CULTURE AND TRIBES BY AIR 
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

Code STT 028

Day 1: Morning - fly to Jinka and drive straight to Turmi to visit the Hammer tribe.

Day 2: Depart for Murulle and visit Karo villages.

Day 3: Leave for Jinka en-route visiting the Mursi villages.

Day 4: Visit the ethnological museum in Jinka town before flying back to Addis Ababa.

WESTERN ETHIOPIA BY SURFACE
11DAYS / 10 NIGHTS

Code STT 029

Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa - city tour of Addis Ababa
Upon arrival at Addis Ababa, our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and assist you in transferring to a chosen hotel. An overview of the program and itineraries will be given. For the rest of the day, visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where you will visit the 3.6 million-year-old remains of Lucy, whose skeletal remains were discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 meters and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis. Overnight in the reserved hotel. 
 

Day 2: Addis Ababa - Nekemte
After breakfast, drive to Nekemte through the western direction of the country visiting the beautiful scenery as well as the Shoa and Wolega Oromo people and their villages. Overnight stay in a local hotel. 

Day 3: Nekemte - Metu
After breakfast, drive to Metu. After crossing River Didasa, stop at the town of Bedele for lunch, then drive through the indigenous natural forests of Western Ethiopia while having a good experience of the life of the local people. Overnight in a local hotel at Metu.    

Day 4: Metu - Gambela
Continue driving to Gambela via Gore. Also, drive through the indigenous natural forest of Western Ethiopia. This place is famous for its tea farm - en route visit the large Gumero tea field. Overnight stay at Gambela in a reserved Hotel.
 

Day 5: Gambela
The major two tribes living in Gambela town are the Nuer and Anuak people. Morning visit the Nuer people; afternoon visit the Anuak people. Overnight in Gambela same Hotel.

Day 6: Gambela - Mizan Teferi
Drive from Gambela to Mizan Teferi through Bebeka coffee plantation, Ethiopia's largest and old coffee plantation. On the way visit the Menit, Yem and the Dizi tribes. Overnight in Eden Hotel.

Day 7: Kibish
Continue driving further to the West from Mizan Teferi to Kibish through Bebeka coffee plantation, Ethiopia’s largest and old coffee plantation. On the way, visit the Menit tribe. After crossing the Akobo River, experience the African savanna grassland. Take a stop at a little town named Dimma for lunch. Continue driving further west to Tulgit and then to Kibish. Tulgit and Kibish are small towns of the Surma people. Several Surma people live in Kibish town. The rest of the days walk around your campsite to visit the Surma people. Overnight camping at Kibish (altitude 1745 meter above sea level).
 

Day 8: Around Kibish
In the morning, if there is any donga (stick-fighting of the Surma people) you may enjoy watching it. Otherwise, walk around the old Kibish village (14kms round trip) to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of the Surma tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular or rectangular clay discs inserted. Surma men are well known for their stick fighting, which is called donga. Players are usually unmarried men. The winner is carried away on a platform of poles to a group of girls waiting at the side of the arena who decide among themselves which of them will ask for his hand in marriage. Taking part in a stick fight is considered to be more important than winning it. The men paint their bodies with a mixture of chalk and water before the fight. Overnight camping at Kibish.
 

 

Day 9: Kibish - Bebeka
Drive the same way back via Dima to Bebeka near the town of Mizan Teferi. Overnight Bebeka Guest House.

Day 10: Bebeka - Jimma
Drive from Mizan Teferi to Jimma (240 km) through Ethiopia's indigenous dense forest. The people living in this area are from Kefecho, Yem and Bench people. This place is famous for coffee, tea and spice growing. Overnight in a reserved at Jimma.

Day 11:  Jima - Addis Ababa
After breakfast, drive back to Addis Ababa - en route you may visit one of the Oromo villages. Evening, a farewell dinner and cultural dances from the different ethnic groups in one of the Ethiopian restaurants. Then go to the airport for flight back home.