TREKKING PROGRAM Trekking with Ari and Mursi people

1: Bako people – Dell
The Ari people are divided in 10 tribes, which are the Gofa, Bako, Biyo, Galila, Laydo, Seyki, Shangama, Sido, Wubahamer, and Zeddo. In our trekking we are going the visit their cultural diversity and way of life.
And we’ll reach till the Mursi people, where women for beauty use to put lips into their plates and men have different scarification and ornament all over their body. With luck we’lls ee also the donga game (ritual stick fighting. Bit depend on the season)

Early morning departure and start our trekking thought the Bako tribe for all the day. After almost two hours walking in this beautiful vegetation we reach the village of Senegal. Short break to have some time watching women cutting the false banana leaves and preparing the Kotcho, traditional bread. We can also see people working the land, if is the right season. Continuing walking till lunch time where we stop at Bako.
Departure to reach Dell. We can see many species of birds, in this are we can find more than 280 species. All the time we are walking at an average altitude of 2100 mts, that’s why of this lush vegetation and cold air.
Reach the village of Dell for overnight in camp and dinner by our cook.

2: Shangama tribe – Debre Tsehay
Today we are trekking in the Shangama tribe. As yesterday early departure, from Dell, through these population. As usual we are welcomed, in the villages we visit, by many running children. The Ari usually has a lot of children. The old people usually welcome by inviting us to their
assembly. On the way we can see some Colobus Monkeys. We are having lunch at the outskirt of the village of Disho. In the afternoon we continue to reach the village Debre Tsehay through this land of marvels. High trees are making shade from the sun. A lot of these are endemic to Ethiopia and particularly to these regions. Some of them could be Juniper, Cordia africania, Acacia and the common eucalyptus. Camp and overnight at Debre Tsehay.

3: Shangama tribe – Meizer
Departure from Debre Tsehay through the Shangama tribe area. You are used to the best type of vegetation. The highland altitude vegetation of this area is very particular due also to the latitude is placed. These people grow also a lot of different type of spices. The people of these days are of Omotic origins and with a body carved by the fatigue of
working the land. All of them are farmers and really very hard working people. You will be amazed by their social life; women and men are working the all day. At night are resting. Although this entire work and hardship people is always happy and welcoming. We will walk for about four hours with many stops to admire the scenery that this track offers us. Stop for lunch at the village of Shangama Bili. Departure after a recharging rest to reach the village of Meizer where we will stop for overnight and dinner.

4: Balamer tribe area – Ari people
Leave at early morning through the Balamer tribe area. As usual admiring the best landscapes. We are finding always a different type of approach from the villagers as we change altitude and way of life. We are now proceeding to the Mursi land. The area is still as the one we have visited in the previous days. We will walk as usual for the all morning to reach the lunch place in this beautiful savannah. In the afternoon walking in this wonderful landscape to reach the village of Balamer for overnight and dinner. This is the last big village we visit of the Ari people. If market day, Saturday, we can see all this tribes at the market. Tomorrow we will be in Mursi area.

5: Mursi people
Today we will encounter a new tribe; the Mursi. The morning will be still in the Ari’s area most specifically in the Balamer tribe. We are also walking to the lowland. The vegetation will change from highland mountainous to the acacia lowland vegetation. The difference will be amazing. Stopover for lunch on the beach under big trees of the Maki River. Continue to reach Maki Mursi for overnight and dinner. We are now in the Mursi are which are famous for their body scarification. These tribes are semi nomads. They travel with their cattle to different area for water. Are of Nilotic origins and the women use to place clay plates in their lower lip. If lucky we can participate to a Donga game, a stick battle to identify the winner that will be respected by all the young men of the village. Dinner and overnight at Maki Mursi.