for their body decoration, moonlight dance (Evangedi Dance) and bull-jumping. Bull jumping marks the rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. It is not a done every day.

Total driving distance 150kms/3-4hrs. Following your early breakfast and you will venture to Murulle holding your picnic lunch to visit the Karo people, who reside along the banks of the Lower Omo River. The Karo incorporate rich cultural symbolism into their rituals and use ornate body art, intricate headdress, and body scarification to emphasize beauty and status within their community. This small but lively tribe numbers under 1,000, but they are the main non- nomadic agriculturalist group in the Lower Omo Valley. The Karo are differentiated from neighboring tribes by placing higher emphasis on body and face painting. They paint themselves daily with colored ochre, white chalk, yellow mineral rock, charcoal, and pulverized iron ore - all resources found in this area.

Karo body painting is a deep aspect of their culture; they are communicating as well as decorating. The experience of visiting the people of this incredibly rich, proud, yet adapting culture gives amazing insight into Ethiopia’s indigenous peoples. After the visit, you will drive to Turmi.

Total driving distance 280kms/5-6hrs. Following breakfast drive to Erbore village to say hello to the beautiful women of Arbore tribe with their black veils, but are half nude and head shaved, so the contrast is really amazing. Arbore / Erbore, is far more rustic and unaffected than many similarly size towns in south Omo, in common with their linguistically and culturally affiliated Tsemai neighbours, the Arbore migrated to their present homeland from Konso perhaps two centuries ago. Then make a drive to the Konso village to visit the majestic landscape and the way of their living; whose people are known for their intricately terraced hillsides, they make recognized and prized by UNESCO, fine woven materials and the carved totems with which they decorate their graves. The vast and majestic landscape provides a stunning backdrop for the unique Konso culture. Konso villages, known as kantas, are built into the hillsides and encircled with stone walls for protection. The winding paths that weave through the village all lead to the mora, a large, thatched pavilion which acts as a special meeting place for the people of the surrounding villages. The Konso culture has much to offer visitors. From cultural performances to handcraft demonstrations, visitors can learn about the traditions of the Konso people and the important roles these traditions still play in their lives.

Following breakfast, enjoy the boat trip on Lake Chamo - one of the best features of the park. Attraction of the boat trip includes viewing of large number of hippos and crocodiles from a very close range. There is a good place to watch large number of crocodiles on the shore of Lake Chamo. The place known as “Azo- Gebeya" meaning Crocodile Market offers one of Africa's most impressive displays of big crocks.

In the afternoon, you will visit the home of the Dorze people at Chencha, 40kms from the city. The Dorze are renowned cotton weavers whose tall beehive-shaped dwellings are among the most distinctive traditional structures to be seen anywhere in Africa. The main occupations of the region are subsistence farming and weaving. The Shama cloth produced around Chencha is regarded to be the finest in Ethiopia: Plain white Gabbi robes and brightly colored scarf-like Netalas are sold along the roadside. Explore the local Dorze market decorated with many colours.

Following breakfast, drive to Arbaminch ~ 248 that takes ~ 4 hrs. the capital town of the Southern People’s Nations and nicknamed as “The town of endless Love”. The city of Hawassa is one of the fast- growing cities in the region - in Hawassa, you can recover from the strengths of travelling in the 5-star resort of the famous Ethiopian runner Haile Gebre Selassie. From Sauna, steam bath to beauty treatment nothing should be missing here and the sunset is fantastic! Afternoon: We arrive at the luxurious Haile Resort early enough to enjoy the beautiful sunset over the lake.

The distance of ~ 275 km & ~4 hrs. drive. This morning you will have a visit of the local fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa and later you will continue north to Addis Ababa. On the way, visit the Abiatta-Shala National Park. Lake Shala, with its deep blue waters is the deepest lake in Ethiopia at 236m. Lake Abiatta is a soda lake at which thousands of flamingos can be seen at various times of the year. Upon arrival in Addis, you will be transferred to your hotel for a day use room until your departure flight, if time allows you will have a farewell dinner in one of cultural restaurant to taste Ethiopian food together with learning Ethiopian traditional dances. Day use room at Ramada Addis

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Many thanks & have a safe flight.