Fantastic experience for our Family
We had a great time visiting the tribes of the Omo valley. Our guide and driver, Yosef, took care of us and made sure we had everything we needed. We did this trip as a family with two minor children, which it was a little apprehensive of both but everything worked out just fine. Our kids were 12 minutes and 17. A couple things to note is that the company pays the tribe a set amount per visitor in exchange for pictures so you don't need to pay individual people for pictures. The only thing you need to pay for is a tip for your local guide and any souvenirs you might buy. We always tried to buy one or two things from each tribe.
Exploitative and a complete shake-down; Not what you're hoping for
My tour guide Dani, was great. Truly was an exceptional driver, guide and all-around person. Unfortunately, the rest of the tour was forgetful.
After a 90 minute flight Addis -> Jinka, and then a two hour car ride, we reach our first Tribe. I got the sense immediately that the tribe clearly didn't want outsiders there, but they want your money. It felt like a complete shake-down. Everyone wanted a "tip", or "contribution", and you're pressured into buying random little things that you don't even want.
After I politely declined hundreds of times, I noticed a rising sense of hostility from the tribe, so out of an act of self-preservation, I bought some random clay chachki.
Each tribe has their own “guide” which of course when he introduces himself to me he gives me a long story about how he has 11 kids and is the sole provider….
I was on this tour alone and felt completely vulnerable. It was so unsettling that after the first tribal visit, I told Dani I wanted to leave and fly back to Addis. Fortunately, again, Dani was AMAZING and very accommodating. He worked to ensure my flight was changed and I flew back to Addis the next day after and forgetful night in Karat (in which the electricity went out at night and stayed out the whole night, because why not)
