Ethiopian Rafting Holiday
The Omo River
The fabled 'hidden empire' is renowned for its extraordinary history, chanting priests, rock-hewn churches and its breathtaking natural scenery. High plateaux and deep forested gorges hold one of the best kept secrets, the Omo river, Ethiopia, a wild and beautiful immersion into an almost prehistoric world where we encounter some of the most remarkable tribal people on earth. We drift down the Upper Omo River into a series of dramatic canyons, crash through the dancing rapids into serene pools where crocodiles bask on the banks and baboons peer inquisitively at us from the clifftops. The wildlife is prolific from the troops of Colobus Monkeys to the raptors and colourful birds overhead and the ever present sounds of the hippopotomi across the river. On the way down to the Lower Omo River we relax on sandy beaches and bathe in hot springs beneath the light of the moon and as the river broadens we begin to encounter the near stone-age tribal people who enthusiastically beckon us ashore with their broad smiles and basic sign language, decorated distinctively with their clay lip plates, elaborate hairstyles and hefty ear plugs. The Omo leads us to the heart of one of the most remote areas on the African continent, a breathtaking wilderness and home to our earliest ancestors. AT THIS STAGE OUR 2010 TRIPS ARE ON HOLD DUE TO THE GIBE III POWER PROJECT. THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT ARE NOT ISSUING PERMITS TO RUN THE LOWER RIVER AT THIS TIME.
Rafting
Trips run September
Group size 7 to 16 people
Price - GBP£1395 - GBP £2595
Lailabela & Axum Extension
Day 1
Fly into Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel to relax.
No Meals included.
Day 2
Drive to Weliso, overnight in hotel.
Included: All meals
Day 3
Drive to our start point near Albelti, were we will assemble all our gear before putting on to the river. Raft to the first nights camp.
Included: All meals
Day 4 - 11
Rafting and exploring the gorges of the Gibe and Omo Rivers. This stretch of the river is surrounded by lush green mountains and we will encounter plenty of wild life. We will camp on remote beaches in total wilderness.
Included: All meals
Day 12
Rafting and exploring the gorges of the Gibe and Omo Rivers.
Included: All meals
Day 13 - 22
Rafting and exploring the Omo River , we will now begin to encounter the diverse tribes of this part of the world, such as the Mersi and Hammer, all of whom have distinctly different customs . The river will become flatter and we will encounter many pods of Hippos and other wildlife.
Included: All Meals
Day 23 - 24
Four-wheel drive through Mago National Park to Jinka. Fly from Jinka to Addis Ababa in a light plane.
Included: All Meals except dinner on the 24th day
Day 25
Fly home.
Included: Breakfast
Interested in this amazing holiday?
