Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
days (
Click here
)
and you should try to coincide with as many markets as you can. Like-
wise, the surrounding villages have few people on the market days, at least until late after-
noon when they return home.
Accommodation is mostly rough and ridiculously overpriced. Even the 'luxury' places
in Turmi and Jinka are prone to electricity (and sometimes water) failures. Generators
usually only run from 6pm to 10pm. Reservations in Jinka and Turmi are recommended
for January to February and September to December.
Getting Around
Currently Konso is the only gateway, though a new road from Sodo to Jinka will change
things. As long as you're not in a hurry or in need of comfort, it's now quite easy to visit
independently. Buses run daily from Konso and Arba Minch to Jinka, and on market days
from Jinka to Turmi and Omorate. The bus prices we've given are for locals: you'll al-
most surely pay much more. On days when there's no bus, the local guide associations can
easily arrange rides in private cars and trucks for a small fee. It's illegal (for everybody,
though only enforced with
faranji
) to ride in the Isuzu cargo trucks. Note that the govern-
ment has closed the direct Jinka-Omorate road south of Mago National Park because of
the oil exploration taking place.
Most people visit with a tour agency from Addis Ababa, though you can also book fully
outfitted tours in Arba Minch and Jinka. If you want to join with others to reduce costs,
Addis is best. Most companies will try to do this for you and you may also have success
finding other travellers on Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree online forum. You could also try
posting on the message board at the Itegue Taitu Hotel in Addis Ababa.
Jinka and Konso have petrol stations, but they're often dry. Do as all tour companies
do; fill your tank and jerry cans in Arba Minch.
TRAVEL THE OMO RIVER
It's now possible to avoid the growing masses of tourist 4WDs crowding into the Omo Valley and visit villages by
boat instead. From September to February, fully outfitted three- to five-day trips head down the Omo River from
near the Karo village of Dus. It's still a new venture, but holds a lot of promise. Contact
Tuti Mesfin
(
0911-805971; tutiman_utd@yahoo.com)
in Arba Minch or
Pamela Robbie
(
0912-637056; destinatione-
thiopiatours@gmail.com)
in Addis Ababa for more information.
The Omorate Local Guide Association (
Click here
)
plans to offer simpler, overnight trips out of Omorate.
