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Two Excellent But Very Different Tour Operators In Ethiopia

By on 7. January 2011 in Ethiopia
Our Group...

Our Group…

A few places and highlights in Ethiopia are difficult or time consuming to be travelled independently. This is definitely true for the Omo Valley and the Danakil Depression, both areas we visited over Christmas 2010. To get around the Omo Valley would have taken us several weeks travelling on the infrequent public busses. The Danakil simply cannot be visited without a tour operator, unless you have the survival skills of a local Afar and know how to extract the permits from local policemen. Continue Reading →

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Ethiopia: Omo Valley – A Selection Of 25 Pictures

By on 1. January 2011 in Africa – Photos, Ethiopia, Ethiopia – Photos
Bull-Jumping Ceremony, Hamer People, near Turmi, Lower Omo Valley

Bull-Jumping Ceremony, Hamer People, near Turmi, Lower Omo Valley

There are not many places like the Lower Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia on this planet! Where do you find so many different cultures and ethnic groups in a relatively small area who still cling to their traditional way of life? This is absolutely unique, even the “Birr for Photo” business – Here you find a selection of 25 pictures from Ethiopia (Lower Omo Valley) Continue Reading →

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8 Days In The Omo Valley

By on 31. December 2010 in Ethiopia
The most distinctive of all ethnic groups in the Omo Valley: the Mursi, famous for the huge Lip Plates the women are sporting. Mago National Park, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

The most distinctive of all ethnic groups in the Omo Valley: the Mursi, famous for the huge Lip Plates the women are sporting. Mago National Park, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

There are not many places like this on this planet! Where do you find so many different cultures and ethnic groups in a relatively small area who still cling to their traditional way of life? This is absolutely unique, even the “Birr for Photo” business. Continue Reading →

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Key Afar Market

By on 30. December 2010 in Ethiopia
Key Afar Market, Banna People, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

Key Afar Market, Banna People, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

A long procession of Banna people marching towards Key Afar was the first indication that it was market day in this tiny village. As always women were almost crushed under incredible heavy loads of firewood, maize and other produce, while men gingerly walked their goats to be sold like a pet. Continue Reading →

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The Mursi’s Love For Birr

By on 29. December 2010 in Ethiopia
The most distinctive of all ethnic groups in the Omo Valley: the Mursi, famous for the huge Lip Plates the women are sporting. Mago National Park, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

The most distinctive of all ethnic groups in the Omo Valley: the Mursi, famous for the huge Lip Plates the women are sporting. Mago National Park, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

Only at the second village things took their course. The Mursi stormed towards us when we got out of the cars, pulled and tugged, displayed scars, lips with and without plates, Kalashnikovs – Nobody wanted to be overlooked. Continue Reading →

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The Mursi – Lip Plates & Kalashnikovs

By on 28. December 2010 in Ethiopia
The most distinctive of all ethnic groups in the Omo Valley: the Mursi, famous for the huge Lip Plates the women are sporting. Mago National Park, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

The most distinctive of all ethnic groups in the Omo Valley: the Mursi, famous for the huge Lip Plates the women are sporting. Mago National Park, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

The most distinctive of all ethnic groups in the Omo Valley are the Mursi, famous for the huge Lip Plates the women are sporting. The bigger, the more beautiful… These disks made of wood or clay certainly are not comfortable to wear. So unless there is a special occasion women do without them. What is left then is a huge loop of shriveled lip dangling from the mouth, a rather irritating sight. Ear lobes are also stretched and scarification is highly desired, as with the Hamer. Continue Reading →

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Downtown Jinka

By on 28. December 2010 in Ethiopia
Downtown Jinka - Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

Downtown Jinka – Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

Jinka itself is a good size town whose center is dominated by an old grassy airstrip. Nowadays only small, private chartered plane land amid the small wooden stalls. There are a few hotels, standards are modest. Basically all tourists eat at the same restaurant. Continue Reading →

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Skillful Ari People

By on 28. December 2010 in Ethiopia
At the blacksmith - Ari Village, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

At the blacksmith – Ari Village, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

Around the town of Jinka is Ari territory. The village we visited late afternoon was just lovely, well kept with lots of fruits trees and very green. Of course a local guide joined us onsite, who had brought along an assistant, who had brought a traditional skirt made from small twigs. Quickly this was wrapped around Heidi hips and masqueraded like this we walked around escorted by throngs of children. Continue Reading →

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Dimeka’s hidden secrets

By on 27. December 2010 in Ethiopia
Dimeka Market, Hamer People, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

Dimeka Market, Hamer People, near Jinka, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

There are not that many villages along the circular road that runs through the lower Omo Valley. Each of them, no matter how small, is exciting in its own way. Also Dimeka did not let us down. Continue Reading →

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Bull – Jumping Ceremony

By on 27. December 2010 in Ethiopia
The "Jumper", Bull-Jumping Ceremony, Hamer People, near Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

The “Jumper”, Bull-Jumping Ceremony, Hamer People, near Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia

Rumors among the drivers spread quickly – a Bull – Jumping ceremony was taking place in the afternoon, near the dry river bed outside of the village. Matthew was all business, for no less than 25 US Dollars / 400 Birr per person, we could join, all photos included. This ceremony is so unique, only known in Hamer culture, that we swallowed hard and paid. Of course this included a guide, whose job it was to be at the very venue where Matthew took us. Basically he and Matthew were sharing the bounty. We wondered if any of this money would reach the family who was organizing and paying for this party. Continue Reading →

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