- Length: 760 km
- Source height above sea level: 2,400 m
One of the largest rivers of Ethiopia is Omo (Omo River). It flows in the southern part of the country and includes several protected areas that have a unique ecosystem and various attractions.
General information about the attractions
One of the largest rivers of Ethiopia is Omo (Omo River). It flows in the southern part of the country and includes several protected areas that have a unique ecosystem and various attractions.
General information about the attractions
The river originates in the center of the Ethiopian Highlands and flows into Lake Rudolf, whose height is 375 m. Omo crosses the borders of Kenya and Southern Sudan, and its total length is 760 km and. The main tributaries are Gojab and Gibe.
The government of the state in the basin began construction of large hydroelectric power stations. They must provide Addis Ababa with uninterrupted power supply. There are already 3 hydroelectric power stations operating here, the capacity of each of them is 1870 MW.
One of the most difficult places in Ethiopia is the valley of the Omo River, so the colonialists did not step here. Currently, these territories have a unique flora and fauna, as well as inhabited by various ethnic groups, which by their originality attract tourists from all over the world.
Tribes of the Omo Valley
Most Aboriginal people live on the coast, their life is closely connected with water. The indigenous people developed a number of ecological and socio-economic rules, learned to adapt to the difficult climate, adapted to drought and seasonal spills. To irrigate the land, the tribes use tons of silt that the river leaves.
After the end of the rainy season, locals begin to grow tobacco, maize, sorghum and other crops. In the valley of the Omo River, they graze cattle, hunt wild animals and fish. In their everyday life, aborigines use not only milk, skin, meat, but also blood, and the list of traditions includes dauri, a large dowry that the bride's family must pay to the groom's family.
In the vicinity of the Omo River, there are 16 primitive tribes, the most interesting of which are the Khamer, Mursi and Karo. They are constantly at war with each other and belong to different linguistic and ethnic groups. Aborigines live according to age-old traditions, build huts from straw and manure, do not burden themselves with clothing and hygiene. They do not recognize civilization, the laws of the state, and the concept of beauty in them is very different from the generally accepted.
Interesting fact
On the banks of the Omo River near the village of Kibish, scientists discovered archaeological artifacts, which are the most ancient fossils. They are representatives of Homo helmei and Homo sapiens, and their age exceeds 195 thousand years. This territory is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Animal world
The river valley is a part of two national parks : Mago and Omo. They were built to preserve a unique animal and plant life. Here live 306 species of birds, the most popular of them are:
- blue-chested kingfishers;
- Barnacle Turaco;
- the herons of the Goliath;
- ostriches;
- red bee-eaters;
- spotted pigeons and other birds.
From mammals on the coast of the Omo River, you can see cheetahs, lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants, buffalo, ëland, kudu, colobus, zebra Berchell and waterbucks.
Features of visit
There is practically no tourist infrastructure, there is no support for travelers. Excursions are rarely organized in the Omo valley, and tourists can come only with a guide and a scout who must be armed.
Such escorts are needed in case you are attacked by local aborigines. It is quite dangerous to spend the night in the valley of the river Omo, however, some extremals, wanting to tickle their nerves, still break tents here.
How to get there?
You can get to the Omo River by ferry along the waterways, by car on highways 51 and 7, and also by plane. On the coast built a small runway, landed on it can only liners of local airlines. The distance from the capital of Ethiopia to the valley is about 400 km. Moving along the coastal territory is possible only in closed jeeps, there are practically no roads.