Departs 17 Jan
Popular 4 days, 3 nights Cultural
Addis Ababa
Timket in Addis Ababa
Walk beside the tabots to Jan Meda on the eve, then stand in the crowd at dawn as the blessed water falls.
Cultural journeys
Lower Omo by River (Mago)
Three nights in a tented camp on a bend of the Omo, with boat days to riverside communities few travellers reach by road.
Overview
The journey in brief
- Duration
- 6 days, 5 nights · 5-day version on request
- Where
- Southern · Omo Valley
- Travel style
- Private tour
- Best season
- June to March
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Price
- USD 2,495 per person
Most visitors see the Omo River once, from a bluff. On this trip you live beside it. For three nights the camp sits on an oxbow bend near the Kara village of Duss, under old fig trees, and the boat becomes your road: to Kwegu hunters and beekeepers on the banks, and to Nyangatom families on the far shore.
It starts by land, with Ari farms near Jinka and a morning with the Mursi in Mago National Park. Every visit is made with a local guide who knows the families; you ask before any photograph and pay fees to the person directly. Expect heat, simple comfort and slow days.
Highlights
- Three nights in a tented camp on an oxbow bend of the Omo
- Boat days on the river, the only road to some villages
- A morning with Mursi hosts in Mago National Park
- Kwegu hunters and beekeepers, the river’s canoe makers
- Nyangatom herders on the west bank, reached by a short crossing
- The Kara village of Duss, high above the water
What is included
- Round-trip flights Addis Ababa–Jinka at the Ethiopian Airlines discounted fare
- Airport transfers in Addis Ababa
- 5 nights’ accommodation, twin share (2 nights in lodges, 3 in a tented camp)
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- 4x4 vehicle and driver
- Boat days on the Omo River
- Local Omo guide throughout
- Park and village entry fees
- Bottled water
What is not included
- International flights
- Ethiopian visa
- Domestic fare difference if you do not fly Ethiopian Airlines internationally (about USD 150 per round trip)
- Photo fees, paid directly to the people you photograph
- Single tent or room (optional extra)
- Meals not listed
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tips for guides, boatmen and drivers
- Travel insurance
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1 Jinka and the Ari FarmsJinka
Your guide meets you at Bole International Airport for the morning flight to Jinka. In the afternoon you visit Ari families in the farming villages around town, where enset gardens and clay pots shape the day. Over dinner your guide talks through the river days ahead.
Activities
- Morning flight to Jinka
- Afternoon in an Ari village
- Evening briefing
Day 2 A Morning with the Mursi in MagoTurmi
An early start on the rough road into Mago National Park for a morning in a Mursi village with your local guide. Ask before any photograph and pay the fee to the person directly. In the afternoon the road runs south through Key Afer and Dimeka to Turmi.
Activities
- Drive into Mago National Park
- Time in a Mursi village with a local guide
- Afternoon drive to Turmi
Day 3 Down to the River at DussOmo River
You drive to the river at Murulle, where the boat takes about 30 minutes to reach camp. Four tents stand under fig trees on the oxbow, each with a veranda and its own bathroom. Late in the day you walk to the Kara village of Duss, high above the water.
Activities
- Drive to Murulle
- Boat to camp
- Kara village at Duss with a local guide
Day 4 Upriver to the KweguOmo River
The boat heads upriver to a Kwegu village on the bank. The Kwegu are hunters, fishers and beekeepers, and among the best canoe handlers on the Omo. Afternoon back at camp, with kingfishers and the slow brown river.
Activities
- Morning boat upriver
- Kwegu village with a local guide
- Afternoon at camp
Day 5 Across to the NyangatomOmo River
A short crossing to the west bank, where Nyangatom herders keep cattle and goats near the river. Your guide arranges the visit through people the families know. The evening is yours, on the riverbank at camp.
Activities
- Boat to the west bank
- Nyangatom village with a local guide
- Evening at camp
Day 6 Boat, Road and the Flight NorthJinka
An early boat back to Murulle, then the long drive north to Jinka. The afternoon flight takes you to Addis Ababa, where we transfer you to your hotel or international flight.
Activities
- Boat to Murulle
- Drive to Jinka
- Afternoon flight to Addis Ababa
Itineraries can change with weather, road and flight conditions. We will tell you promptly if they do.
Gallery
A look at the trip
Photo: Unsplash
Good to know
Before you book
- Guide languages
- English, Amharic
- Minimum age
- 10 years and over
- Group size
- 1 to 8 travellers
- Meeting point
- Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa. Your guide meets you in arrivals with a name sign.
- Accessibility
- Long drives on rough roads, boat landings on muddy banks and uneven ground in the villages. Not suitable for wheelchairs or for travellers with back trouble.
What to bring
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- A scarf for the dust
- A headlamp
- Small notes for photo fees
Dress code: Light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees, comfortable in the heat and respectful in the villages.
Cancellation policy
This tour follows the Strict policy. Days are whole calendar days before departure.
| When you cancel | What you get back |
|---|---|
| 30 or more days before departure | 50% refund |
| Fewer than 30 days before departure | No refund |
A non-refundable USD 150 per traveller (domestic flights) is deducted before these percentages are applied.
Questions
About this tour
How comfortable is the camp?
Large tents with beds, verandas and their own bathrooms, with a bucket shower. Simple, shaded and quiet.
Is the river safe?
The boat is run by an experienced crew with life jackets. Crocodiles live in the Omo, so no swimming.
Can I take photos?
Only with consent. Fees are small cash amounts paid to the person you photograph; your guide knows the current rate.
Why is it priced above our Omo Valley trip?
The camp is booked for your group alone, and the boat, crew and fuel are yours for three days.
Can it be done in five days?
Yes. We drop one river day and keep two nights at camp.
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