Day 7 Gonder - Lalibela (370KM) : Drive from Gonder to reach Lalibela via the chains of Lasta massifs. Will arrive Lalibela late afternoon. King Lalibela is credited with the foundation of the 11 rock-hewn churches in the 12th century. One of the world's most incredible man-made creations, they are a lasting monument to man's faith in God. Most travel writers describe these churches as the "eighth wonder of the world". These remarkable edifices were carved out of a solid rock, in a region where the ragged landscape still protects the churches. O/N Lalibela.
Day 8 Rock hewn Churches of Lalibela : After breakfast early morning visit the eleven rock-hewn monolithic (carved from a single rock) churches of Lalibela (UNESCO World heritage site, with magnificent architecture & paintings inside the churches). In the evening, back to hotel. O/N Lalibela
Day 9 Fly Lalibela - Addis (Flight) : Drive Addis to Hawassa (270 KM) - Fly back to Addis Ababa, where will meet drivers & cars who will take us into the Rift Valley to Hawassa Lake. En route to Hawassa will make a stop on Lake Ziway, best known for its birdlife to visit aquatic birds. O/N Hawassa
Day 10 Drive Hawassa -Goba (Bale Mountains) (230km) : Arrive the park head quarters at Bale in the afternoon, hike for an hour possibly spotting two endemic Ethiopia mammals that are frequently seen in the area such as Mountain Nyala and Menelick Bushbuck and endemic forest birds. Then proceed to Goba town for overnight stay. O/N Goba
Day 11 Excursion to Sanetti Plateau & Harrena Forest : Early this morning head to the Sanetti plateau; as sun rises the most endangered canid in the world –the Ethiopian wolf begins to hunt & is a good opportunity to find this endemic wolf. The Sanetti plateau shelters number of rodents, the largest being the Giant Molerat found only in Bale Mountains. Due to the altitude, plant diversity here is low. However, one of the notable plant species is the giant lobelia found from 3,100 m growing to a maximum height of 12m. On the plateau stands Tulu Dimtu at 4,377m, second tallest mountain in Ethiopia. Descend by car from Tullu Deemtu or” Red Mountain” to the main road & continue driving to Harenna forest and enter into a vast tropical rain forest for a game drive with a chance to see primate species such as endemic Bale monkey, Coloubus monkey and so much more. Drive back to Goba. O/N Goba.
Day 12 Bale Mountains- Arbaminch (440KM) : A scenic drive through Arsi and Bale Mountains to the rift valley lakes region takes you to Arbaminch. En route, pass close by the Arsi Mountains National Park. On the way to Arbminch, will experience the fascinating culture & unique life style of the people in the South Ethiopia people’s region. We stop at the Chencha villages( the home of the Dorze people, the renowned weavers having unique bamboo woven houses having 8 to 12 meters height) before reach Arbaminch. Continue to Arbaminch, the city of forty springs', the gateway to the indigenous people and the largest trading center in the south. O/N Arbaminch.
Day 13 Arbaminch - Turmi (290KM) : Boat excursion on Lake Chamo, to see the biggest African crocodiles, and Hippopotamus as well as beautiful aquatic birds including the lovely Kingfisher and Fish Eagle. Drive to Konso en route visiting different cultural people and their villages which includes, Gamo, Derashe, Konso people and undulating landscape of Konso and the surrounding area. Visit one nice village of Konso. The Konso are famous for their old and unique terracing, unusual engraved wooden statues of Konso grave markers. The consolidation created a unique cultural landscape by terracing the hill slopes to the intensive cultivation and irrigation of crops. The unusual interaction between man and nature, was honored in June 2011 with the appointment as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Turmi. O/N Turmi.
Day 14 Turmi-Karo-Turmi (130km) : In the morning visit small ethnic group of diamonds on the Omo River called Karo. Particularly impressive from Konso are their body paintings and decorations scars. The Karo Tribe is the smallest tribe in the Omo Valley, South Ethiopia, and resides along the banks of the Omo River. Afternoon spend time in Hammer villages in Turmi. If lucky may have chance to attend the wedding ceremony of the Hammers, the traditional “bull jumping“ (attending fees by own), it is a rite of passage for men before a man is permitted to marry. O/N Turmi.
Interesting painting ethnic at South Ethiopia
Day 15 Turmi-Omorate-Jinka (260KM) : The day begins with a visit to the Dassanech in Omorate. Drive to Omorate about 70 km southwest of Turmi and visit the tribe of Dasenech. Omorate lies on the banks of the Omo. A dugout canoe takes you across the river to a settlement or the Dasanech /Galeb. The semi-nomadic protect their light huts and cattle with thorns from wild animals. The men wear ivory pegs in the lower lip or ear lobe scars and jewelry. They show their victories with Tonkappen in her hair. Drive back to Turmi for lunc and then continue to Arbaminch. On the way back you will pass through the village of Weyto, which is home to the Tsemai tribe. O/N Arbaminch.
Day 16 Jinka - Turmi (Jinka-Mago-jinka 150km)- Fly Addis : Today cross Mago National Park to the land of the Mursi. The first arduous trip is rewarded with the sight of the vast plain on the Mursi Hills. The Mursi men are renowned warriors, and whose women are famous for the lip plates which is highly considered as sign of beauty. The Mursi live in the dry season on the western slopes of the Omo and grow Sorghun, corn and vegetables, they spend the rainy season, with their cattle herds in the Tama steppe. In addition, they do hunting and fishing. Drive back to Jinka town for Lunch. Take the afternoon flight from Jinka to Addis. You can have a last minute shopping in Addis. The evening goes with a traditional meal with a beautiful dance performance at the end. Transfer to the airport and flight back to home. Go to airport after dinner Flight ET638 at 1120pm and stopover at Singapore (1hr25m). O/N Plane
Day 17 Home : Arrived Kuala Lumpur 1710pm late afternoon (17Dec2023).
