Omo Valley Tribes & Lalibela

International flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Night on board

After the formalities of entry into the country, we flew to Jimma first thing in the morning. There our 4x4s are waiting for us to take us to Bonga, known as the world capital of Coffee.

Night at Hotel de Bonga. Half board.

Early in the morning we can head to Tulgit, Surma area or also known as the Suri, the most impressive ethnic group in Ethiopia.

Night in camp with the Surma. Full board.

The Surma are undoubtedly the most impressive, spectacular and authentic of the Ethiopian ethnic groups. The difficulties of the orography of the area and its proverbial bravery have been the perfect combination that has kept them isolated and away from civilized contact. Visiting the Surma is one of the most profound experiences in terms of experience and photography that you can find in Ethiopia. Their cultural purity and bodily aesthetics, with their naked bodies decorated with geometric drawings painted with ochre and white clay, and their faces adorned with plants and flowers, blending in with the environment, is anthropological and photographic ecstasy. Here time has stopped in such a way that one can understand the origins of the human being. We will tour the area entering a few surma villages, sharing experiences with them and photographing their body art, manifested in their impossible scarifications, their clay and vegetable aesthetics and their surprising lip plates.

Night in camp with the Surma. Full board.

In the morning we visit a Cattle Camp (cow field) of the Surma. The sunrise in these places is different, something magical, and even more so if, like today, they are adorned by the full moon. It is difficult, but if we are lucky and the conditions allow it, we will attend to see one of the most incredible and amazing shows that can be seen not only in Africa, but also beyond its borders; the Donga. A ritual combat between different Surma communities where the opponents fight naked with long and thin rods. A mixture of sport, ritual fighting and warrior ardor rooted like no other tradition in Surma culture.

Night in camp with the Surma. Full board.

Today we will spend the day traveling on tracks through the beautiful jungle landscape of the Omo Valley, to access the other side of the Valley. The rest of the tribes of the Omo Valley live there, we camp with the Nyangaton.

Night in camp with the Nyangaton. Full board.

The sun rises in our camp with the Nyangatom, it is the best time to observe and photograph their daily life. We are sure to live an authentic experience sharing with them their chores and getting to know first-hand their rich culture. After breakfast we will leave the village to head to the Karo villages, on the banks of the Omo River, a town known for the beauty and color of its facial paintings.

Accommodation at Hotel de Turmi, A.D

Our adventure continues. It is going to be a special day, we are going to witness one of the great bets of PhotoTravel, a tour that few agencies make and that will take us to a remote area, where the tribal purity is really surprising. We are going to reach the border with Kenya, in the lower Omo Valley, in a remote and hidden area inhabited by the Dassanech. If luck is on our side, we will be able to attend a Dimi ceremony, where the parents celebrate the fertility of the young women of the tribe. A real wonder.

Accommodation at Hotel de Turmi, A.D

After breakfast, we will visit local markets where the Hamer, Banna and Tsemai sell their products.

Perhaps, with luck, we can experience one of its most deeply rooted ceremonies; the Bull jump “Ukuli Bula”, where the young Hamer seek access to maturity.

Accommodation at Hotel de Turmi, A.D

We leave the Hamer area to continue our adventure with the Arbore, one of the ethnic groups that we like the most and that will delight our PhotoTravellers.

We spend the night in Jinka very close to the Magician National Park.

Accommodation in Hotel de Jinka, A.D

Today we will get up early to go, in our 4×4, to the Mago National Park, where we will visit the Bodi and Mursis, one of the most famous tribes in the area, characterized by their spectacular lip plates and body scarifications.

Accommodation in Hotel de Jinka, A.D

After breakfast we will go to Jinka airport, where we will take a flight to Addis Ababa. it’s time to rest in our Hotel.

Accommodation in Addis Ababa Hotel, A.D

We will arrive in our city of origin around 12.00 in the morning. End of our Photographic Trip to Ethiopia, an adventure that, I assure you, you will not forget.

In the morning, we will leave early for the airport to take a flight to Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage city. In the afternoon the first ones begin with the impressive churches carved into the rock. There are a total of eleven churches and the most impressive is Biet Ghiorgis, carved in the shape of a Greek cross and exceptionally well preserved.

Accommodation in Addis Ababa Hotel, A.D

Lalibela is a unique place in the world, by itself it would justify any trip to Ethiopia. It is a magical enclave, with an atmosphere that takes you back to the origins of Christianity. There the clock stopped centuries ago, and today it is like a lost place in history. When you are there you feel between a mixture between being in the fifth century or on a movie set. In any case, the energy that this place gives off will captivate you. Photographically it is the perfect place to get the best snapshots. The atmosphere that is created is unique, with the faithful praying in their white robes by candlelight, you would not achieve it even in the best of photo studios.

Accommodation in Addis Ababa Hotel, A.D

We will leave the hotel early to take advantage of the morning and attend the first masses in the church complex. Return to the hotel, breakfast and head to the airport to take a flight that will take us to the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant, where we can enjoy the show of typical Ethiopian dances and dances. From there we will depart for the airport to take the international flight to Spain.

Night on board

We will arrive in our city of origin around 12.00 in the morning. End of our Photo Trip to Ethiopia, an adventure that, I assure you, you will not forget.