In the South West of Ethiopia the Great Ethiopian Rift Valley cuts through the highlands with Arba Minch, with its airport, good hotels and interesting excursions as a hub and entry point. To the west lies the lower Omo Valley, which is home to numerous tribes whose lives are mostly based around pastoralism, and live much as they have for centuries. These tribes span the borders with South Sudan and Kenya.

We will take you with our expert driver on an adventure through these lands. Starting in Arba Minch and traveling to the far flung corners of the Omo Valley. We will give you an in-depth experience, where you connect with people, not just collect fancy photographs. Whether you like dramatic landscapes, to meet startlingly new cultures, or see the wildlife and birds in the very different ecological zones we will pass through, this tour has it. But we don't just show you you will taste local foods and walk with local people.  This tour has so much to offer that adventurous traveller you will be hard pressed to choose the main highlight at the end of it all. I know I was on my visit there!

Highlights of your visit:

• Visiting Dorze villages, learning more about their culture and hiking in the beautiful green lands with bamboo thickets ,woodland and waterfalls. 

• Experience one of the most exciting sunrises - as the day breaks over looking the Great African Rift Valley and Lake Abaye. 

• You will see crocs on another lake, Lake Chamo, with a variety of birds including the majestic African Fish Eagle. If lucky you might see hippos here too.

• Meet with the Pokala Kalla Gezahegn Woldedawit, a traditional King of one of the nine tribes of the Konso people. 

• Staying with the Hamer people at our camp in Kusera, learning about their life and their culture, with some wonderful walks.

• Camping at the Mui river in the Omo National park, a little visited gem in Ethiopia, with a surprising range of wildlife and stunning landscapes.

• Camp at the Kibish river around the Nyangaton villages  

• Possible visits to the Arbore (D4), and Bodi or Mursi tribes (D9). 

• Driving through stunning landscapes: for example passing Lake Stephanie on D4 and into the Ari highlands near Jinka on D9

 The trip will start with a flight from Addis to Arba Minch - we recommend ET171 O8:05/ 09:15.

You driver will meet you at the airport, and your adventure will begin.

Nine days later you arrive at the end of the day, with your drive and guide in Jinka and the next morning transfer to the airport - most likely catching the 10:15/11:40 flight - ET 270 (but some days that could be a 2pm departure instead).

In the intervening days you will have one had 3 nights in hotels (including this last night in Jinka), with the other 5 nights spent under canvas with your cook saving you meals.

 This trip can be extended to see coffee farms in the west of Ethiopia and do a wonderful community trek on the Gurage Homestay trails (in which case we would turn it around and end in Arba Minch). Another option, instead of flying, would be to drive between Arba Miinch and Addis staying in the lovely eco-lodge on Lake Langano - beautiful setting, tranquil Rift Valley lake that you can swim in (its mineral content is good for the skin), and wonderful birds and monkeys to see in the nearby forest and around the lodge.

Who is it for: This is a journey, with quite a lot of driving. There will be a lot of time out of the car too, and a lot to see when you are driving. It has 5 nights under canvas and 3 nights in hotels, so you should be happy with camping. Much of the trip is at lower altitudes, and you are close to the equator so expect it to be hot. While your cook and team will prepare western food, there will be some times when you need to eat in a local restaurant, serving typical Ethiopian food so a sense of adventure is required. But the adventure is not just with the food, the cultures you pass through and connect with are very different and you need to be ready for this.  You need a moderate level of fitness and should be an active outdoors person.

Child friendly :  As there are frequent road journeys this may not be suitable for all children. Cars will have A/C but it can also be hot, so children would need to be OK with this. 

Wifi / Connectivity: There will be infrequent access to wifi/internet. With an Ethiopian Sim card you will get data in some places.

Hotels: There are a mix of levels of hotel, some are quite simple. 

Drive one way instead of fly - you can select to drive from Addis at the start of drive back at the end of the trip. Possibly adding a stay in Langano - a lake whose mineral waters you can bath in.