begleitet von Profifotograf Günter Lenz

Schedule & Prices

Ethiopia - Travel in an archaic time        Pro Person € 4990,- *

min. 2 pax maximum 4 pax + Photo guide

2018 & 19 and individual on request

 

You´re welcome to send us a nonbinding letter of intendby mail.

 

On this photo tour I start also in a new adventure. With an expierienced local Touroperator under swiss management and excellent guides we will push forward in a mostly unknown and archaic world of natural tribes in southern Ethopia. This tour will bring us to the ethnic living tribes of the Dorze, Mursi, Ari, Karo, Dassenech, Ebore, Hamer and Konso, along the Omo river. With our interpreting guide we will meet the scary warrior of the Mursi tribe. We wil have outstanding options to shoot awesom portraits.

All the above mentioned tribes live partly from the money what tourists pay them for posing as photo model. Our visit is therefore a honor to safe this ethnic form of living. We will pay fairly to encounter this people with respect. That its why we provide each guest a budget of 250 USD in small bills of the local currency. (The  usual rate for 5 photos is about 1 USD). The Model honorar will be given to each of our guests before we meet those people and it is already included in your price of the journey. Who doesn´t need the full budget gets a refund in USD at the end. For those who need more we do have some extra 5 Birr* bills with us and you can change more. We have choosen this system very intenional, because we want to be extremly respectful compared this proud tribes. We want to come back for further visits. This solution gives you on the whole journey the possibility to shoot around 1200 pictures of people and you will honor their attendance to be photographed. You will be amazed of the quality of your gorgeous portrait from the unique people. With our policy of "pay for picture" we will have enough time to shoot great photographs  - and we will be more happy about, because we did also a social mission.

(* local currency)

 

 

Itinerary description

 

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa

Upon arrival, you will be met by a Welcome Ethiopia Tours representative at the airport and be taken to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options:

– Mount Entoto with the best views over the capital.

– Institute of Ethiopian Studies, where you can see a variety of artifacts from all the different regions reflecting the history and culture of the country

– National Museum which among other exhibits the replica of the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy.

– St. George Cathedral, where paintings by the famous Ethiopian artist Afework Tekele and other ecclesiastical wealth and cultural heritage of the past are displayed.

– Trinity Cathedral: this is the burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots; the cathedral is the most magnificent of its kind in the country, ornamented with carvings, mosaics and other artistic works.

– Merkato. It is also possible to visit the largest market in Africa where virtually everything is on sale from live stock to computers to a huge selection of Ethiopian arts and crafts is always quite an experience.

Accommodation: Ambassador Hotel or equivalent Four Star Hotel, Addis Ababa

 

Day 2: Addis Ababa – Arba Minch (465km)

– After breakfast, we drive to Arba Minch (approx. 7h), with a stop on the way at Tiya (80km from Addis Ababa) to explore the Stele field of Tiya, listed as UNESCO world heritage site. Mysterious engraved stele stretch across Southern Ethiopia. The field comprises some 45 stones of up to 2-3m in height. We then continue to Arba Minch with some fantastic scenery, including the best spot to view the two rift valley lakes, Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the south. We arrive at the lodge around 5pm.

Accommodation: Paradise Lodge, Arba Minch

 

Day 3: Arbaminch – Lake Chamo – Arbaminch

Morning:

After breakfast, we will visit Dorze people with some fantastic scenery, including the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys. The Dorze village is found high in the Guge Mountains overlooking lake Abaya and lake Chamo.

Afternoon:

We undertake a boat cruise on lake Chamo and search for Africa’s biggest crocodiles (up to 6m long), hippos and a large variety of bird life.

Accommodation: Paradise Lodge, Arbaminch.

 

Day 4: Arbaminch – Jinka (240km)

Today we drive to Jinka (approx. 4h) visiting different tribes of the Omo valley on the way, such as the Derase, Tsemay, Bena & Ari people.

Accommodation: Eco-Omo Lodge, Jinka.

 

Day 5: Jinka – Mago National Park (Mursi) – Jinka

Morning:

We enter the Mago National park (travelling time approx. 2hrs), admiring different mammals and birds on the way; and proceed to visit to the Mursi tribe and their villages. One of the most unique tribes in Africa. Here women use huge round lips plates for beauty reasons

Afternoon:

We drive to admire the colorful market in Key Afer. The Key Afar market is frequented mostly by Benna, Ari and Tsemay people. Local town officials and business people also do their shopping here. You may either move alone around the market or a local guide will assist you. In the later afternoon, we return to Jinka for the night.

Accommodation:  Eco-Omo Lodge , Jinka.

 

Day 6: Jinka – Turmi (128km)

Morning:

After breakfast, will visit the Ari village. Ari villages are neat compounds, with fertile and scenic land and coffee plantations. The Ari also keep large livestock herds and produce natural honey. Traditionally, the women wear skirts made from a banana-like plants, called Enset.

Afternoon:

We proceed to Turmi (approx. 2h), where we will visit the fascinating Hamer tribe. Turmi is also the base to explore various other tribes of the South Omo Valley. The town is known for its traditional events and with some luck we will even participate in a Hamer marriage ceremony, with its bull jumping ceremony and more! In the late afternoon, we also visit the nearby Hamer village and encounter the tribe in its daily life surroundings.

Accommodation: Buska Lodge, Turmi

 

Day 7: Turmi – Omorate – Turmi

Morning:

Today we take an excursion to visit the Dassanech Ethnic group (70 km, one way), famous for their nomad lifestyle and very interesting decoration and scarification on their bodies. There are also very nice views over the Omo river.

Afternoon:

After lunch in Turmi, in the late afternoon and evening, if we are lucky we can witness one of the dances under the moon light, the Evangadi, a typical dance for Hamer adolescent boys and girls.

Accommodation: Buska Lodge, Turmi

 

Day 8: Turmi – Kangatan –Karo - Turmi

Morning/Afternoon:

Early in the morning we drive to Kangatan, where we will cross the Omo river. A short walk brings us to the Nyangatom tribe. After the visit we will cross back over the Omo river and visit the Karo village of Korcho, where we will enjoy spectacular views over the Omo river. The Karo tribe is smallest minority in the Omo Valley, but it is the tribe with the richest body decoration.  After visiting the Karo, we drive back to Turmi and watch out for any traditional hamer ceremonies that we can participate.

Accommodation: Buska Lodge, Turmi

 

Day 9: Turmi – Konso (180km)

Morning:

We drive to Konso approx. (travelling time 3.5h). Konso is another UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. We will visit the village compound and the he local museum, and usually we are also welcomed in the Konso chief’s compound, which includes the family graveyard and house mummies. The Konso are a rich agrarian culture. They construct ingenious terraces and walls that encircle their fields and villages for protection against livestock damage and flooding.

Afternoon:

We will visit the famous “New York” gorge with its interesting rock formations formed through flooding.

Accommodation: Kanta Lodge, Konso.

 

Day 10: Konso – Arba Minch – Addis Ababa (Flight)

Morning / Afternoon

After breakfast, we drive from Konso to Arba Minch (approx. 2 hours.) Flight ET134 at 13.35 to Addis Ababa. Arrival at 14.30h. You will be picked up at Bole Airport and be transferred to your reserved hotel (day use room)

Evening:

In the evening, you will have a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance at a renowned restaurant of Addis Ababa. Then you will be transferred to your hotel or be transferred to the airport for your departure.

Accommodation: Chosen Hotel in Addis Ababa or Departure

 

Net price per person on room sharing basis € 4990

 

Price includes:

The trip is accompanied by professional photographer Günter Lenz

250 USD in small 5 Birr denomination in order to take pictures of the tribes

9 nights in mentioned hotels or lodges

(4 star in Addis Abeba, best available at each destination outside of Addis Ababa)

10 x B/L/D

All mentioned transfers, entrance fees and local guides according to the program

1 domestic flight (if international flight is with Ethiopian Airlines, otherwise surcharge of 100 Euro)

Ground transportation in comfortable Toyota 4x4 Landcruiser

German /English/Amharic speaking guide during the entire jounrey

 Price excludes:

International airfares

Visa fee

Any alcoholic drinks (exceeding 1 beer per meal)

Personal expenses like souvenirs, laundry, etc

Tips

Photo / video fees

Any expense not stated in the ‘included list’ above

 

 

 

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