Starting off at 8:00AM, we will go on a two hour boat trip on Chamo Lake one of the seven Rift Valley lakes in the region where we will be able to see hippos, nile crocodiles, pelicans and a variety of birdlife. Men in dugout canoes fish with spears and nets. After an early lunch in Arba Minch, we will proceed to Dorze Haizo. The village is located uphill 23 kms north of Arba Minch in the Gughe Mountain chain. Here, you will be able to capture images of their village, cone-shaped bamboo huts, cotton weavers and observe Kocho staple food preparation made out of Enset trees. We always end our visit by tasting their locally brewed drink. Afterwards we will visit the vibrant weekly tribal market at Chencha, 7kms further from Dorze Haizo. The stalls sell home goods and the woman can be photographed smoking pipes, men in old army hats and lots of local color. A landscape photography opportunity exists on the way down from the mountainous village market. Overnight at Paradise Lodge.

*This being the Ethiopian Christmas holiday, an early morning visit to local churches may allow us to capture some stunning images. The high priests chanting, women walking with devotional candles, men chanting in unison and people draped in white robes with colourful umbrellas, is a photo opportunity waiting to happen.

At 7:30am, the group will drive to Konso where upon arrival we will visit a traditional dirt and mud village. It is one of the nine UNESCO-registered World Heritage sites in Ethiopia. Here, you will be able to photograph their terraced farm fields, the symbolic Waka totem poles and have a general insight into their nine-clan community structure with photo shoot opportunities enroute as well as within the villages we will be visiting. We will wander the paths through this very rural village. The people are excellent terrace agriculturalists.

Proceeding further into the scenic Weito lowlands, we will be visiting an Arbore tribal village located at the northern edge of Mount Buska. The Arbore women are absolutely stunning, they have extremely dark skin and strong features. Prior to marriage the women have their heads shaved. They wear dark robes, colorful beads and their huts are fabricated from tree branches. We will work on our portraiture skills in this village. Arriving in Turmi late in the afternoon, we will be spending the night at the Buska Lodge which will be our base for the next few days. These round shaped tukul lodges have porches and are on the bank of a stream. If you like shooting star trails this is your mecca as there is little light pollution.

Departing Turmi at 6:00AM, we will be heading to Omorate, home of the Dassanach tribe who are said to be descendants of Bantu.Like many of these tribal groups they use chain links and other western ‘cast offs’ as decorative objects. Crossing the newly constructed Omo River bridge and driving further for 12kms, we will be able to photograph a remote Dassanach tribal village, just 11kms from the shores of Lake Turkana. We will photograph the women cooking by fire, grinding corn meal and the men with their flock. This will be the first time that this tribal group is included in our photo tour program.

The afternoon will be spent photographing at the Bena tribe market at Key Afer. It is a lively market that attracts the Hamer, Ari, Tsemai and local Bena tribe. Photo opportunities include portraiture and market activity. Women selling chickens, men selling honey and bee pots, teenagers flirting, women gossiping and men shaving each others hair are easily photographed. Arriving Jinka late afternoon, we will be lodging at the Eco Omo Hotel .

***While in the Jinka area we will be on the look out for the ritualistic bull jumping ceremony. Our itinerary will be altered so that we can attend this unique event. The event includes women dancing and blowing horns, men whipping the women on their backs and the actual bull jump. A tribal rite of passage for young men!

Departing after breakfast we will be heading to Awassa, en route visiting Oromo settlements around Halaba Kulito. These attractively decorated grass-topped huts, the daily scenario of donkey caravans laden with yellow jerry cans strolling for hours to nearby water pumps are easily photographed.

After lunch at Shashamane, we will be able to visit the Rastafarian Community House, ancestors of whom were allowed to settle in Ethiopia by Emperor Haile Selassie in the '50s from Jamaica. Proceeding further and arriving in Awassa early afternoon, we will have a free afternoon. We will lodge at the well appointed Haile Resort Hotel, conveniently and attractively located on the shores of Lake Awassa (one of the seven Rift Valley lakes in Ethiopia). This hotel is one of the finest in Ethiopia and is owned by Haile Gebre Selassie, one of Ethiopia’s most successful athletes. For those who want local flavor the drivers are always very happy and willing to take you to a local hot spot after dinner.