16 Tribes. One Valley. Thousands of Years of Tradition.

Perhaps the most recognised tribe of the Omo Valley. Mursi women are famous for wearing clay lip plates, inserted into the lower lip as a sign of beauty and identity. The men practice scarification and carry wooden staffs. They live in and around Mago National Park near Jinka and move seasonally between the river and grasslands

Known for their striking appearance – women wear heavy iron torques and beaded skins, while men style their hair with ochre clay and feathers. The Hamar are famous for the Ukuli Bula, a bull-jumping ceremony where young men must run across the backs of cattle to prove they're ready for marriage. The ceremony can last three days.

One of the smallest tribes in the valley, numbering only around 1,000–3,000 people. The Karo are master body painters, using white chalk, yellow mineral rock, and charcoal to create intricate designs often inspired by guinea fowl plumage. They live along the eastern banks of the Omo River and are skilled fishermen.

The most southerly tribe, living where the Omo River delta meets Lake Turkana. Their name means "People of the Delta." The Dassanech are pastoralists who also fish and farm when the river floods. Their circular homes can be collapsed and reassembled in just a few hours.

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Related to the Mursi, the Suri also practice lip plate wearing and live in the more remote western highlands of the Omo Valley. They're known for Donga – dramatic stick-fighting competitions where young men battle for status and to win brides. Their isolation has helped preserve their traditions.

Famous for their UNESCO-listed stone-walled hillside villages and advanced terraced agriculture. The Konso carve wooden grave markers called waga to honour the dead. Their tightly organised villages, surrounded by defensive walls, have remained largely unchanged for generations.

The largest tribe in the Omo Valley, numbering around 350,000. The Ari have largely adopted modern clothing but maintain rich traditions and well-organised village structures. They're known for their pottery, honey production, and fertile farmland around Jinka.

Closely related to the Hamar – they share language, customs, and freely intermarry. Banna men fix their hair with clay and decorate it with feathers and flowers. Women wear beaded skins and style their hair with red ochre after marriage. They're agro-pastoralists living west of the Hamar.

Fierce warriors with a reputation for bravery. The women wear dozens of colourful beaded necklaces as a sign of beauty and status. They live along the western banks of the Omo River, practicing both cattle herding and flood agriculture. Also known as Bume or Donyiro.

A small tribe of around 6,000 people related to the Borena and Konso. Historically they served as middlemen in trade between the Omo Valley and neighbouring regions. Arbore women wear striking black cloths and elaborate beaded necklaces

One of the least-known tribes, living along the Weito River near Konso. They practice flood cultivation, growing sorghum and maize, and keep beehives for honey. Their language shows influence from both Omotic and Cushitic language families.

Beyond the major tribes, the Omo Valley is home to several smaller communities, each with their own traditions and way of life:

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Bodi (Me'en) – Known for their cattle poetry and the annual Ka'el ceremony where men compete to become the fattest.

Kwegu – A small river-dwelling tribe, expert fishermen and honey gatherers.

Male – Highland agriculturalists known for sorghum farming and beekeeping.

Bashada – Part of the Hamar cultural group, sharing language and bull-jumping traditions.

Brayle – The valley's smallest tribe, with fewer than 900 members and an endangered language.

Chai & Dus – Remote communities along the Omo River with close ties to neighbouring tribes.

These communities are less frequently visited but can be included in custom itineraries.