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@ScotchAmaretto
The price I gave 1300 to 1500 $ depending on operator is by 4x4 or if you prefer by car.So total cost divided in between occupants.
I just did it early October and I am not an exeption.Now as for the # of occupants it depends on the 4x4,some have up to 6 seats (rare I will admit but still) so one for the driver and the remaining for the travelers.
I have been to Ethiopia twice now,each time for one month.I had time to go around on my own and in 4x4 for 2 different trip.Nothing as changed you simply split the cost.
Now if you got that type of breakdown and took that as a standard too bad.
But reality ain't what you write.

If you put info's on the forum make sure you know what you are talking about.Many rely on this information for the trip of "A lifetime".

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Hi there!
Awesome info You provided! Thanks a lot!

I'm travelling with my cousine from Addis Ababa to Omo valley around 19/20. november, for about 7-9 days.
We're both 26 y.o.

Anyone wanna split costs? :)

17

You can make without tour operator!

18

Hi, having read the post about doing the Omo Valley independently (many thanks, ScotchAmaretto, for the excellent info), I am sending out this message to see if anyone is interested in joining me for a similar trip between 25 Jan (leave Addis) and 3 Feb (be back in Addis). Happy to share more details about myself, once I hear from any interested travellers.

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Hey Betty,
my boyfriend and I would like to go from Dec 20 to 27 ish. Have you found others yet? Are you in Addis now? We'd like to try and do it backpacker style, not booked tour. Are you still going?
Swenada24

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wow, thanks amaretto! great review! i think i will duplicate your itinerary in early march.
I'm looking for ppl who want to do what amaretto did. I will arrive in adis around march 3th and plan to head to omo right away. send me a message if anybody is interested. i'm a 32 y/o male with good deal of travel experience. would like to stay on low to super low budget.

21

thanks for this!

me, a fellow volunteer and another friend (we're all long-term residents here in ethiopia) are going to omo from feb 18-23 (or until 25 depends on what happens next).

anyone wants to join us?

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**ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY FROM ARBA MINCH TO SOUTH OMO**

Many thanks to ScotchAmaretto for his notes. Here are mine.

Travel
Arba Minch is easy to reach – either by plane from Addis or by direct minibus. Alternatively, there are interesting places to stop off along the way. I stayed at Ziway and Awassa.

Arba Minch to Konso (about 2 hours by minibus: 30 ETB). Half the road is asphalt; the rest not.

Konso to Jinka (about 3.5 hours by minibus: 80 ETB). Asphalt

Konso to Key Afer (about 2.5 hours by minibus: 50 ETB).

All the above routes are easy to cover as there are plenty of minibuses throughout the day. For those heading to South Omo, things get more difficult if you are trying to reach Dimeka, Turmi, Omorate.

Jinka to Turmi. The bus goes on Tuesday (and perhaps one other day each week). As the market in Turmi is on a Monday, the Tuesday bus is no good. We ended up taking a private minibus for 1500 ETB. The journey is about 3 hours on unasphalted, but fast road. Alternatively, you can try for the same thing from Key Afer, but as there is no bus station, it’ll probably be more difficult to find a private hire.

Turmi to Omorate. The bus (coming from Jinka on a Tuesday) reaches Turmi some time between 13.00 and 15.00. It takes less than 3 hours to Omorate on unasphalted but fast road. (50 – 60 ETB)

Omorate to Key Afer. The bus returns from Omorate on Wednesday, going to Key Afer and then on to Arba Minch. It takes about 4.5 hours to Key Afer. Arriving Wednesday, you are in time for the Thursday market.

Key After to Konso, Arba Minch, etc. There are frequent minibuses from the roundabout. I waited about an hour for a minibus to Konso. See above for times and prices.

Hotels (single room prices; all hotels below have nets)
Arba Minch. I really rate the Zebib Pension – just before Bekale Mole on the left in Shecha (lower town). Brand new, clean rooms. You can choose between superior (TV and fridge) for 350 ETB or basic (no TV or fridge) for 250 ETB.

Key Afer.. Of the budget hotels, I recommend Nasa Hotel. With shower, they charge 180 ETB. However, there is no running water anyway, but bucket available. No towel or soap. Rooms are clean, Electricity only from 19.00 – c 23.00.

Jinka. Goh Hotel (by the bus station). 70 ETB. Dump

Turmi. Tourist Hotel. 70 ETB. Dump – no soap

Omorate. Park Hotel has been renamed. 70 ETB. Dump – no towel or soap

Prices correct as of January 2013

23

Interesting info as well. I am going later in the year and it is certainly food for thought. The question is whether to try winging it like this or just pay up.

Out of interest, where are you allowed to go exactly as a tourist on public transport? Would it be possible to go Arba Minch-Konso-Key Afar-Jinka on public transport? And then hire transport to do the loop of Jinka-Omorate-Turmi-Dimeka-Jinka? If this is an option then it would surely be a good balance as you could probably do the private transport in 3 days?

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You can travel to all these places by public bus without any permission / authorisation:

• Arba Minch
• Konso
• Key Afer
• Turmi
• Omorate

There are various police checks on the road after Key Afer, but no-one seemed particularly interested in me. There is no requirement to register with the police at any of these towns. In all the places, you can go wherever you want. The only place I didn't check was crossing the River Omo at Omorate to visit the Dassanech village. In the Bradt guide, it states that some form of escort is required. I didn't cross the river, but could have taken one of the hollowed out tree trunks, used as boats.