Horn of Africa – NEW Itinerary

Fly from Addis Ababa to Jinka. Visit the South Omo Museum & Research Centre to learn more about the local tribes. Hike into the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village and learn about local crafts and trades such as blacksmithing and how the local gin, areki, is distilled. Overnight in Eco Omo Lodge.

In the morning we will drive through the Mago National park to a local village of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi women are well known for their lower lip and earlobe plates. The larger the lip plate, the higher the price the woman will fetch when she is married.
Depart to Turmi, the Hamer’s heartland, and visit one of their local villages . The Hamer are known to be one of the friendliest tribes in the Omo Valley.
At night, we may get to witness the traditional night dancing, known as evangadi.
Overnight in Buska Lodge.

In the morning, depart to Omorate to visit the Dassenech tribe. Here you will cross the Omo River by local boat and enter a Dassenech village to visit this pastoralist community. Return to Turmi.
After you will travel to Kolcho beside the Omo River and meet the Karo tribe, which is the smallest tribe in the area and considered to be the most decorative.
Return to Turmi. If you’re lucky enough to be in the area when a bull-jumping ceremony is happening you will visit that too. However, please be aware that depending on the timing of the ceremony you may have to adjust your day in order to see it.
Overnight in Buska Lodge.

Depart Turmi for Konso.
The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honour of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing. We will have the opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. With permission, we will visit the Konso chief’s compound. Time permitting we will also visit the “natural New York Village”, named after the tall sand formations resembling skyscrapers.
Overnight in Kanta Lodge.

Depart from Konso to Arba Minch.
Fly to Addis Ababa to take a connecting flight to Dire Dawa followed by a drive to Harar. Time permitting, we shall visit the lively market at Kefira and/or the chat market on the way.
Overnight in Harar.

A full day to explore the walled city of Harar – considered by some to be the 4th holiest city in Islam. The old city is famed for its medieval townhouses and has 82 mosques, including three built in the 10th century. The walls surrounding the sacred city of Harar were built between the 13th and 16th centuries. African and Islamic traditions combine, creating a particularly unique character. One of Harar’s more unusual traditions is the nightly feeding of wild hyenas that wander the streets.
Overnight in Harar.

A full day to drive from Harar to Hargeisa crossing the border between Ethiopia and Somaliland on the way. As you progress, you will pass out of the green Ethiopian lands into the brown scrub desert of Somalia, spotting camel trains as you drive.
Overnight in Hargeisa.

After a visit to the Hargeisa Camel Market, we will take you (with your security escort) to the beautiful cave paintings at Las Geel, one of the most intriguing sights in the Horn of Africa. On the overhangs of a rock in the desert are some of the world’s best-preserved ancient cave paintings. Dating from 5000-9000 years old they depict cows, people, dogs, and even giraffes. Return to Hargeisa.
Overnight in Hargeisa.

Transfer to airport for morning flight to Addis.
Connect with evening flights home.
Those travelling to Mogadishu will depart on the same day from Hargeisa to Mogadishu.