The Omo River Valley Holidays
The Omo River Valley situated in South western Ethiopia is still a untouched environment, where tribal traditions have remained unchanged. The tribes found within the valley include the Karo, Geleb, Hammer, Bume, Mursi and many others, each having their own distinctive and unique features and who for a long time have lived in complete isolation. The women still dress in elaborately decorated skins and the men celebrate adulthood with special coloured hair buns. The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya.
The Mursi and Surma tribes have become increasingly renowned due to their women who wear the distinguished huge lip plates and the men who participate in ritualistic stick duelling. Other tribes located within the vicinity include the Hamar women, among the most beautiful in East Africa and whose various metal ornaments indicate their marital status. The Karo tribe are known for their amazing intricate body painting and erotic dancing. Other tribes located in and around the Omo Valley are the Tsamai, Bana, Erbore, Konso, Gabbra and Borana, each of them offer their own equally unique and fascinating customs.
The Omo River Valley is also home to several National Parks with prolific wildlife where you can still find buffalo, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, Bruchell’s Zebras, hartebeest, topi, Oryx and lion. It is here that you will find a small selection of camps that are available as a base to explore the tribal lifestyles and the wildlife sighting opportunities on offer within the valley.