Going to Ethiopia, I honestly didn’t know what to expect.  When you think about Africa, you conjure up images of giraffes munching on leaves up above, lions grumpily growling, or the majestic migration of wildebeest.  What is easy to forget is the human side of the continent and how incredible the people are once you get to know them.  These are the many faces of Omo Valley in Ethiopia.

What You’ll Get Out Of This Article:

  • Discover the unique qualities of the tribes of the Omo Valley.
  • See a glimpse of donga fighting and bull jumping ceremonies.
  • Learn which tribes use the infamous lip plates, and which are heavily adorned with body paint and beads.
  • Read about the day to day life of the Omo Valley tribes.

TOP TIPS TRAVELING TO OMO VALLEY ETHIOPIA

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A Thought Provoking Experience

What makes Ethiopia uniquely different from the other parts of Africa is that it is less of an animal safari and more of a human safari.  That probably sounds a bit strange and at times it really does put you in morally ambiguous situations where you question whether you’re completely disrupting a society’s existence or bringing about positive improvement. 

The beauty of travel though is that it really does get you thinking about humanity at a broader level, puts you out of your comfort zone, and forces you to think about the simple values of life.

A Little About Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The region of Omo Valley of Ethiopia probably deserves a little bit of an introduction.  I certainly didn’t know much about it and after a bit of research I knew that I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Omo Valley is truly one of the last surviving group of people where modernization has hardly touched them which feels impossible in an era of Internet.  For centuries, 200,000 or so Omo Valley tribes have pursued preindustrial lifestyles that until more recently have been left alone to their own devices because the land was considered useless and too remote for exploitation.  Beyond the gifts of tourists and garbage left behind, men, women, and children all express themselves in their own unique culture and tribal identity.

What makes them so fascinating is the fact that in such a small area, there is an incredibly diversity of language and genetics that also live as traditionally as they currently do.  With 14 tribes, each carries its own language, customs, way of life, and heritage.  It also may not be a coincidence that the oldest Homo Sapien fossil fragments were found here.

It’s the curiosity that bring visitors like myself to the region for the chance to witness rituals such as bull jumping and gladiatorial combat.

CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE
9 Day Omo Valley Ethiopia Itinerary (Advice and Tips from A Real Traveler)

The People And Tribes Of Omo Valley Ethiopia

With that, what better way to share my experiences in Ethiopia than to introduce to you all of the incredible people I met along the way.  It’s the new faces, friendly handshakes, and unexpected hugs that make for the best travel experiences and Omo Valley truly punctuated that.

We’ve organized our photos into different groups which more-or-less chronologically follows what our 9 day Ethiopia itinerary played out.

Note that the photographs below aren’t meant to be graphic but an inside look at a hidden culture so I hope no one is offended. 

Guides

If you read how we spent our 9 days in Ethiopia, you’ll know that we did something unique by hiring two separate local guides.

Was it necessary? Probably not, but in a way, it kept each of them more accountable, and we leveraged both of their strengths and the connections they had in various tribes of Omo Valley. In the end, this ended up working out quite well.

Sadly, Solomon has since passed but Melak is still running personalized tours.

our guides in ethiopia omo valley solomon and melak
Our guides, Solomon (left) and Melak (right).
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Our superstar driver, Billy, who was always full of energy and particularly loved singing to Katy Perry.

Arba Minch To Start It Off

After landing in Addis Ababa, we connected with a local flight to Arba Minch, the closest airport to Omo Valley.

This was easily our nicest stop on the trip. Our hotel Emerald Resort (formerly Swaynes Hotel), was quite comfortable and the next day we even got to do a relaxing boat ride around Lake Chamo.

lake chamo boat ride in ethiopia near arba minch
Our Lake Chamo boat operator was all smiles.
scouts in ethiopia travel guide
Scouts of Ethiopia. It wasn’t clear on whether they were military or not but, while there was a heavy security presence in some areas, we were told by the locals that these scouts were really just there for show and to collect money.
4x4 car troubles in arba minch with locals helping
When your 4×4 breaks down on the streets of Arba Minch, the locals come out to give you a hand.
ethiopia coffee ceremony in arba minch
Ethiopians take their coffee seriously. Instead of Starbucks you have these coffee stands where a young woman is there to prep the incense, crush coffee beans by hand, boil hot water, and pour your coffee right in front of your eyes.

Spending Time In Jinka With The Locals

Once we made it to the actual gateway into Omo Valley in the town of Jinka, the landscape changed dramatically.

Since our guides are pretty well-connected to the community here, we had many chance and planned encounters with Ethiopian locals, giving us a true unfiltered version of seeing this part of the country.

While Arba Minch is the major hub, Jinka is the actual gateway into Omo Valley.

driving from arba minch to jink with kids through car window
Driving from Arba Minch to Jinka, the streets were lined with kids selling random trinkets, fruits or some form of twerking.
rastafarian friend in jinka omo valley
My new Rastafarian friend that accompanied us the one morning when we went up to the Omo Valley Museum.
jinka ethiopia child that followed us around
This kid was fascinated by my solar power bank and ended up following us all the way down. He told us that he was on break from school and was walking to the hospital to visit his Mom.
jinka kid that followed us in ethiopia asking to help buy text books for school
At the local convenient store shack, I bought a few postcards to send home. They didn’t have small change so I got a few lollipops instead. I gave them to this kid along with $5 to buy textbooks for school.

What Did I Pack To Ethiopia?

This is very much an off-the-beaten path type of adventure that brings you into a wide range of environments so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared.

Heading Into Mursi Tribe Lands

The most well-known of the Omo Valley tribes is the Mursi Tribe. They are often known to be the most aggressive as well.

Thankfully, through our guides’ connections, we were granted permission to not only visit, but stay the night with a Mursi tribe community.

This is when you truly realize, you aren’t in Kansas anymore.

omo valley ethiopia tribe photography with kids begging for money
We stopped by the side of the road to take a photo of the valley below and these kids came bursting out of nowhere for photos. Luckily the negotiation of fees was negotiated by our guides. This was the start of the awkward photo taking where you juggle the morals of whether photography is an economy driver for growth or a catalyst to the corruption of culture.
haunted eyes of mursi tribe woman grinding sorghum in omo valley ethiopia
The haunting look from a member of the Mursi tribe we were staying with and the grinding of the source of life in Omo Valley – sorghum.
mursi tribe girl standing by a tree in omo valley ethiopia photo essay
The Mursi were perhaps the most aggressive of all tribes in the valley. I was bombarded with “Photo, photo photo!” and “Five bihr” as I started to make my way around the village.
clay lipped plates of mursi tribe women
The clay-lipped plates are what distinguish the Mursi from all other tribes. We learned that in this case, bigger is better, as women don their plates in order to attract male partners.
sagging lips from plates of mursi tribe woman with baby
Plates aren’t always on and so this gives you an idea of what happens with their elongated and sagging lips.
young women of the omo valley mursi tribe
Younger women of the Mursi tribe
children hanging out in front of a mursi tribe hut
Children of Omo Valley.
kids and their caretaker in a mursi tribe camp
Kids being kids in Mursi tribe.
In the middle of the day, you’ll find most members of the tribe literally just chilling.
In the middle of the day, you’ll find most members of the tribe literally just chilling.
Kurchikov’s are not an uncommon sight in these parts. They are mainly used for protection and “in case there are lions” I was told. Now that made me a little nervous as we walked through the bush to get to the watering hole.
Kurchikov’s are not an uncommon sight in these parts. They are mainly used for protection and “in case there are lions” I was told. Now that made me a little nervous as we walked through the bush to get to the watering hole.
CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE
Ultimate Ethiopia Omo Valley Tribes Travel Guide
Water is the source of life here and during dry season is it were when I was there, it is part of the daily routine to caravan jerry cans of water from watering hole many kilometers away.
Water is the source of life here and during dry season is when we were there. It is part of the daily routine to caravan jerry cans of water from watering hole many kilometers away.
watering home near a mursi tribe
What made for such a great experience with this tribe was that we got a chance to catch a glimpse of their daily lives and get a tangible feel for the every day hard work that’s required to stay alive.
This is Lala to the right, one of our auxiliary guides that joined us to this village since he was the one that had the relationship with the chief that gave us permission to stay with him and be under his protection.
This is Lala to the right, one of our auxiliary guides that joined us to this village since he was the one that had the relationship with the chief that gave us permission to stay with him and be under his protection.
Chief Nogali showing us how brushing your teeth works out in the valley.
Chief Nogali showing us how brushing your teeth works out in the valley.
At the crack of dawn, men of the village including the children start their daily routines. Kids get trained early to herd cattle as they make their way out to graze.
At the crack of dawn, men of the village, including the children, start their daily routines with the herds. Kids get trained early to herd cattle as they make their way out to graze.

Donga Stick Fighting Tournament

We didn’t realize the significance of this until much later but the morning we were supposed to leave the Mursi tribe, our guides found out that a Donga stick fighting tournament had been called.

Donga is the meeting of each villages’ top fighters where sticks are used as weapons. It’s quite brutal but a fascinating experience to see the warriors duke it out one on one to certain glory or severe head wounds.

These aren’t exactly scheduled on the calendar somewhere so we were incredibly lucky to witness this National Geographic moment in-person.

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We passed by many warriors as we made our way through the African plains to get to the middle of nowhere.
Warriors prepare for battle by donning armour made of rag-tag items found in the village.
Warriors prepare for battle by donning armour made of rag-tag items found in the village.
The one thing you immediately notice when you get to tribes like the Mursi is that they are built completely different from the modern Ethiopian. Instead of scrawny marathon running machines, you have hardened warriors built like tanks.
The one thing you immediately notice when you get to tribes like the Mursi is that they are built completely different from the modern Ethiopian. Instead of scrawny marathon running machines, you have hardened warriors built like tanks.
The Donga tournament is rife with energy and rhythm as a circle is made for opposing warriors.
The Donga tournament is rife with energy and rhythm as a circle is made for opposing warriors.
The coming together of many for Donga is something I never expected to see.
The coming together of many for Donga is something I never expected to see.
CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE
Donga Stick Fighting Tournament In Omo Valley, Ethiopia - Brutal And Unexpected
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Women cheering on.
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Anxiously watching and wincing with every strike.
Chief Nogali, a multi-champion himself, looking onwards.
Chief Nogali, a multi-champion himself, looking onwards.
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Even Donga has referees.
We were only there for a couple of hours under the sweltering sun but this would go on for the rest of the day until dusk.
We were only there for a couple of hours under the sweltering sun but this would go on for the rest of the day until dusk.

The Ari Tribe

After a few days spent with the Mursi tribe, we got to spend time with a contrasting tribe, the Ari Tribe.

In many ways, I felt like this tribe was much more adapted to modern civilization and a result, most of the villages were near the town of Jinka.

They were extremely welcoming and the kids especially were oh so cute.

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Our guides had many friends in town including this kid. He hung out with us on several occasions although if I was to be honest, I questioned whether he was just in it for charity which definitely came up towards the end.
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The adorable kids of the Ari tribe village we visited.
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Looking onwards as the women of Ari laughed at Steve’s attempt at pottery.
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Son of the blacksmith jamming to some tunes.
kids as roadside performers near jinka in omo valley
On the side of the road you’ll find all sorts of attempts to make money from tourists. While not culturally accurate in any way, I give these kids props for trying.

Hamar Tribe Hospitality

Another major tribe in Omo Valley are the Hamar Tribe. For our first encounter with this distinct ethnic group, we spent time in one of the gathering places near the town of Turmi – Dimeka Market.

It’s at this market that we saw goats being traded, sorghum being ground down to a powder, the red dye for women’s hair, and the Borkota, a common hand-held piece of furniture that can be used as a chair and neck rest.

Read our story on American Express Essentials about the mighty indispensable Borkota.

At the end of the trip, we also camped in a Hamer Tribe village which we’ll get to further below.

CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE
Ethiopia And Omo Valley Through The Eyes Of A Wanderer
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Caught in an thunderstorm, we ducked inside this hut of the Hamar tribe for some tea and company.
Why grind sorghum by hand when you can come to the Dimeka Market to have machines do it for you!
Why grind sorghum by hand when you can come to the Dimeka Market to have machines do it for you!
Got goat?
Goats are prized possessions for the Hamer.
Man’s best friend out here.
Man’s best friend out here.
The Hamar salon is open for business. A mix of butter, red soil is used to give the women of Hamar that unique red, braided, and dreadlock hair style.
The Hamar salon is open for business. A mix of butter, red soil is used to give the women of Hamar that unique red, braided, and dreadlock hair style.
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Hamar villages from all over come to this Saturday market to “Facebook” in real time and trade their wares.

Bull Jumping Ceremony

One of the important rites of passage for the Hamer Tribe is the Bull Jumping ceremony. This is when a boy becomes a man (called Maza). To unlock this achievement, the boy must pass the test of jumping over a line of bulls.

What I learned from my day here is that it’s a full day affair, with the friends and family coming together to celebrate, intricate jewelry, face-painting, and whipping.

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Maza getting decorated for the start of Bull Jumping Ceremony.
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The man of the hour, bull-jumping extraordinaire, and about to become a man.
The coming together of family and friends to celebrate.
The coming together of family and friends to celebrate.
Alcoholic beverages being passed around.
Alcoholic beverages being passed around.
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The entering of new family.
The energy is palpable.
The energy is palpable.
20160227 BullJumpingCeremony-137
Women are begging the Maza to get whipped.
Women take pride in their whipping scars. The more you have the more beautiful you are said to be.
Women take pride in their whipping scars. The more you have the more beautiful you are said to be.
The final ceremonial huddle for the boy that is to be a man.
The final ceremonial huddle for the boy that is to be a man.
All of a sudden he’s butt-naked and there he goes!
All of a sudden he’s butt-naked and there he goes!
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There’s a moment of reprieve as the bulls get lined up in a field nearby.
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He makes several good passes of “bull jumping” which has him launch up and in succession hop and skip over the top of these bulls.
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An overwhelming sigh of relief.

Travellers We Met

On one of our morning breakfast stops, we unexpectedly met Elof and Nana, who were along their biking journey from Sweden to South Africa.

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On our way to the Dassanech tribe, we bumped into Elof and Nana. Quite the amazing stories we heard from them including having spears thrown at them in Ethiopia.

The Heat Of Nyangatom

Venturing further away, we also had an opportunity to see the Nyangatom Tribe. Located in a more arid and desolate part of Omo Valley, it was fascinating to see how their lifestyle was completely different from the others.

During our day here, we saw some of their beading work and were welcomed into their huts.

The beating sun made it hard to be out there for too long but thankfully there was shade underneath the tree for a reprieve from the heat.

Nyangatom Tribe Woman
Women of the Nyangatom are known to be garbed in large number of bead necklaces. I thought it was going to be just a few loops but this was way more.
Nyangatom Head Balancing
Master-level head balancing.
Nyangatom Hut
A look inside life inside a Nyangatom hut.
Nyangatom Woman Black and White
The haunting stare of a Nyangatom woman.
Nyangatom Child
The Nyangatom kids were quite the curious bunch and were especially interested in my carabiners.

Chilling With The Karo Tribe

One of the last tribes we visited was the Karo Tribe.

Living near Omo River, we found that they were much more laid back compared to the other tribes. There were a few opportunities to photograph Karo tribe members and drink a beer as well.

Karo Tribe Bar Friends
The Karo tribes really have it good here along the Omo River. They even have a bar complete with generator set up. This is me hanging with a few of the guys there.
Men of Karo Tribe
Men of Karo.
Karo Tribe Face Paint
Karo tribe do a lot more face and body painting over the other tribes I visited. These kids that followed us around wanted to paint us with the body paint of the Omo Valley as well.
Kids of Karo
Kids of Karo with Omo River in the backdrop.
Shomadore in Karo Tribe
This is Shomadore, giving us a tour of his family’s home. We learned that he was quite the fan of hip hop and rap.
Karo Tribe Man
You know all those famous photos of tribesmen with Omo River behind? They’re all taken here at this Karo tribe.

Camping With Hamar Tribe

To close out our time with the tribes of Omo Valley, we ventured back to one of the families of the Hamar Tribe that we’d been traveling with.

After camping overnight outside of their home, we had a heartwarming morning drinking tea and jamming to music by The Weeknd who is Canadian Ethiopian.

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Morning tea with wife #2 in the Hamar village we camped overnight with.
Kala was our guide throughout our time in Turmi and this was his home.
Kala was our guide throughout our time in Turmi and this was his home.
Fascination with my GoPro Hero 4 Silver.
Fascination with my GoPro Hero 4 Silver.
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Saying Goodbye

If you read our Ultimate Omo Valley Ethiopia Travel Guide, you’l know why we ended up cutting our trip short. Still, it was sad to say goodbye to our guides and driver.

And this is how you fill up on gas.
Solomon showing us how you fill up gas in Ethiopia.

It’s the people that make every trip special and this one was no different.   A trip to Omo Valley truly immerses yourself into all the different tribes and you’ll see things that are so unique that you’ll think you’re on an episode of National Geographic.

PRO TIP: Check out our Ethiopia Packing List for a detailed guide on what exactly to pack for a trip like this!

What an adventure this was to Omo Valley!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Omo Valley?

The Omo Valley is in Southern Ethiopia. It is an area of around 165 km2 in the lower Omo Valley and is snaked by the Omo river.

What is the cultural significance of Omo Valley in Ethiopia?

There have been discovering in sedimentary deposits in the Lower Omo Valley that have been of fundamental importance in the study of human evolution. Many hominid fossils have been discovered in the area.

How many tribes are in Omo Valley?

There are 8 tribes in the Omo Valley, which accounts for a population of around 200,000 people. Each tribe has its own cultural heritage and way of life.

What are the best months to visit Ethiopia?

The best time of year to go to Ethiopia is between October and March. This is when there will be less rainfall and the heat is more manageable in the extreme north and south. However, there are plenty of fantastic experiences available from June to September, just check when it is rainy season and plan accordingly!

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If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.

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If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

William Tang of Going Awesome Places
About The Author

Will Tang

Will Tang, founder of Going Awesome Places, has traveled to 51 countries. He shares his insanely detailed itineraries, travel guides, and packing lists. Will’s travels have been featured on Huffington Post, Men’s Journal, and Entrepreneur.

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