Book 9 Days Suri Tribe and Omo Valley Ethiopia Photo Tour Package

Join us on an authentic 9-day journey to the Omo Valley, one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world. This tour offers a unique opportunity to explore and photograph the vibrant cultures and traditions of the local tribes, including the Suri, Hamar, Mursi, Karo, and Dassenech. From bustling markets to traditional ceremonies, this tour provides an intimate glimpse into the daily lives of the people who call the Omo Valley home. Experience the beauty, hospitality, and deep-rooted customs of this extraordinary region with the guidance of local experts and professional services.

Day 1: Activity – Fly to Jimma and Drive to Mizan Teferi

• In the morning, after breakfast, depart for Jimma at 09:00, arriving at 10:05. Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up by our 4×4 jeep and begin the drive to Mizan Teferi.
• On the way, we’ll stop in Bonga town for coffee and a lunch break.
• After arriving in Mizan Teferi, check in to our hotel and explore the old town.
• Overnight at Kashinin Hotel.

Day 2: Activity – Drive to Kibish Suri Tribe Village

• In the morning, after breakfast drive to Kibish. On the way, we’ll pass through the Bebeka Coffee Plantation, the largest in Ethiopia. Continuing further south, we’ll reach Dimma, an important transport hub for the Suri and Nuer people.
• From here, we’ll enter Suri territory, a surprisingly lush area with several ecological zones important to the Suri lifestyle.
• Arrive in Kibish in the late afternoon and set up camp next to the Kibish River.
• On this evening we have a chance to visit one of the Suri villages around our camp and we can start the photographing the beautiful culture, people, lifestyle and landscape.
• Overnight Camping at Kibish River Camp.

Day 3: Activity – Explore Suri Villages

• Spend the day visiting Suri villages and learning about the people, their culture and Photographing.
• The Suri are renowned for their beautiful and ornate self-decoration, which includes painting, scarification, and adornment with flowers and other natural objects.
• The Suri are also known for stick fighting, called Saginay “Donga,” which is central to their culture. Stick fighting is often a way for warriors to find girlfriends or settle conflicts, showcasing their courage, virility, and resistance to pain.
• If we’re lucky and you’re interested, we might have the opportunity to witness this ceremony on this day.
• Overnight Camping at Kibish River Camp.

Day 4: Activity – Drive to Turmi

• Early in the morning, we’ll pack up and head to the lower Omo Valley, making our way to Turmi. Along the way, we’ll visit one of the most remote and least visited national parks in Africa, Omo National Park, where we’ll look out for wildlife as we drive towards the park’s headquarters.
• We’ll stop for a packed lunch along the way.
• Overnight at Paradise Lodge, Turmi.

Day 5: Activity – Visit Hamer Villages

• Monday, we’ll attend the Turmi market, where the Hamer people sell honey, snuff, foodstuffs, and crafts. You can explore and photograph the stalls, with the artistic designs and grain mills providing great street photography opportunities.
• In the afternoon, if we’re lucky, we might witness the unique bull-jumping ceremony, a rite of passage where a boy becomes a “man” after proving his ability to jump and walk over 5 to 13 cattle standing in a row.
• The day may also include a special event where close female family members show their appreciation for the groom’s family by allowing the Maza (man’s) to whip them with a stick, a ritual that symbolizes their love and loyalty to the family.
• If there is no bull-jumping ceremony, we will visit a Hamer village in the afternoon.
• Overnight at Paradise Lodge, Turmi.

Day 6: Activity – Turmi – Dassanach – Turmi 

• We’ll depart from Turmi at 5:00 AM, heading to Omorate, home of the Dassanach tribe, who are believed to be descendants of the Turkana tribe in northern Kenya. Like many tribal groups in the region, they use chain links and other Western “cast-offs” as decorative objects.
• We’ll take you to a remote Dassanach village near the shores of Lake Turkana, where you’ll have the opportunity to photograph the unique lifestyle of this tribe.
• We will serve picnic breakfast and lunch on location.
• In the afternoon back to Turmi and here will have a chance to do a sunset photoshoot in one of the Hamer tribe village.
• Overnight at Paradise Lodge, Turmi.

Day 7: Activity – Turmi – Arbore – Turmi

• Departing Turmi at 04:30, 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.
• Here you will get a great opportunity to make some great shoot with the stunning sunrise.
• We will serve picnic breakfast and lunch on location.
• After the visit drive back to Turmi
• Overnight at Paradise Lodge, Turmi.

Day 8: Activity – Turmi – Kara – Turmi

• Departing Turmi at 5:00 AM, drive to Kara Duse village, 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, here you will have a chance to shoot a cattle and goat drive which is iconic.
• Here, we serve picnic breakfast
• After the visit drive back to Turmi have a lunch break and drive to Jinka.
• Overnight Eco-Omo Lodge, Jinka.

Day 9: Activity –  Ari Village – Fly Back to Addis

• Morning Activity: at sunrise, we’ll explore a nearby village. The locals are friendly, with some homes brightly painted. They make pottery, grow sorghum, and offer plenty of opportunities for photography.
• Lunch and Departure: After a lunch break in Jinka town, we’ll depart for Addis.
• This marks the end of our adventure.