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Tribes of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia - September 13 - 24, 2022

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Located in the far southwest of Ethiopia is the Omo Delta, one of the last great tribal regions left in the world. Living in this remote but accessible area are a vast number of tribal groups all within driving distance of one another. Living in voluntary isolation, their culture, dress and language has remained intact. Some 45 different languages are spoken, and tribes range from the many thousand strong Borena to the smaller Karo Tribe. . To anthropologists, the Omo Valley is a living museum; to photographers the Omo Valley is a visually breathtaking experience.

Seven distinct groups of people live in this area. The Mursi are known for the clay lip plates that the women insert in their lower lips. The Hamar women wear thick copper necklaces, have braided hairstyles colored with red clay,and have high cheekbones. The Karo are highly decorated with chalk. The Konso are pastoralists and weavers. Visually stunning landscapes will be travelled through, ranging from mountains to savannah.

Visitation to the local tribes is a unique travel experience. Photographic opportunities range from documenting the daily life of the tribes, portraiture, scenic shots as well as the opportunity to enhance one's compositional skills. Until the 1970s, these tribes had no contact with the outside world and now you have the opportunity to know them. Traveling three photographers per Land Cruiser, eating the local food and staying at local accommodations makes for a special experience.


Itinerary

Day 1- Tuesday, September 13th Addis Ababa
Upon arrival at the airport you will be driven to the hotel which is 15 minutes away. The hotel
has internet, a nice lounge area, good restaurant, wonderful staff, a money exchange and is a
comfortable place to start the trip.  The group will have a meet and greet dinner that evening.
O/N Jupiter Hotel
 
Day 2 - Wednesday September 14th: Addis Ababa 
We will start the day with a photo shoot in the  Entoto hills, the highest point in Addis where the
women wood carriers walk, donkeys roam and people pray at  St. Mary's Church.  From there
we will walk the local Shiro Meda market where people shop for shama cloth and traditional
clothing. The group will photograph the pilgrims and priests at the ornate Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Women in shama- traditional white shawls, and men deep in prayer are both inside this second
most important place of prayer in Ethiopia as well as in the expansive courtyard. Lunch at the
Lucy restaurant which is adjoining the Ethnological Museum which houses Lucy, the most
complete skeleton ever discovered it, being 3.2 million years old.  O/N Jupiter Hotel

Day 3 - Thursday, September 15th: Fly to Jinka
We will take the 10:25 am flight to Jinka arriving at 11:35 am. The afternoon will be spent
walking the packed village lanes of the Ari village. These very rural people are friendly, some
homes are brightly painted, they do pottery, grow sorghum and daily life is easily photographed.
Chickens in the yards, kids wanting to hold your hands, women cooking by fire all make for a
great introduction to the Omo Valley. These people are not painted, pierced nor decorated but
an excellent representation of rural southern Ethiopia. Past photography groups have visited the
school and donated school supplies. The classrooms are visually compelling and great to
document. We will walk up the main road visiting the houses and meeting the people. We will be
spending the night in the Eco Omo Lodge which is on the banks of the river where people
bathe, clothing gets washed and cars get cleaned.  
O/N Eco Omo Lodge

Day 4 - Friday, September 16th : Jinka – Mursi - Jinka
Early morning we will take the two hour ride through Mago national Park to reach a Mursi
village. As they are nomadic it is impossible to name the settlement we will visit. The women
wear circular clay lip plates, the men are garbed in large towel like wraps. Photographing
women grinding sorghum and breast feeding while making their morning coffee which they drink
out of gourds is possible. Our local guides handle the photo fee payments so you can shoot with
abandon. For protein the men bleed a bull in the early morning and drink its blood. The homes
are thatched straw and sticks, and these people are illiterate and their traditions are very much
intact. many of the men have body adornments. A sense of humor is needed to fully appreciate
the Mursi photographic experience.

The afternoon will be spent wandering the dirt street and markets of Jinka. The market is
colorful and vibrant with many bars, stores selling plastic woven baskets, and day to day items.
Splitting into small groups a guide will help you with translation, setting up shots if desired and
see to it that you can photograph freely.
O/N Eco Omo Lodge

Day 5 - Saturday, September 17th : Jinka - Turmi
​9am after breakfast departure to Turmi, on the way stop in Dimeka Town for colorful Hamer
tribe weekly market day.

After the visit and lunch break arrival in Turmi afternoon, we will be spending the night at the
Paradise Lodge which will be our base for the next few days If you like shooting star trails this is
your mecca as there is little light pollution.  

On this the day we will be visiting local Hamer village next to our lodging for sunset. Leaving the
lodge at 5:00 pm the short walk will get us to the Hamer village as the people get ready for the
end of day. Goats getting back to pasture, sorghum being ground, kids milking goats. The
Hamer women have high cheek bones, wear thick copper necklaces which indicate first wife
status and elaborate custom beads. The Hamer are very outgoing and easily engaged. Many of
the men wear feathers in their hair and dress in dark green blankets. another trip favorite photo
shoot is that of silhouettes.
O/N Paradise Lodge Turmi

Day 6 - Sunday, September 18th: Turmi – Nyangatom - Turmi
Starting off from Turmi at 5am we will be heading to Kangaten, home to the Nyangatom tribe
that historically are said to be a split group from the Toposa tribe of South Sudan. Settled on the
other side of the Omo River, we will be crossing the Omo River where we will be able to access
and visit remote tribal villages. The teenage boys are lively and like to play much of the day. The
women are topless and wear many strands of heavy beads, the girls are playful and love to
have their images taken. Mid-afternoon, we will return to Turmi where we will be spending
another night at the Buska Lodge.  We can also photograph the Hamer tribe digging for water,
smoking out bees or do another local village sunset shoot. 
O/N Paradise Lodge Turmi

Day 7 - Monday September 19th: Turmi 
This being Monday we will attend the Turmi market. The Hamer people will be selling honey,
snuff, foodstuffs and local wares. The group will be be split up and wander freely shooting the
many stalls. Of note the stores have some artistic designs and the crafts market is the best in
the Omo. The grain mills are amazing and many stores are great backdrops for street
photography.

The ritualistic bull jumping ceremony usually takes place on Monday. The women dance, the
bells on their ankles making a distinctive noise that blends in with the bugles they blow. The age
group (16-25) of men called Maza whip the women as a sign of devotion a as they will be
responsible for the women as they grow old.  8 bulls are lined up and the nude guy will run
across them numerous times. Once completed he is able to marry.  
O/N Paradise Lodge Turmi

Day 8 - Tuesday September 20th: Turmi - Dassanach - Turmi 
Departing Turmi at 5:00AM, we will be heading to Omorate, home of the Dassanach tribe who
are said to be descendants of the Turkana tribe in North Kenya. Like many of these tribal
groups they use chain links and other western ‘cast offs’ as decorative objects. Crossing the
newly constructed Omo River bridge and driving further for 12kms, we will be able to
photograph a remote Dassanach tribal village, just 11kms from the shores of Lake Turkana. We
will photograph the women cooking by fire, grinding corn meal and the men with their flock.  We
will try to continue further south to Lake Turkana to see and photograph the small wooden
fishing boats and Dassanch people.
O/N Paradise Lodge Turmi

Day 9 - Wednesday, September 21st: Turmi - Arbore - Turmi
Departing Turmi at 4:30 AM Proceeding further into the scenic Weito lowlands, we will be visiting an Arbore tribal village located at the northern edge of Mount Buska. The Arbore women
are absolutely stunning, they have extremely dark skin and strong features. Prior to marriage
the women have their heads shaved. They wear dark robes, colorful beads and their huts are
fabricated from tree branches. We will work on our portraiture skills in this village.
After the visit drive back to Turmi
O/N Paradise lodge Turmi
 
Day 10 – Thursday, September 22nd: Turmi - Kara - Turmi
Departing Turmi at 5:00 AM, our photography group will head to Dus,the friendliest villages of
the Kara tribe. Settled on the banks of the Omo River, this tribe is known for their creative and
decorative body chalk painting. Many of the Kara women have pierced lips and insert nails and
pins. Photographing on the bank of the Omo River can yield images of the kids diving into the
water The group will shoot a cattle and goat drive which is iconic. Dust swirling, men with guns
and long herders stick driving their herd to the water. The group will photograph the ceremonial,
communal dance performed by the people of Dus.

We have a special relationship and they will invite us in to their huts for coffee to be had out if a
gourd. The Kara of Dus pride themselves as the best dancers in the Omo. We will also
photograph these warm and inviting people on the banks of the Omo and in the shade, under
the large umbrella like trees. We will be bringing a picnic breakfast and lunch with us.
O/N Paradise Lodge in Turmi.

Day 11- Friday, September 23: Fly Back to Addis Ababa
Today we will fly back to Addis Ababa from the Jinka airport. Departure 13:05 arrival in Addis
14:15 and here go to a Fair Trade home goods store that has the highest quality fabrics/ shawls/
linen. Those leaving on late night flights will be driven to the airport. There will farewell dinner.
​O/N Jupiter Hotel
 
Day 12 - Saturday , September 24th: Addis Ababa- Homeward Bound
Transportation to the airport provided.

Experiences

​Visit Ethiopia and photograph the lip plate wearing Mursi Tribe and visit them in the Mago National Park.

Shoot the Hamar bull jumping ceremony. A truly unique cultural event.

Visit the Kara Tribe who paint their bodies with chalk. Photograph this friendly tribe.

Photograph the Arbore Tribe. The women wear black shawls and colorful beads. ​

Trip Fee:
$7,600
$7,800 if not flying on Ethiopian Airlines

 
Single supplement $160
​
Couples:  $200 discount per person

Group Size: 7
REGISTER HERE
Included:
2 internal flights
All photography fees
All meals/cold drinks/coffee/water
Hotel porters
Airport transfers

Not Included:
International Airfare
Wine/beer
Laundry service
Trip insurance/required
Gratuities drivers/guides

Dates: September 13 - 24, 2022


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