The Omo Valley of southern Ethiopia is one of the last undiscovered places in the world.

Three of Ethiopia’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites are found here and more than 200,000 people representing many different ethnic groups call the area home. Here you will meet people from local tribes, including the Dorze, Mursi and Hamer.

The Omo Valley is also is rich in natural beauty. Here the outstanding biodiversity of Ethiopia is on display. Home to more than 80 large mammal and over 300 bird species, the wildlife in this region is spectacular. See elephants, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, buffaloes, gazelles and much more!

The Chencha Mountains are home to a Dorze village, made up of beehive-shaped dwellings made of local grasses and wood that can reach heights of 18 feet. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze, however, they are also skilled farmers. Their traditional technique for terracing mountainsides ingeniously prevents soil erosion.

The Mursi tribeswomen continue to practice the custom of inserting wooden or terra-cotta discs into the ear lobes and stretching of their lower lips to accommodate large ceremonial plates. Generally speaking, the larger the lip plate the more desirable the wearer.

The Karo ethnic groups are experts in body painting, these groups use clay and locally available vegetable pigments to trace intricate patterns on their faces, chest,arms and legs. Karo men also sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes topped off with several ostrich feathers.

The Omo Valley is a post – trip extension to our “Ethiopia: The Wonders of the Horn of Africa” adventure.