Konso Cultural Centre

Fly from Addis to Arba Minch. Drive to Konso.

Dasenech Village

This morning we travel out to the Karo people at Kolcho village on the banks of the Omo river The Karo people excel in traditional body painting. This evening we visit Hamer Village near to our accommodation. The Hamer are fine looking people taking great pride in their appearance – the women, with their red-dyed plaited hair wear leather skirts decorated with shells, are beautiful. Each Hamer village is amazingly still free from western influences and non-organic materials. Their homes are constructed entirely of local materials, mud, wood, and thatch. Each village consists of a single extended family unit of approximately 10-15 huts in close proximity around which daily life rotates.

Dasenech Village

Driving across dry sandy plains to Key Afar then into more fertile rolling hills to the small town of Jinka. We visit a small museum which gives valuable insight into some tribal customs then take an optional walk down to the town meeting the people on the way, before driving out to our accommodation.

Mago National Park

Taking an early start we drive across the mountains through some of the most beautiful Ethiopian scenery, into the drier Mago National Park area where we may see Dik Dik and the lesser Kudu. Out on the dry plains, we visit a Mursi Village. These people are known for their decorated clay plates which are inserted in the lower lips of women. Starting at adolescence the plates eventually become larger, some plates are finally reaching the dimensions of a bread and butter plate. This custom seems to be used less now and many of the older women just have loose skin with no plate inserted. Drive to Konso.

Chamo Lake

Early start today as we drive from the fertile soils, across the dry plains until reaching Abra Minch known for its Ensete (false) bananas Arba Minch, meaning Forty Springs, it is a fertile fruit producing valley. Drive into the Chencha mountains tovisit a Dorze village. Noted for their fine weaving in wool and cot-ton (great shopping). Their distinctive thatched homes are tall and beehive shaped, we will be able to visit a home and see some weaving, also a demonstration of the many uses of the “false” banana. After a picnic lunch we drive to Lake Chamo and take a boat trip in search of the enormous crocodiles and possibly even Hippopotamus before returning to the airport. Fly from Arba Minch to Addis.