Day 1 – Arrival in Addis Ababa
Arrive in Ethiopia’s capital and transfer to your hotel. In the evening, meet the Wild Compass Africa expedition team for a full briefing covering logistics, photography ethics, cultural sensitivity, and shooting conditions in the Omo Valley.
Photographic opportunities:
Urban scenes, preparation shots, low-light street photography (optional)
Overnight: Addis Ababa
Day 2 – Flight to Jimma | Drive to Mizan Teferi
Fly southwest to Jimma, then continue by road through coffee forests and highland villages to Mizan Teferi, the last major town before entering remote Omo Valley regions.
Photographic opportunities:
Highland landscapes, roadside life, environmental storytelling
Overnight: Mizan Teferi
Day 3 – Entering the Omo Valley | Suri Territory
Begin the journey into the Omo Valley, arriving in Suri (Surma) territory by midday. Afternoon photography begins as communities gather, paint their bodies, and tend cattle.
Photographic opportunities:
Body painting, portraiture, cattle camps, smoke and movement
Overnight: Mobile camp
Days 4–5 – Suri People | Immersive Photography
Two full days are dedicated to the Suri, allowing flexibility for light, ceremonies, and daily rhythms.
Photographic opportunities:
Early-morning body paint sessions, action photography, environmental portraits
(Donga stick fighting may occur but cannot be guaranteed)
Overnight: Mobile camp
Day 6 – Remote Valleys & Cultural Transitions
Travel through lesser-visited Omo landscapes toward neighboring tribal regions, with stops for spontaneous photography along the way.
Photographic opportunities:
Landscape photography, village transitions, travel narratives
Overnight: Mobile camp
Day 7 – Nyangatom / Dassanech Region
Visit communities living along the Omo River system, where fishing, floodplain farming, and cattle culture intersect.
Photographic opportunities:
River life, fishing scenes, water-based environmental portraits
Overnight: Mobile camp
Days 8–9 – Hamer Territory
Spend two days with the Hamer people, known for their elaborate hairstyles, beadwork, and ceremonial life.
Photographic opportunities:
Hair styling, adornment details, domestic scenes, ceremonial preparation
(Bull-jumping ceremonies may occur but are not guaranteed)
Overnight: Mobile camp
Day 10 – Karo People | Omo River Cliffs
Visit the Karo, whose cliff-top villages overlook the Omo River. Their white-chalk body paint creates dramatic visual contrast.
Photographic opportunities:
High-contrast body art, fine-art portraiture, elevated viewpoints
Overnight: Lodge or camp
Day 11 – Central Omo | Markets & Movement
Travel north through central Omo regions, stopping at local markets and villages.
Photographic opportunities:
Market photography, candid portraiture, color and motion
Overnight: Lodge
Day 12 – Jinka & Benna Stilt Walkers
Arrive in Jinka, stopping to photograph Benna boys walking on tall wooden stilts, a unique cultural expression found along rural roads.
Photographic opportunities:
Action photography, playful portraiture, market life
Overnight: Lodge near Jinka
Day 13 – Mago National Park | Mursi | Konso
Early visit to Mago National Park to photograph the Mursi people, followed by a scenic drive through the terraced landscapes of the Konso highlands.
Photographic opportunities:
Cultural portraiture, scarification details, terraced landscapes
Overnight: Arba Minch
Day 14 – Lake Chamo | Return to Addis Ababa
Early morning boat excursion on Lake Chamo, photographing fishermen in papyrus boats alongside crocodiles, hippos, and birdlife. Later, fly back to Addis Ababa where the tour ends.
