Tribes of the Omo, Lalibela, Gelada Baboons, Sing Wells
January 05- January 20, 2016
16 days
From the exotic tribes of the lower Omo Valley, to the singing wells near the border of Kenya, up to one of the holiest cities with over a 1,000 priests, and to the Simians Mountains, home to the rare exotic gelada baboons, Ethiopia is one of the most culturally rich and diverse countries on the planet. This special itinerary is timed for the Christmas celebration in Lalibela, held on January 7. Amongst the ancient, dramatic, underground, stone-carved churches, the priest and pilgrims will gather, chanting in prayer and lighting hundreds of candles. There are no words to describe the ambience of this experience: a timeless and almost biblical atmosphere.
While in the northern region we will fly to Gonder and drive up to the beautiful Simien Mountains. The Simien Mountains are, quite simply, spectacular, with ridge after ridge of sculpted cliffs, extending to the horizon; home to the exotic gelada baboon and a world heritage site. You will have an incredible intimate experience with these exotic baboons, which rivals the experience of the Mountain gorillas. In a short amount of time, you will find you can get so close that you can lie on your belly, using a wide-angle lens, to capture stunning portraits from just a few feet away. They let you sit quietly in the middle of their troop, which can number up to 400.
Next, we will head south to the exotic tribes of the Omo Valley. Inspired by their environment of wild trees, exotic flowers, and lush vegetation, these tribes use colorful make-up of bright yellows, startling whites and rich earth-reds created from the clay soil to paint themselves, becoming walking bodies of art. They have elaborate beadwork, hairstyles, and metal bracelets. They wear traditional leather clothing, which is quickly being replaced by western style. We have access to the villages of the Arbore, Kara, Hamar, and Dassenech. These are some of the most desired tribes to photograph.
This is an opportunity to photographically document their daily lives, as well as experience some of their timeless ceremonies. It is likely we will meet several other tribes along the way and en route, so the precise time spent in each village will depend on what activities are taking place and the goals of the group. In true expedition style, I have left the program flexible to ensure we have enough time to immerse ourselves in these cultures and take advantage of any photographic opportunities that may arise. This time of year, the river level is low, which will allow for unique photographic opportunities at the river’s edge that are not possible during other months.
We then head further southwest to the Borana region to find the amazing singing wells near the Kenya border. Built by hand, most of the wells took decades to complete. During the dry season, the tribes walk for miles to reach these wells in order to water their livestock and carry water back to their villages. They are named the singing wells because many people climb down along the sides of the well and hand buckets of water up through a human chain while singing in rhythm for inspiration and motivation.
Itenerary
Jan 5, 2016: Arrive Addis
Arrive at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, at any time on January 5, 2015. You will be met by our agent and transferred to your hotel. This is a travel day, so no meals or beverages are included.
Overnight: Radison Blu
Jan 6, 2016: Fly to Lalibela
You will be up early to catch a flight to Lalibela. Enjoy a scenic drive up the Lasta Mountains and through the town of Lalibela where hundreds of pilgrims will be making their way to the churches for the upcoming celebration. You will have time to settle in and have lunch. In the early afternoon, you will visit the first of the hand-carved underground churches with priests roaming through the tunnels and passageways. Dinner will be at the unique Ben Abeba restaurant with stunning 360-degree views.
Overnight: Mountain View Lodge. BLD
Jan 7, 2016: Lalibela Christmas Eve Ceremony
You will have a chance to visit the rest of the churches and wander through the bustling town with hundreds of pilgrims who have arrived for the celebration. Lunch will be at the unique Ben Abeba restaurant with stunning 360-degree views. You will have a rest in the afternoon before heading out in the evening for the big Christmas Ceremony that will go well into the early morning hours.
Overnight: Mountain View Lodge. BLD
Jan 8, 2016: Lalibela Christmas Ceremony
At sunrise, attend the morning ceremony outside stony steps; a fascinating experience. A colorful procession of priests forms a line that snakes from the bottom of the steps to the tops of the churches, creating incredible photographic opportunities. In the afternoon, we will visit the cave- monastery of Neakuto Leab. Dinner will be at the Old Abyssinia, a special restaurant; the food is incredible, the décor is in a traditional African style, and the view is breathtaking
Overnight: Mountain View Hotel.. BLD
Jan 9, 2016 Fly to Gonder – Drive Simien Mountains
After breakfast, drive to Lalibela airport for the flight to Gonder. You will enjoy a scenic drive up to the Simien Mountains. There will be time to settle in before we go out for our fist incredible encounter with the gelada baboons. Afternoon: photographing the gelada baboons.
Overnight: Simien Mountain Lodge. BLD
Jan 10, 2016: Visit Gelada Baboons
We will have a full day with the gelada baboons in different locations, environments, backgrounds, and lighting. You will also have the option to photograph some of the local people in the picturesque Simien Mountains.
Overnight: Simien Mountain Lodge. BLD
Jan 11, 2016 Gelada Baboons
You will rise early and have one last morning shoot with the gelada baboons. After breakfast, we will drive to Gonder, stopping en route for any photographic opportunities.
Overnight: Goha Hotel BLD
Jan 12, 2016: Fly to Arba Minch, via Addis
Rise early for breakfast and drive to the airport for our flights to Arba Minch, situated in the Great Rift Valley. You will be met by our team of drivers as well as our guide. The guide will be with us throughout the Omo Valley. They will drive us to our lodge overlooking the two largest lakes in Ethiopia: Lake Chamo and Lake Abaya. After settling in, we will have an afternoon visit with the very interesting Dorze people.
Accommodations: Paradise Lodge BLD
Jan 13, 2016 depart for the Omo Valley
Today you will drive to the Omo Valley, arriving in time for an afternoon with the Kara tribe. The Kara excel in face and body painting that is practiced daily in preparation for their dances and ceremonies. The men create highly decorated clay hair buns, which can take up to three days to complete. Their ornate body scarring, where a cut is made with a knife and ash is rubbed into the wound to produce a raised welt, is also a known characteristic of the Kara. The women dress in beautiful, traditional skin clothing. We will be camping in the main village of Dus, along the Omo River, for a very unique tribal experience.
Accommodations: Camping at Dus – BLD
Jan 14, 2016
You will have the whole day to immerse yourself in the Kara tribe, visiting two separate villages.
Accommodations: Camping at Dus – BLD
Jan 15, 2016
You will have one last sunrise photo shoot with the Kara before heading on to Turmi, home of the Hamar tribe. The Hamar women are striking, wearing beautiful, colorful beaded skins, ornate necklaces, and metal bangles around their wrists and ankles. Famous for their hairstyle — a crown of long dreadlock braids covered in ocher — the Hamar women are the most decorated of the Omo people. You will arrive in time for a late lunch, get settled in, and then have an afternoon visit at a Hamar village.
Accommodations: Buska Lodge – BLD
Jan 16, 2016
This morning you will rise very early and drive to the edge of the Omo River. We will cross the river by canoe to the villages of the Daasanech tribes. The Daasanech are a semi-nomadic tribe numbering approximately 50,000. Their clans stretch across Sudan, Kenya, and Southern Ethiopia. They are known for their very unique and ornate hair buns.
Afternoon: we will hope for word of a bull jumping rehearsal or ceremony. If not, we will visit a Hamar village.
Accommodations: Buska Lodge – BLD
Jan 17, 2016
This morning you will rise very early and depart for Yorbela, visiting the Arbore tribe en route. Each tribe of the Omo valley has a specific way of dressing and decorating themselves as a way to visually associate themselves with their unique customs and values. Arbore women are well known for their long headdresses. The girls shave their heads to indicate virginity, and only start growing hair after marriage. In the afternoon, we will visit the Borana tribe.
Accommodations at Yorbela – BLD
Jan 18, 2016
We will rise before sunrise to drive out the salt mines where we will pick up our special guide who will escort us to one of the incredible singing wells. These wells are only used during the dry season so there is a limited time in which to visit and experience this amazing event. Built by hand, most of the wells took decades to complete. The Borana tribe walks for miles to come to these wells to obtain water for their villages and their livestock. They are named the singing wells because many people climb into them, handing buckets of water up hand-to-hand while singing in rhythm for motivation. In the afternoon, there will be an optional visit to a Borana village.
Accommodations at Yorbela – BLD
Jan 19, 2016
Today you may sleep a little later and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing to Awasa. We will be staying along the shores of Lake Awasa in the Great Rift Valley.
Accommodations at Haile Resort – BLD
Jan 20, 2016
This morning there will be an opportunity to photograph the fishermen from the shore of the lake before heading back to Addis. Arrive at Addis in the late afternoon. You will have a dayroom available to freshen up and relax before your flight home. Departing flights should be booked after 10:00pm –BL (*dinner is not included)
Is this trip for you?
This is an incredible cultural and wildlife experience. The itinerary was created for those who wish to focus on producing high-quality images of extraordinary subjects. We will be rising very early in the morning for the best light; a few mornings we rise well before sunrise. Some of the villages are extremely remote so there will be some long drives. There will be driving on dirt roads, but in comfortable 4×4 utility vehicles. When the tarmac roads begin to take you directly to these tribes, the mass tourism will have begun to change their appearance and traditions forever. All levels of photographers are welcome, including non-photographers, but the tour is designed for passionate, adventurous, experienced photographers.
This photo tour was created for experienced photographers with a good working knowledge of their equipment and the basics of photography: composition, shutter speed, depth of field, exposure, and basic fill flash. Depending on your vision, experience working with flash is helpful but not required. Prior experience working with indigenous cultures is recommended, as it can be a little more challenging photographing the tribes. Although this is NOT a teaching workshop, Piper will be giving informal instruction throughout the photo tour. She is always available for any questions you may have.
The tribes live in a remote location. There is no five-star lodging in the Omo Valley, but we will be at the best accommodation available. In some locations the electricity is not on 24 hours a day, but it will be on for several hours every morning and evening, giving us plenty of time to charge up all our batteries and electronic equipment.
The Price
The price of this unique photographic expedition is $8,450.00 This price is based on double occupancy. Single supplement is $1,495.00 “if available”. Single accommodations are limited.
Due to the limited number of spaces available, if a solo guest is willing to share and we can match with another guest of the same gender, we will do so. If a solo guest is unwilling to share, then a single supplement will be charged. If we are unable to match a solo guest with another guest of the same gender, then the single supplement will be charged
What’s Included
- All domestic flights: Addis-Lalibela-Gonder-Lalibela-Addis-Arba Minch
- Accommodations
- All the 3 meals of the day with mineral water (except on arrival and departure days). Meals are noted on the itinerary as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
- Airport transfers on the day of arrival and departure
- Tourist standard 4X4 utility vehicle with air-conditioning
- Entry scout fees, villages fees, and road fees
- Entry fees to churches, holy sites, and ceremonies
- National English speaking escort guide and local tribal guides
- Bottled water in the vehicles
- Gratuities for Camp and Lodge staff (outside of Addis)
- All boat/canoe fees to cross to visit the Dasssanach village
- Tips for local guide and Local staff at all lodges and camps (Not in Addis)
- Hamar Bull Jumping ceremony
- Basic photo fees
What’s NOT Included
- International airfare and/or between your home and Addis Abba
- Visas
- Travel Insurance (REQUIRED to participate on this trip)
- Personal purchases (including shopping, spirits, laundry, telephone calls, etc.)
- Gratuities for our main guide and drivers
- Optional extra activities not included on the itinerary
- Extra photo fees
- Pre- and post-expedition tours
- Meals or accommodations before or after the expedition (except as noted in the detailed itinerary)
- Meals and beverages on the day of arrival, this is considered a travel day
- Dinner on the evening of departure
Please Understand
Traveling in remote locations can present challenges that may require slight changes to the itinerary. I put my heart into each and every itinerary and will always try to run the tour as written in the initial itinerary. In the event of situations beyond my control, such as political unrest, natural disasters, overbookings by the lodge, where a change is required, I will do my best to keep us close to the original shooting location. It is my intention for you to have the best possible experience. I will try to notify you of any changes as soon as I am made aware of them. If, however these changes cause an increase to the price, the increase will be passed onto the participant.
Interested in Joining us?
The group size for this extraordinary photo tour is limited to just 7 participants. Due to the size of this group and the popularity of the location, this trip could fill quickly. To secure your spot, please go to the tours section of the website, click on this tour, scroll down to the bottom of the page and complete the On-line registration form and make the $2,400 non-refundable deposit. Both a completed reservation form and deposit must be done to confirm a spot. Once the tour is full, I will accept request for the wait list by email.
** THERE IS ONE SPOT OPEN, FOR SHARED ACCOMMODATIONS, MALE OR FEMALE. IF you wish to grab this spot please fill out the e-sign from (use the link below). I am currently in the Omo. When I return to Addis on Oct 29th, I will confirm your spot and send payment details. Full payment will be due immediately.
Deposit and Sign-up
CLICK THE LINK TO – Fill out and e-sign the registration form (Ecosign
Make your deposit of $2400.00 (non-refundable) by using the pay button below (Paypal)