Omo Valley Tribal Photography Tour: Suri (Surma) & Omo Valley Tribes

Your journey begins with a domestic flight to Jimma, the gateway to Ethiopia’s lush southwestern highlands. Upon arrival, your expert driver-guide will pick you up in a well-equipped 4WD vehicle and set off toward Mizan Teferi. The drive takes you through the expansive Bebeka Coffee Plantation—the largest in Ethiopia—and along winding roads surrounded by UNESCO-recognized rainforest. Along the way, you’ll stop for landscape shots and quick introductions to the botanical richness of the region, home to more than 2,000 documented plant species.

Overnight: Mizan (Salaysh Hotel)

Today’s drive takes you off the beaten path into the heart of Suri (Surma) territory, one of the most remote and least visited regions in Ethiopia. As the road winds deeper into the lowlands, the landscape shifts dramatically. By afternoon, you’ll arrive in a Suri village near Kibbish. After setting up camp, you’ll have your first opportunity to engage with the Suri people—cattle herders and farmers known for their body scarification and unique adornments. This evening, capture candid portraits bathed in golden-hour light.

Overnight: Camping in the village

This is one of the most anticipated days of the tour. Spend a full day immersed in the daily life and cultural traditions of the Suri, who remain one of the most photogenic and visually striking tribes in Africa. You’ll photograph intricately painted faces, elaborate scarification, floral decorations, and accessories made from natural elements. Our local fixer will help you navigate respectful interactions and ensure authentic, meaningful portraits.

Overnight: Camping in the village

After breakfast, drive east toward Kakuta, home of the Nyangatom (also known as the Bume tribe), fierce semi-nomadic warriors known for their elaborate ceremonial scarification and vibrant attire. You’ll have time in the afternoon for a preliminary walk around the village, capturing their body art, hairstyles made with clay and feathers, and decorative jewelry. These

lesser-photographed communities provide unique perspectives rarely seen in mainstream media.

Overnight: Camping in the Nyangatom village

Today, you’ll travel to Dus, a picturesque village perched above a sweeping bend in the Omo River—home of the Kara (or Karo) people. Though their population is small, the Kara are widely admired for their chalk-based body painting, often applied in striking patterns for ceremonies and celebrations. The riverside setting offers perfect backdrops for portraits, while sunset over the water offers beautiful landscape compositions.

Overnight: Camping in the village

Rise early for a dramatic sunrise session among the Kara, with golden light dancing across painted bodies and thatched homes. After breakfast, drive to Turmi, the cultural heartland of the Hamar tribe. In the late afternoon, explore deeper Hamar villages beyond town. The Hamar are known for their ochre-colored hairstyles, traditional jewelry, and communal dances. If you’re lucky, you may witness or photograph a bull-jumping ceremony, a rare and emotional rite of passage.

Overnight: Paradise Lodge, Turmi

After breakfast, head south to Omorate, where you’ll cross the Omo River in a traditional wooden canoe to reach a village of the Dassanech people. Also known as the Galeb, the Dassanech are skilled at transforming found materials—metal, wood, beads—into elaborate accessories. Their skin scarification and painted bodies make for deeply expressive images. Return to Turmi by late afternoon.

Overnight: Paradise Lodge, Turmi

Depart Turmi and journey west toward Arbore, a tranquil and rarely visited community located near the edge of Lake Chew Bahir. The Arbore women are striking—tall, statuesque, and adorned in black cloth wraps with vividly colored beads. Their minimal hairstyles and bare-shaven heads add a unique aesthetic to your portfolio. You’ll camp in the village for an intimate opportunity to

photograph evening routines and domestic life.

Overnight: Camping in the village

Begin the day with a sunrise portrait session in Arbore, then drive north to Jinka. After lunch, head into Mago National Park to visit the iconic Mursi tribe. Best known for their dramatic lip plates and ceremonial scarification, the Mursi are among the most symbolically expressive of the Omo Valley tribes. This remote area offers the chance to witness a world that remains largely untouched by modern influences. Spend the afternoon photographing in the village and absorbing the intensity of their traditions.

Overnight: Camping in the Mursi village

Your final morning in the Omo Valley begins with a farewell photo session with the Mursi. Then return to Jinka in time for your flight back to Addis Ababa. Enjoy a final coffee or fresh juice with your guide before departing with memory cards full of once-in-a-lifetime images and stories.

End of tour.