Explore Ethiopia, Africa, and Beyond with Gamo Travel

Visit the rich tapestries of life in southern Ethiopia. Your personalised tour can include time with the ancient tribes of Omo Valley untouched for generations, a traditional canoe ride down the Omo River, dancing with the singers from Dorze village, shopping at the Hamer market in Jinka and breath taking drives across the African savannah. We have included some example tours and your unique tour will be based on your time, budget and interests. All Gamo Travel tours are designed around key cultural events and market days to ensure you have a memorable holiday.

We are highly experienced in providing tours for photographers and bird watchers, let us know your requirements and we will design your holiday.

Tours can start from Addis Ababa, Arba Minch Tour or Jinka. We also provide advice/bookings for flights and 4by4 car options.

Three day tour in Arba Minch and Dorzee

Day 1 :

Drive to Dorze and enjoy a walking tour – along the way visit the traditional bamboo houses, spend time with a family learning how to make the local bread from false banana tree, enjoy the colourful market, watch the women spinning and see the famous Dorze weavers. Stay overnight at Dorze Lodge, renowned for the spectacular views of the two Rift Valley lakes. After dinner, sit by the camp fire and join in with the local village’s singing and dancing.

Day 2 :

Drive to Arba Minch and take a motor boat across Lake Chamo to visit Nechisar National Park. Take a gentle hike across the savannah and see zebras, gazelles and different types of animals. On the return boat ride, you will see giant crocodiles, hippos, local fishermen, pelicans and different types of birds. Spend the evening in Arba Minch. Stay overnight at Paradise Lodge or Haile Resort.

Day 3 :

Drive to the Forty Springs and spend time in the rainforest, visit the springs, take a gentle hike to see bamboos, Columbus monkeys and waterhogs. Conclude your tour with a dip in the cool natural swimming pool. After lunch, visit Arba Minch market or enjoy our popular Arba Minch walking tour which concludes with a coffee ceremony. Add an extra day to your tour and visit one of the world heritage villages in Konso.

Day 1 :

Drive to Dorze and on the way up the mountain, visit the potteries, see pots emerge before your eyes. Enjoy time at Dorze Lodge, renowned for the spectacular views of the two Rift Valley lakes.

Day 2 :

In the morning, walk to Ocholo Village, which is perched on top of a small mountain with beautiful views of Lake Abaya. Spend time with the farmers, learning about their traditional methods. Spend the afternoon and evening with the community and either do a home stay or camp.

Day 3 :

After breakfast with the family, walk through the Bamboo forest to the colourful Dorze market. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour around Dorze – along the way visit the traditional bamboo houses, spend time with a family learning how to make the local bread from false banana tree, watch the women spinning and see the famous Dorze weavers. Stay overnight in the village in a home stay or camping.

Day 4 :

Walk through the Dorze Mountains to visit a local waterfall and enjoy a refreshing swim. Afterwards walk back to Dorze Lodge, with time to relax. After dinner, sit by the camp fire and join in with the local village’s singing and dancing.

Day 1 :

Airport pick up and then, drive to Dorze and enjoy a walking tour – along the way visit the traditional bamboo houses, spend time with a family learning how to make the local bread from false banana tree, enjoy the colourful market, watch the women spinning and see the famous Dorze weavers. Stay overnight at Dorze Lodge, renowned for the spectacular views of the two Rift Valley lakes. After dinner, sit by the camp fire and join in with the local village’s singing and dancing.

Day 2 :

Day 3 :

Drive to Konso, a UNESCO world heritage site, and take a walking tour around the renowned villages known for their stone walled terraces and fortified settlements. Drive to Turmi, a market town and home to the Hamer tribe, where you will stay overnight a lodge.

Day 4 :

Spend the morning visiting the Karo tribe. Drive back to Turmi in time for the colourful afternoon Hamer market. If there is a coming of age ceremony, attend a bull jumping ceremony. Camp overnight in a Hamer village, where you will welcomed as a member of the family and learn more about Hamer daily life.

Day 5 :

Drive to Omorate, which is situated by the Omo River and is as deep as one can get into the Omo valley, without entering Kenya. Cross the river to visit the Dassanech tribe. Afterwards, drive to Jinka which is set in the hills above Mago National Park and is the capital of the Omo Valley. You can spend time at the South-Omo Museum & Research Centre which hosts an interesting exhibition on the region's cultures and has a collection of ethnographic DVDs to view. Stay overnight in an Eco lodge.

Day 6 :

Drive through Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe. Take lunch in Jinka and then visit the Ari Tribe. Stay overnight in an Eco lodge.

Day 7 :

Day 0 :

Arrive in Addis Ababa, Gamo Travel airport collection. Depending on arrival time, you can enjoy our walking tour of Addis Ababa.

Day 1 :

Drive to Awassa and en route visit Abyata-Shala National Park where birdlife is profuse including the bright yellow Masked Weaver, the red-rumped Buffalo Weaver, Red-billed Hornbill, African Fish Eagle and Didric’s Cuckoo. On the shore of Lake Shala you will see a profusion flamingo and pelicans. Stay overnight in Awassa.

Day 2 :

Enjoy our popular tour around Awassa which includes: a visit to the local fish market where you will see the local fishermen whose wooden rowing boats brim with Tilapia, if hungry, visit the small eateries dotted alongside the shore who cook mouth-watering dishes and watch the marabou, pelicans and other birds feasting on the fish remains. Visit the colourful and crowded markets and take a gentle stroll around Amora Gedel Park. Stay overnight in Awassa.

Day 3 :

Drive to Dorze village and stay overnight at Dorze Lodge, renowned for the spectacular views of the two Rift Valley lakes. After dinner, sit by the camp fire and join in with the local village’s singing and dancing.

Day 4 :

Enjoy a walking tour in Dorze – along the way visit the traditional bamboo houses, spend time with a family learning how to make the local bread from false banana tree, enjoy the colourful market, watch the women spinning and see the famous Dorze weavers. Stay overnight at Dorze Lodge,

Day 5 :

Day 6 :

Drive to the Forty Springs and spend time in the rainforest, visit the springs, take a gentle hike to see bamboos, Columbus monkeys and water hogs. Conclude your tour with a dip in the cool natural swimming pool. After lunch, visit Arba Minch market or enjoy our popular Arba Minch walking tour which concludes with a coffee ceremony.

Day 7 :

Drive to Konso, a UNESCO world heritage site, renowned for its stone walled terraces and fortified settlements. Afterwards, drive to Turmi, a market town and home to the Hamer tribe.

Day 8 :

Drive to Omorate, which is situated by the Omo River and is as deep as one can get into the Omo valley, without entering Kenya. Cross the river to visit the Dassanech tribe. Drive back to Turmi in time for the colourful afternoon Hamer market. Stay overnight in Turmi.

Day 9 :

Spend the morning visiting the Karo tribe. Drive back to Turmi for lunch and if there is a coming of age ceremony, attend a bull jumping ceremony. Camp overnight in a Hamer village, where you will welcomed as a member of the family and learn more about Hamer daily life.

Day 10 :

Drive to Jinka which is set in the hills above Mago National Park and the capital of the Omo Valley. Spend time at the South-Omo Museum & Research Centre which hosts an interesting exhibition on the region's cultures and has a collection of ethnographic DVDs to view. Take a stroll down the hill back to the town for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Ari Tribe and stay overnight in Jinka.

Day 11 :

Drive through Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe. Then, drive to Key Afar which rests on a lush plateau along the Konso–Jinka road and visit the busy market attended by hundreds of Bena, Ari and Tsemai tribe members. Stay overnight in Jinka.

Day 12 :

Drive through the Rift Valley which covered in acacia woodland and studded with lakes, it feels unequivocally African and there many opportunities to take stunning photographs. The Great Rift Valley is the single largest geographical feature on the African continent, and was the only such feature visible to the first astronauts to reach the moon. Stay overnight in Arba Minch.

Day 13 :

Drive through the Rift Valley and enjoy lunch in Butajira. On the road to Addis Ababa, visit the Steles of Tiya (a UNESCO world heritage site) and Adadi Mariam rock church which is chiselled out of a single piece of rock in the 13th Century. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

Day 14 :

Your day in Addis Ababa will be based on your needs. Our recommended options: Addis Mercato - it’s crowded, it’s chaotic, but this market is the largest open air market in Addis and is full of life and character. National Museum of Ethiopia – the home of Lucy, the oldest human remains. The museums has a collection of archaeology, like precious stelae and statues from Axum, royal family memorabilia from the former emperors and some famous Ethiopian works of art. Ethnological Museum - located in the lush university campus, this museum hosts the former bedroom and bathroom facilities of the highly regarded Emperor Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari). Complete your holiday at a Restaurant featuring music and dancing from throughout Ethiopia. We will provide transport back to the airport.