PTT 0304 - OMO VALLEY & BALE MOUNTAINS (18 DAYS/17 NIGHTS)

Day 1:
Arrive in Addis Ababa to a warm welcome by PTT staff at the airport, and then
transfer to your hotel. Morning will be free. Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour
of Addis Ababa, starting your tour from the Trinity Cathedral, visit to the
National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of
Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest
hominid “Lucy”; then drive up to Mt. Entoto, the highest part of the capital, where
you will have a panoramic view over the town of Addis Ababa; a visit to the adjacent
church of St. Mary; a drive down to the biggest open air market in East Africa
called Mercato.
Drive back to the hotel for overnight.

Day 2:
Drive to Abyata, Addis and continue to Langano. Today you will drive to Langano, a lake found in the Rift Valley system. This is a start to your trip to the South. Overnight will be at Bisangari or Wenney Ecolodge at Lake Langano. Here, bird watching, horse riding, forest exploration, boat excursions and more are available. More than 400 species of birds have been registered in the area and many Columbus monkeys are present.

Day 3:
Drive to Arbaminch. On the way you will see different rift valley scenes, as well as varying housing and countryside styles of different tribes like Oromo, Kambata and Wolayta. Before you reach Arbaminch, you will visit the Wolayta traditional house.
Overnight will be at Swaynes or Tourist Hotel.

Day 4:
In the morning, you will visit Nech Sar National Park, famous for its wild animal, bird and plant collections. Sites very much worth your attention are the two rift valley lakes i.e. Abaya and Chamo, found in the park. In the afternoon, go for boat ride on Lake Chamo to view the huge hippopotamus family, great white pelicans and other offshore birds, as well as the biggest crocodiles in Africa. 
Overnight will be at Swaynes Hotel or Tourist Hotel.

Day 5:
Morning drive to Jinka. If it is a Thursday, you will visit the colorful market of the Benna and Tsemay tribes at Keyafer on your way, 42 Kms before you reach Jinka.
Overnight will be at Resort Hotel.

Day 6:
In the morning, you will drive to Mago National park to visit the Mursi tribes, who are the most famous in of the Omo valley. You can not miss their most fascinating cultural traits such as lip clay insertion to enhance beauty. Overnight will be at Mago National Park Camp (on the bank of Neri River).

Day 7:
Drive from Mago National park to Karo village. En route, visit the green trail of Mago National Park. In the afternoon, visit the Korcho village, and then proceed to Kangate village to visit the Bumme tribes.
Overnight camping at Korcho village.

Day 8:
In the morning, visit the Bume people and Korcho village. Lunch will be served in luch boxes. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Turmi and rest at Evangadi Lodge.Later in the afternoon, you will visit the Hammer village around the camp site.
Overnight camping.

Day 9:
After breakfast, you will make a day excursion from Turmi to Omorate, 70 Km away from Turmi, cross the River by local boat, and visit the Omo Geleab. Afterwards, you will return to Turmi for lunch. You can have the afternoon to yourself.
Overnight camping.

Day 10:
Visit the Hammer people. You will visit the colourful markets at Dimeka or Turmi (depending on the day of the week) and watch Hammer dances and possibly their marriage ceremonies (with bull jumping).
Overnight camping in a fixed tent in Turmi.

Day 11:
Drive from Turmi to Konso via Erbore village. Lunch will be served en route. In the afternoon, you will visit the Konso village. The Konso are popular for their unique trussing style. You will also visit their community house.
Overnight will be at Konso or Edget Hotel.

Day 12:
Morning visit yet again to the very interesting Konso village.
Overnight will be at Swaynes or Tourist Hotel.

Day 13:
Drive to Awasa. En route, adore spectacular views. Lunch will be at Awasa. In the afternoon, drive to Wondogent Resort Hotel for a unique Natural Spa experience.
Overnight will be at Wondogent.

Day 14:
Morning drive to Goba to visit Bale Mountains National Park. En route, you will visit the spectacular green land of the Arsi, and you will catch some great sights of scenery, bird and wild life. On arrival, you will get some rest and then visit the small museum found at the head quarters of the national park. In the museum, you find different preserved wild and bird life. Continue to Goba for overnight at Goba Wabishebelle Hotel.

Day 15:
Drive to Bale, and then visit Bale Mountains National Park (the locals call it ‘Dinsho’). Overnight will be at Dinsho Lodge or a hotel in Goba.

Day 16:
Drive to Senate plateau, to the moor land, where you will see the very endemic birds of Ethiopia, as well as the Red Jackal. Afterwards, proceed to Harena forest where you will be rewarded by a stunning view of the magnificent escarpment.
Overnight will be at a hotel in Goba.

Day 17:
Drive back to Addis Ababa via Assela. Lunch will be held at Sodrea Resort Hotel.  If time permits, you will enjoy the natural spa at the hotel before continuing to Addis Ababa. On your way to Addis Ababa, visit Debre Zeit crater lake, a popular habitat to birds.
Overnight will be at your hotel in Addis Ababa.

Day 18:
Departure