The road extending from Addis Ababa to the Southern region is really a paradise for people admiring culture and nature. About 75 Kms. from the capital, the road diverges in to two in the town of Modjo; one to the east and the other to the north. The road heading to the South will travelers to the famed Omo Valley after passing different spectacular Rift Valley lakes.The first lake to come cross is Zeway, one of the shallowest lake along the chain of Lakes with a maximum depth of only 4 meters. The lake is prominent in shading the most delicious fish species and hosting five Islands, some of them being historical for having ancient and unique people and others for having monasteries.

The next twin lakes to be seen are Abiyata-Shalla. Both are grounds to admire different aquatic bird life and Shalla is the famous one being the deepest Rift Valley Lake not only in Ethiopia but in Africa north of the equator with 260 meters below seas level. Exactly opposite to the two twin Lakes is Lake Langano, a normally inhabited lake by weekenders of Addis Ababa. Having an out-standing view, it is the only Bilharzias free lake having brown-shiny color.

Driving 50 Kilometers from Langano is the town of Shashemene, a very hot commercial center and famous for being a home for the 'Ras Teferians', people of the Jamaican root that started to believe and formulate a faith with its focus on the last King of Ethiopia, Emperor Haileselasse.

Awassa Birds
Sunset over Awasa Lake

In the continuing drive the traveler will arrive in the town of Arba Minch an ideal place to start exploring the different tribal groups and attractions such as;

- Nech Sar National Park, which is famous for Zebra and other mammals and bird life.

- The Dorze people, known for their cotton woven clothing and bamboo- made beehive shaped houses are easily accessible from Arba Minch.

- Also the crocodile market on the last stretches and chains of the Rift Valley lake Chamo which is adjacent to Abaya, the longest rift Valley lake.

Driving further from Arba Minch is the real place to explore the Omo Valley tribes. This part of the country is home to many diverse and fascinating peoples and culture: the Konso, who for centuries have practiced terracing and intensive agriculture in their steep land and are known for the eerie wooden totems they erect over the graves of the dead.

The lower Omo Valley is home to an astonishing mix of small, contrasting ethnic groups- the Bume, the Karo, the Geleb, the Bodi, the Mursi, the Surma, the Erbore and the Hamer, to name only a few.

The Surma and the Karo, for example are experts at body painting-using clays and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic patterns on one another's faces, chests, arms, and legs. These designs do not appear to have any special significance but are created purely for fun and aesthetic effect.

Scarifications, on the other hand-also popular among most peoples of the lower Omo does contain a number of specific symbolic messages.

- Mursi warriors carve deep crescent incisions on their arms to represent each enemy they have killed in battle
The surma stick fight
Omo picture
Elaborate hairstyles are another form of personal adornment

- Hamer women wear their hair in dense ringlets smeared with mud and clarified butter and topped off with a head- dress featuring oblongs of gleaming aluminum.

- Geleb and Karo men sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes, with special ochre ‘caps' of hair usually containing several ostrich feathers.

The insertion of wooden and terra-cotta disks in to the ear lobes is a widespread custom.
- Mursi and Surma women also progressively split and stretch their lower lips to make room for similar disks there, too. This is a signal of beauty among these tribes and women are encouraged to take off their lip plates either during meal times or at night for sleep

Marriage and marriage ceremony also has different ways of expression and practice among these tribes.

- The Hamer man should pass the tradition of bull-jumping to be fit and promoted t adult hood for marriage

- The Mursi and Surma men should take part in the seasonally arranged stick fighting called “Donga” to be able choose their future life mates.
 
To see the itnerary for the Omo Valley tour program click here