Top Omo Valley Tours — Attraction in Addis Ababa

On a scale of 1 to 10, Minalu is an 11! I have nothing but overwhelmingly positive things to say about him and all of the wonderful folks he works with.

As far as all of qualities you look for in a guide - knowledge, local connections, honesty, professionalism - he hits the ball out of the park. From planning through the entire journey, he went above and beyond to customize my trip and make sure that I had the best trip possible. It could not have been more of a rewarding experience, and I know that I have Minalu to thank for it.

Born and raised in Jinka, right in the middle of Omo Valley, he has dedicated his life to understanding and sharing his knowledge about the culture, customs, history, and dialects of the tribes. Being guided by the guy that wrote the only Omo Valley tribes guidebook made for a rich, well-informed experience.

But even more than his expansive knowledge, what really sets him apart is his profound ability to connect with everyone around him: the tribes, local guides, and of course, the people he is guiding. In my eyes, this is his gift and what made my experience in Omo Valley so incredible.

His established, personal connections with Chiefs and tribe members meant that we were able to visit tribal villages not usually on the tourist itinerary, where he was able to facilitate the most authentic experience possible. In the towns we passed through, he had established relationships with very engaging local guides who helped me to understand each group even more.

Minalu also made a real effort to connect with me and made sure that I enjoyed the adventure to the max. For me, this meant fun Ethiopian playlists, a well-stocked supplied of honey wine, frequent coffee stops, evenings at the solar powered kiosk chatting the night away with other guides, and many lessons on Amharic slang. Someone else might be more interested in sunrise nature walks or night photography - whatever it is, he'll make it happen.

Minalu started off as a guide, and quickly became a friend with whom I was sharing the journey of exploring Omo Valley. Over the first night's dinner in a very remote Mursi village, when I asked if living constantly out on the remote roads ever got old, without hesitation he explained, "This is my passion. Being out here is what makes me feel alive." This rang very true to me. He, too, I realized, is also a true traveler by nature, driven by a motivation to see, experience, meet, and understand. I observed that for many guides, these trips could feel like a monotonous job; however, it was obvious that for Minalu that each trip was a new adventure shared with new travel companions.

If you want to not only see the Omo Valley, but really experience it, I highly recommend Minalu and Ethnic Contact Tours.

Amaseganalo Minalu for the...

I opted for the six day tour around the Omo Valley starting from Jinka. The communication with the tour organiser, Minalu, in advance of my arrival was excellent and I was provided with a detailed (and, more importantly) accurate itinerary for the trip. I was met on arrival at Jinka airport and immediately offered water and lunch before we set off on the journey south. First of all a big shout out to Siraj (my guide) and Sileshi (our driver) for making this trip an amazing and unforgettable six days. I’ve never quite experienced anything like it (and I have travelled a lot). Siraj and Sileshi were an absolute joy to travel with and I felt safe, welcome and informed at every stage of the trip. They were keen to ensure that I was comfortable and happy with every aspect of the trip (I was!). Eating lunch together in local roadside restaurants and trying the local (delicious) food was a real highlight as we travelled around the south.

The trip itself involved visiting numerous tribes over the six days and I really appreciated the fact that Siraj made sure that he found a local guide everywhere we visited so that they could introduce me to the village and show me around. In all cases these guides spoke excellent English, spoke knowledgeably about their tribe and were willing to answer my questions and help me take photos without offending local sensitivities.

The highlight was the bull jumping ceremony, which can't be guaranteed on the trip, but we were lucky enough to be in the area when the Hamar were celebrating. We spent about three hours with the tribe and again the advantage of a local guide came to the fore as he commandeered my phone and went around taking numerous photos and videos whilst I used my camera. The resulting shots were amazing and I got two lots of photos!

My biggest concern before booking this trip is that I would be signing up for a voyeuristic journey around tourist infested 'human zoos' where the local peoples were exploited for the sake of a few trophy photos. Thankfully these concerns were soon dispelled. Siraj obviously has a professional understanding of the protocols involved in visiting the tribes and smoothed our path at every juncture. All entry and photo fees were discreetly taken care of and I never felt that I was intruding or unwelcome. There were also many opportunities to purchase local crafts which, for me at least, felt like a small way of giving something back. I also appreciated the recommendation before I arrived to bring small gifts of soap, razors and antiseptic cream. These were really appreciated.

All in all I cannot recommend this tour enough. I would have no hesitation booking again, if I were fortunate...

I would like to express my gratitude and high appreciation to our guide for the exceptional work in ensuring a memorable and enriching experience for our filming crew in Ethiopia. His dedication and expertise played a crucial role in the successful production of our TV series "Ethiopia. The Secrets of Tribes". Upon our arrival in Jinka, our guide greeted us at the airport and seamlessly managed our transition to Mursi Village via Mago National Park. The warm welcome by the Mursi chief and elders, facilitated by our guide, was truly heartwarming. The afternoon photography session in the village provided our team with authentic and impactful footage. The cultural experiences arranged, such as participating in cattle bleeding and grinding grains with the Mursi women, were both educational and immersive. Our guide's arrangements for these activities ensured that we could document and learn from the Mursi traditions in an unobtrusive and respectful manner. Traveling to Karo Village, our guide organized meetings with village elders and facilitated a rich cultural exchange. The experience of getting painted by Karo villagers and participating in a traditional dancing ceremony was unforgettable. In Dassenech Village, the opportunity to witness the Dimi initiation ceremony and crocodile hunting practices provided rare insights into the tribe's way of life. Our guide's local knowledge and connections allowed us to film these extraordinary events, which are central to our documentary’s narrative. He arranged for us to learn traditional cooking methods, participate in the intestinal reading ritual, and witness the evocative Evangadi Dancing Ceremony. His efforts to find a bull jumping ceremony and introduce us to a Hamar shaman were above and beyond, adding significant value to our production. In Arbore Village, our guide facilitated interactions with the elders and arranged for us to film the unique blessing rituals and cattle milking - these daily activities offered our crew invaluable insights into the Arbore way of life. As we concluded our journey and returned to Jinka, our guide ensured a smooth and comfortable experience, right up to our departure at the airport. His constant attention to detail and unwavering support throughout the trip were instrumental in our successful filming expedition. Our guide’s profound local knowledge and genuine passion for sharing Ethiopian culture made this project not only successful but also deeply meaningful. We highly recommend him to any future travelers or filming crews seeking an authentic and enriching experience in Ethiopia. Thank you for making "Ethiopia: The Secrets of Tribes" possible and...