Omo Valley and Danakil Depression (15 Days)
Omo Valley and Denakil depression-15-day Ethiopia Tour to Omo Valley and Denakil Depression destined to the two extremes Northern rift Valley system and southern rift Valley system. Each one of them have their own typical and unique attraction and features . The Northern rift Valley System features the lowland area, home for many hot spring, home of Lucy- the 3.2M years old hominid at Hadar, Ertale-an active volcano, and Dallol- the most colorful, inhospitable and one of the lowest point in the world(-116m). The southern rift valley system is reach in lakes and rivers. We call this region a’ Bird Paradise’. This part of our trip covers Awasa and its Lake, Arba Minch-Chamo and Abay Lake, Konso(UNESCO), lower omo valley region and their tribes: JInka town, Mago Park, Mursi tribes, Karo Tribes, Hamer, Erbore, Dassenech...
The tour begins from Addis Ababa, the nation's capital and the diplomatic center of Africa. Addis Ababa can simultaneously overwhelm and enchant visitors on Ethiopia tours. It's the fourth largest city on the continent, meaning it's bustling and chockfull of traffic and unspectacular architecture. But it's also exotic with an ancient atmosphere that can beguile you when you visit spots like Merkato, which is one of the largest open-air markets in all of Africa. A city tour will introduce you to the city's history and culture. You'll climb Mt. Entoto, the highest peak in an already-high city, where Emperor Menelik II lived when he founded the city in the 19th century. At Menelik's compound on Mt. Entoto, you'll see the Entoto Mariam Church as well as Menelik's Palace. You'll then head into town to Shero Meda Market to shop for traditional Ethiopian crafts and clothing and visit both the Ethnographic Museum and National Museum to learn about the region's history and culture and see the bones of Lucy, one of the world's oldest archaeological remains of a human ancestor.
Head south from Addis Ababa into the Omo Valley to continue your Ethiopian tours.
Your first stop is Arba Minch, which has mountain ranges on one side and the lakes of the Rift Valley on the other, making it one of the most picturesque spots in all of Africa. You’ll take a boat trip onto Lake Chamo to see hippos and crocodiles before continuing on to Jinka, the base for exploring the tribal villages of the south.
The Mursi Villages of the south are some of the great highlights of any Ethiopian vacation. Spend a day exploring the villages, heading throughout the Lower Omo Valley to stop off at the villages and admire their distinct cultural practices. In particular, you’ll notice the large lip and ear plates and colorful dresses worn by the Mursi women. Afterwards, head to Turmi, where you’ll meet the Hamer people and head through the market to peruse local tribal wares. The next day, make an excursion to the area of the Karo people, who showcase remarkable face and body painting. You’ll also stop off at the village of Kolcho to admire views of the River Omo and learn about the smallest tribe in the region.
Continue your Ethiopia tour by visiting the Dorze people in Chencha, who live in large beehive-like huts that offer some of the most distinctive designs in all of Africa. You’ll then head into the Langano Rift Valley to visit Lake Langano and Lake Abiata and Shalla, where you’ll find flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, storks, and herons covering the waters and feeding on the fish below. After exploring the lake, extend your trip to Denakil depression.
What to see in Denakil?
- The Danakil’s top attraction is Erta Ale, a 613m-high shield volcano whose caldera of crumbling black rock contains the world’s oldest permanent lava lake. Bubbling at temperatures of more than 1,000˚C, this ellipsoid cauldron of black-and-red magma is a truly mesmerizing phenomenon, as violent red fountains of molten rock spurt tens of meters in the sky, accompanied by nose-searing waves of ammonia gas. Staying 2 nights at the rim of the volcano, enjoying its active activity.
- Set in a flat-sided shallow explosion crater, the Dallol Springs comprises a field of multicolored geysers that bubble over into a series of steaming Sulfurous Pools dotted with conical yellow-green vents and crystalline formations of red, orange, and white. Two times visiting of Dallol- the most colorful place in the Universe. Dallol is one of the lowest point in the universe with 116meters below sea level, and the most colorful place in the universe that none could imagined.
- Once a bay in the Red Sea, the hyper-saline Lake As-Ale lies at the heart of a 1,200km2 expanse of salt-encrusted flats that have been mined by the local Afar for millennia. Even today, visitors might come to cross dozens of Afar miners/the Salt Workers chipping at the salt flat’s crumbly off-white crust to extract neat 30cm x 40cm amole salt bars. The salt is then transported by camel to the highlands by Camel Caravans from Tigray.
- Set at 103m below sea level, the lovely emerald-hued Lake Afdera laps the shore of what is regarded to be the world’s lowest-lying island. The lake is an important source of salt, which is obtained from artificial evaporation pools along the western shore.
- Allolabad is dotted with steam vents and small craters of hot mud and hissing gases, but most beautiful are several pools of hot water. These pools have an unusual, deep green, blue and yellow color. They are incredibly deep and are filled with hot, steaming water. In one pool there is observed nearly constant geyser – Allallobad Sprouts, which often is 6 m tall but in rare cases – even 30 m tall. The surface of the water in this pool is 97°C hot. There is one more geyser in another spring – it is just 0.3 m tall. Some more springs are pulsating, sometimes boiling more intensely. Further to the north-west, there are remnants of an earlier, extinct geothermal field.
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Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival & City TourOn arrival you will be met by representative of our company-Authentic Ethiopia Tours and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, make a visit of Addis Ababa, which means "New Flower" is Ethiopia's capital city. The city, which is located at 2,400m above sea level, is a pleasant city with wide avenues, interesting museums and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa. It was founded by Emperor Menelik II in 1887 and he selected the site because its location within the Entoto hills has long been the center of Shoan politics.
It is Africa's diplomatic capital with headquarters for the Organization of African Union and the United Nation Economic Commissions for Africa. The capital is rich in impressive statues and monuments of different architecture.
After freshening up, drive to the Entoto Hills for stunning views of the city and surrounding areas. This is the highest peak in Addis Ababa reaching 3,200 meters above sea level. It was the first settlement in Addis Ababa where Emperor Menelik II resided and he built his palace here in 1887. The compound at the peak hosts the palace, the Entoto Mariam church and an Ethiopian artefact museum.
On the way up roadside stalls offers fresh Ethiopian coffee. If you have an interest in Ethiopian traditional clothes there is time to stop at Shero Meda Market where you'll find a wide variety of beautiful fabrics, shawls, scarves, dresses, tops and jewelry.
After lunch visit the Ethnographic and National museum which is an ideal place to start learning about Ethiopia's rich ethnic diversity. The museum has an impressive array of religious crosses, triptychs and murals, as well as Haile Selassie's bedroom and bathroom. It is famous for housing the 3.5 million-year-old bones of Lucy.
Day 2
Flight to Arba MinchAfter breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Arba Minch. Arba Minch (Forty Springs), is the largest town in Southern Ethiopia. The town lies at an elevation of around 1,300m in the foothills of the Rift valley wall, above a cliff overlooking the mountains that separate the lakes of Chamo and Abaya. Wherever you walk there are stunning views in all directions.
The rest of the day will be dedicated to visiting the home of the Dorze people at Chencha. The Dorze are renowned cotton weavers whose tall beehive-shaped dwellings are among the most distinctive traditional structures to be seen anywhere in Africa. The main occupations of the region are subsistence farming and weaving. The hSama cloth produced around Chencha is regarded to be the finest in Ethiopia. Plain white Gabbi robes and brightly colored scarf-like Netalas are sold along the roadside. O/N. Lodge/Resort
- Meal Plan -Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Paradise Lodge
Day 3
Drive Arba Minch to JinkaAfter breakfast, enjoy a boat trip on Lake Chamo. Attractions include viewing a large number of hippos and crocodiles from a close range. The place known as "Azo-Gebeya", meaning Crocodile Market, offers one of Africa's most impressive displays of big crocodiles.
Then Proceed to Jinka (260km, around 4 and a half hours drive) through Weito village. Visit South Omo Research Center (Museum) and find out about the tribes that live in Lower Omo. Drive to Yetnebersh village to visit the Ari tribe and see how they make local liquor from Sorghum, Garlic and maize. If you are here on a Thursday you will have the opportunity to attend the Thursday market, Key Afer, which is attended by many decorated tribes of the lower Omo valley.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Eco-Omo Tented /Similar
Day 4
Jinka-Mursi then to TurmiToday after breakfast drive to Mursi Village (70kms). The Mursi have become a cultural symbol of the Lower Omo Valley. They are the most renowned of the Omotic speakers, famed for their practice of inserting large clay plates behind the lower lips of their women, and for their colourful dresses.
You then drive to Turmi (140km which takes about 2 hours). Turmi is the home of the Hammer who are known for their body decoration, moonlight dance (Evangedi Dance) and bull-jumping. Bull jumping marks the rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. Bull jumping is not done every day so it is not guaranteed that you will see this ceremony.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -2 Night
- Accommodation -Buska Lodge
Day 5
Excursion to Omorate & MuruleToday after a short drive, visit the nearby village of Kolcho which overlooks the Omo River. Home to the Karo people, this tribe excels in face and body painting. They often decorate their bodies with the spotted plumage of a guinea fowl. Feather plumes are inserted in their clay hair buns to complete the look. The clay hair bun can take up to three days to construct and is usually re-made every three to six months. Their painted facemasks are spectacular. Karo women scarify their chests to beautify themselves. Scars are cut with a knife and ash is rubbed to produce a raised welt.
If the date falls on a Monday or Saturday you will visit the vibrant market of the Hammer people at Turmi.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
Turmi to Arba MinchAfter breakfast drive to Arba Minch (270km, around 5hrs drive). Pass through the Konso village which is known for their intricately terraced hillsides, fine woven materials and the carved totems with which they decorate their graves. Rest of day is at leisure.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Paradise Lodge
Day 7
Drive to Adama via ShashemeneToday after breakfast drive to Adama, is located in the Great Rift Valley system. On your way, lunch break in Shashemene- the promise land of Ras Teferian Community’. Keep driving further to Ziway to spot some aquatic bird species. O/N. Adama
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Hotel
Day 8
Drive to SemeraTake your breakfast and start driving to Semera via Awash National Park. Semera is an administrative city of the Afar region and is the best place to explore an amazing tourism attraction. Process the entrance fee, and coordinating the road guide and local militias.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Local Hotel
Day 9
Lake Afdera and The Salt ProductionDrive to Afdera, lying below a sea level with the lowest point at –120m. It is a major source of salt extraction in Ethiopia, where the Lake water is pumped to saltpans for solar evaporation. The lake is set at 103m below sea level; the lovely emerald-hued Lake Afdera laps the shore of what is regarded to be the world’s lowest-lying island. Now accessible on an asphalt road that runs through the village of Afdera, the lake is an important source of salt, which is obtained from artificial evaporation pools along the western shore.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Local Hotel/Tent
Day 10
Ertale-An active VolcanoCoordinate your additional crew for the visit of Erta Ale, a 613m-high shield volcano whose caldera of crumbling black rock contains the world’s oldest permanent lava lake. Bubbling at temperatures of more than 1,000˚C, this ellipsoid cauldron of black-and-red magma is a truly mesmerizing phenomenon, as violent red fountains of molten rock spurt tens of meters in the sky, accompanied by nose-searing waves of ammonia gas. Accessible only on foot or by Camelback, Erta Ale is reached along a gradually sloping 10km path through shadeless terrain that can be treacherously hot in full daylight. It is conventional to ascend in the late afternoon to avoid the midday heat, then sleep at the top. Set at the juncture of three tectonic plates, the Danakil is one of the world’s lowest-lying places, set mostly below sea level, and it officially ranks as the hottest inhabited place on earth, with an average daily maximum of 41°C. Much of the region comprises sun-cracked salt-flats that stretch like blinding-white crazy paving towards a shimmering flat horizon. However, the high level of tectonic activity means that more than 30 active volcanoes protrude from this stretch Great Rift Valley floor. These include the iconic Erta Ale, which has hosted a permanent lava flow since the late 19th century, and the Dallol Crater with its sulfurous pools enclosed by strange pastel-hued crystalline formations. Explore the beauty of Ertale during day time and the second night on top will give you take more pictures.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Camping
Day 11
Ertale during morning light then drive to DallolEarly in the morning, start descending from the Volcano. On board your car for the drive to Dallol. Picnic lunch on the way.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Camping
Day 12
Visit of DallolSet in a flat-sided shallow explosion crater, Dallol springs comprises a field of multicolored geysers that bubble over into a series of steaming sulfurous pools dotted with conical yellow-green vents and crystalline formations of red, orange, and white. Once a bay in the Red Sea, the hyper-saline Lake, Lake As Ale lies at the heart of a 1,200km2 expanse of salt-encrusted flats that have been mined by the local Afar for millennia. Even today, visitors might come to cross dozens of Afar miners chipping at the salt flat’s crumbly off-white crust to extract neat 30cm x 40cm amole salt bars. The salt is then transported by camel to the highlands by caravanners from Tigray. Dallol one of the most beautiful and colorful place in the universe set an altitude of 116 meters below sea level.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Camping
Day 13
Second visit of DallolEarly morning with the sunrise, you will head to again to Dallol to capture the beautiful and Colour full area of Dallol. Also see the salt workers at Lake Asale. Experience the longest camel Caravans.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Camping
Day 14
Fly Back to Addis AbebaDirect drive back to Semera via Afdera. Picnic lunch or lunch break at Afdera or so. Late in the afternoon, arrive in Semera.
- Meal Plan -Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Duration -1 Night
- Accommodation -Local Hotel
Day 15
DepartureTake your international Flight home. OR. WHY NOT TO TAKING 4-7 DAYS TOUR NORTHERN PART INCLUDING LALIBELA, GONDER, SIMIEN PARK, AXUM AND TIGRAY ROCK CHURCHES. PLEASE SEND FOR OPTIONAL TOURS.
Details
Duration: 15 Days
Start Location: Addis Ababa
End Location: Addis ababa
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