Ethiopia tour
| country: | Ethiopia |
| departures: | 2008: 12 Sep, 10 Oct, 14 Nov, 12 Dec 2009: 16 Jan |
| price: | From £1099 (10 days) excluding flights |
| offers: | All responsibletravel.com users get an additional £100 of this tour when quoting reference ETHRTOFFER - You must book by the 30th August 08 for travel in 2008 or 2009 |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Isolated for a millennia from the rest of the world, the beautiful Omo Valley is home to an intriguing mix of many small and distinctive tribal groups. Amongst others we find the Karo, the Mursi and the Hamar - all of whom have retained their own unique customs and traditions. On this journey of discovery we get truly off the beaten track, exploring little visited National Parks, picturesque villages and vibrant local markets. We are privileged to witness age old customs and rituals, learning of the symbolism that remains an integral part of everyday life in this captivating region.
Highlights of this trip include visiting the Rift Valley Lakes and meeting the local tribes including Wolayta people, Erbore people and the Hamer people. There will also be much wildlife viewing and you will stay at an Eco-lodge.
Highlights of this trip include visiting the Rift Valley Lakes and meeting the local tribes including Wolayta people, Erbore people and the Hamer people. There will also be much wildlife viewing and you will stay at an Eco-lodge.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive at Addis Ababa and transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of the capital. Visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, the National Museum, St George Church and the Merkato, biggest open air market in Africa. |
| Day 2: | Drive to the Rift Valley lakes of Shala, Abyata and Langano, admiring the wonderful views and many birds, pelicans, flamingos and more. Then relax at the Wenney Eco-lodge, secluded in a natural paradise on the shore of Lake Langano and near to Munessa Forest. Possible excursions include trekking, bird-watching, horse-riding, boat excursions, cycling and more. |
| Day 3: | We continue our journey south meeting the Wolayta people as we go, passing through little visited villages and admiring spectacular green hills, to Arbaminch. An afternoon drive to Chencha, for the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses, and traditions. Our base for the next two days will be the Swaynes Hotel, with spectacular views over Chamo and Abaya Lakes. |
| Day 4: | A morning visit to the Netch Sar National Park, sanctuary of the endemic Swaynes Hartebeest, numerous zebras and more. Afternoon boat excursion on Chamo Lake for crocodiles, hippos and more. |
| Day 5: | We continue to Jinka, admiring the Derase, Tsemay, Ari and Benna people. A stop at the village market of Tsemay gives us the chance to meet the Erbore people. |
| Day 6: | Enter the Mago National park and visit the Mursi people and villages. The women in this area put round plates into their lips as a sign of beauty. |
| Day 7: | Drive to Turmi, admiring on the way the very colourful Hamar, Karo and Dassanech people, with a stop at Dimeka village, where there is a fascinating local market. |
| Day 8: | A drive to visit the Karo people, known for their very interesting decoration and scarification. There are spectacular views over Omo River from Kortcho village. We then travel to the villages of the Hamer people. |
| Day 9: | Drive to Arbaminch, visiting the villages of the Erbore and Konso people. |
| Day 10: | Morning drive back to Addis Ababa. Depending on the time of your flight, you will be invited to an early evening dinner at a traditional restaurant with folk dances. |
small group cultural tours
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.how this holiday makes a difference
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Our local operator in Ethiopia is fully briefed and contributes to our ‘Responsible Travel’ policy. Through this and ongoing discussion, they understand that the only way to grow the business is in a responsible and sustainable way. Your visit makes a real difference, bringing scarce work to local drivers, guides and other staff. You can rest assured that the money spent in the community stays in the community. Visiting the local markets you get an opportunity to interact with the people and contribute to the economy directly. We also include a stay at an Eco-lodge, helping to promote the development of sustainable tourism in Ethiopia. We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.
We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. This may include giving a percentage of the profits from each tour to a foundation to help street children or local conservation projects. Furthermore, in order to allow our clients to make an informed decision on where a greater proportion of their money should be spent, we avoid including pre-paid full board meals where possible. Local restaurants and cafes then benefit. Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |