We are picked up from our hotel by our driver/guide and drive through the fertile Central Highlands from where we get a glimpse of the snow- capped Mount Kenya Peaks, the second highest mountain in Africa before we descend to the semi-arid area of the Samburu district. We arrive for lunch a late lunch at the Samburu Simba Lodge and embark on a game later in the afternoon.  Dinner and Overnight will be at the lodge. 

Accommodation:  Samburu Simba Lodge 

Meal plan:  L D 

Driving: 300 km, 5 hours 

Activities: game drives 

Today we start the day early with breakfast at 6.00am to avoid the heat of the day. Samburu Game Reserve offers unique game only found in this particular area as since they have adapted to the rough scrub desert condition in the area. Some of these animals include, the Grevy’s zebra, the Reticulated Giraffe and the Beisa Oryx. Besides buffaloes and herds of Elephants, the morning game drive offers a possibility of seeing Lions, and Leopards along the Ewaso Nyiro River in Buffalo Springs. We return to the lodge for lunch and at rest at the pool. As the sun begins to set in the late afternoon and the game wakes up for their evening strolls and hunts, we head for another game drive. Dinner and overnight stay will once again be at the lodge. 

Accommodation:  Samburu Simba Lodge 

Meal plan: B  L D 

Driving:  

Activities: morning and evening game drives 

Today we travel north toward the shores of Lake Turkana, often called the “Jade Sea” because of its striking turquoise waters. Our route follows the remote Windmill Corridor, an area known for the vast Lake Turkana Wind Power Project—Africa’s largest wind power installation. The landscape here is dramatic and arid, with volcanic hills, desert plains, and occasional nomadic settlements. We stop along the way for a packed lunch before continuing toward the lakeside town of Loiyangalani. In the late afternoon we arrive at our lodge on the shores of the lake, where we can relax and enjoy the spectacular desert scenery. 

Accommodation:  Palmshade Guesthouse 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving:  260  km,  6-7 hours 

Today, we explore the southern parts of the Lake Turkana shores. In the morning, we visit the Elmolo people and take a short boat ride to their shrine. The Elmolo are the smallest tribe in Kenya of not more than 500 people. They are fishermen who hunt the crocodiles. According to myth in the community, the crocodile recognizes the hunters from far and would rather hide than attack.

After lunch we take an excursion to look at the rock paintings in the area and visit a Turkana Village before sunset while enjoying their traditional dances. Dinner and overnight stay will once again be at the guesthouse 

Accommodation:  Palmshade Guesthouse 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving:  

Activities: Elmolo Village, Boatride, 1 hour hike to rock paintings 

Today we travel along one of the most remote routes in northern Kenya, following the eastern shoreline of Lake Turkana. Weather and road conditions permitting, we pass through the settlement of Moite. 

This journey offers incredible desert scenery, volcanic formations, and occasional nomadic herders moving with their livestock. We stop along the route for a packed lunch before continuing north to Ileret. Ileret is famous for important archaeological discoveries related to early human evolution. 

Accommodation:  Catholic Guest House 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving: 180 km,  6 to 8 hours 

Today we explore the park and its fossil sites. The area also features a petrified forest, dramatic desert landscapes, and the small Koobi Fora museum, which displays some of the fossil discoveries made in the region like the skeletons of an ancient elephant, a giant tortoise and an ancient fish eating crocodile.  

Besides our packed lunch, we must ensure we carry enough drinking water along. Temperatures here rise well above 30 degrees Celsius. The Leaky Family christened the area “Cradle of Mankind”. Here some of the oldest human fossils dated back to 1.5 to 1.8 million years were found.  

After exploring the archaeological sites we return to Ileret for the evening 

Accommodation: Catholic Guest House 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving: 100 km,  4-5 hours 

Activities: visits to fossil sites, petrified forest and Sibloi Museum. 

This morning we cross the international border into Ethiopia via Omorate. After completing immigration and customs procedures, we continue into the lower Omo Valley. The next 40 km to Omorate are the most difficult parts of this journey. Roads are practically nonexistent as we pass dry or wet sandy riverbeds which may be treacherous.  

Following lunch we visit a village of the Dassanech Tribe. The Dassanech people live along the banks of the Omo River and rely on fishing, livestock, and flood-retreat farming. 

We then continue our journey toward Turmi. 

Accommodation:  Buska Lodge 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving: 150 km,  5 to 6 hours with border formalities 

Today we explore two of the most fascinating cultures of the Omo Valley. 

We first visit the village of the Karo Tribe, known for their elaborate body painting traditions using chalk and natural pigments. Their settlements overlook the Omo River and provide stunning views of the valley below. 

After returning for lunch, we visit the Hamer Tribe. The Hamer are known for their decorative beadwork, elaborate hairstyles, and vibrant cultural ceremonies. With some luck we can watch their rituals like a traditional wedding or a rite of passage from boyhood to adulthood where the young men have to run across the backs of 30 heads of cattle lined up next to one another. 

Later we drive to Jinka, an important center for travel in the Omo Valley. 

Accommodation: Omo Eco Lodge 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving: 30 km,  1 hour 

Activities:  Hamer market and Village visit 

In the morning we travel into Mago National Park to visit the renowned Mursi Tribe; an ethnic group of not more than 4000. They are basically herdsmen but farm when it rains along the river banks. The only other income of this ethnic group is a museum, but they also pose for photographs for a fee. Our guide assists us in the negotiations 

Mursi women are famous for wearing large clay lip plates, while both men and women decorate their bodies with intricate scarification patterns. Our visit offers insight into their traditions and lifestyle. 

After lunch we continue driving north to Konso. 

Accommodation: Kanta Lodge 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving: 220 km, 6-7 hours  

Activities: Mursi tribe 

Today is reserved for visiting the Konso people. The Konso people are an ancient farming community specializing in terrace farming for centuries in the mountainous area and live in fortress-like villages. The area has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Konso people have nine clans, each ruled by a King. A local eloquent guide explains us a lot about the history, lifestyle and culture of this ethnic group. A 100km drive on a good road takes us for a late lunch to Arba Minch.  In the afternoon we climb the nearby mountains and visit a Dorze Village at 3000m. The Dorze community is famous for their cotton hand-woven clothes and beehive-shaped huts. They prepare bread from the stem of the false banana and brew a local drink called Araki. We are overwhelmed by their hospitality and enjoy their traditional dance. Finally, we cannot resist buying some of the hand-woven colorful cloth. In the late afternoon we return to Arba Minch for dinner and Overnight 

Accommodation: Paradise Lodge 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving: 150 km, 4 hours  

Activities: Konso & Dorze Village visits 

After and early breakfast we head for a 2-hour boat ride on Lake Chamo.  Beside a variety of bird life, we find crocodiles and hippos on our tour. Back at the shore we continue drive north towards Addis. After about 2 hours we stop at the town of Sodo for lunch. We admire the local mule carriages acting as local transport in the busy town.  Today’s destination is Yirga Alem and the picturesque Aregash Resort where we have dinner and overnight stay. 

Accommodation: Aregash Resort 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving: 290 km, 6 hours  

Activities: Boat on Lake Chamo 

After a leisurely taken breakfast at sunrise, we drive further up north through a fertile region with small and large scale farmland.  We pass Shashamane, the Rastafarian metropole, the twin lakes of Langano and Abijada and have our lunch at the Lake Ziway at the vinery.  The area is the main producer of Ethiopian wine. After lunch we continue on highways up North to Addis Abeba where we reach in the late afternoon.  We can opt for dinner in one of the restaurant before spending the night at the Friendship Hotel  

Accommodation: Saro Maria Hotel 

Meal plan: B L  

Driving: 320 km, 6 hours  

Activities: Vinery visit 

Today we explore Addis Ababa. After breakfast we take a city tour to see get an impression of the 5 Million metropole the city tour ends with a drive to the Entoto Mountains ( 3200m) where first palace of Menelik II, the founder of Addis was built. From there we will have wonderful views over the city. For lunch we return to the city center and visit in the afternoon the National Museum with lots of archeological and historical artefacts including the famous fossil of “Lucy” dating back millions of years. We also visit the Ethnological museum, the Holy Trinity Church, where Emperor Haile Selassie is buried and finally MERCATO the largest open air market in Africa.   We return to the Hotel to refresh ourselves before attending a traditional Ethiopian Dinner with dance and music. 

Accommodation: Saro Maria Hotel 

Meal plan: B L D 

Driving: 80 km, 3 hours  

Activities: city tour & Entoto Mountains &Traditional Dinner 

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our international departure, bringing our remarkable journey through Kenya and Ethiopia to a close.