THE BEST OMO VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS - with photographer jayne mclean
The Best African Tribe Photo Tours allow flexibility in the itineraries and are run by experienced tour providers. Photography tours make use of the best light and create photography opportunities that you wouldn't get or have time for on a normal tour.
Going on an Omo Valley Photo tour with an experienced photography guide means you will make the most out of your Ethiopian photo tour and come away with incredible photos.
Omo Valley Tribe Tours are one of the best photos tours worldwide! They are fun and wild photography tours experiencing culture and tribes like no where else in the world.
ETHIOPIAN PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS FOR BEGINNERS TO PROFESSIONALS
Travelling with likeminded people IS FUN and inspiring regardless of where you are on your photography journey!
Omo Valley Photo Tours are wonderful photography trips for both beginners and experienced professionals. The Omo Valley tribes are incredible to photograph and with an experienced photographer by your side you will quickly gain confidence and so much experience on this Ethiopian cultural photo tour.
If you are already an experienced portrait photographer then you can gain different insights, views, perspectives, styles and also editing techniques.
Whether you haven’t been to Africa before, or have been on many African wildlife photo tours or nature photography tours, this tour has something for everyone. Travel with an open mind, be flexible with plans and make the most of every second.
THE BEST Omo Valley PHOTOGRAPHY Tour ITINERARIES
There are many itinerary variations and options in Ethiopia, however there are two main itinerary considerations for an Omo Valley Photography Tour.
Omo Valley Photo Tours to the Lower Omo Valley tribes, South Omo Zone
Omo Valley Photo Tours to Suri tribe / Surma tribe in West Omo Zone AND the Lower Omo Valley tribes (West and South Omo)
Many other places of interest in Ethiopia can be added before or after your Omo Valley photo tour. For example the ancient rock hewn churches in Lalibela or the city of Peace, Harar. Some Ethiopian Cultural Tours that have a focus on the Omo Valley often include other tribes enroute such as the Konso Tribe, Dorze Tribe, Bench Tribe, Sidama and more!
SURI TRIBE LIVE IN WEST OMO ZONE
LOWER OMO VALLEY TRIBES LIVE IN SOUTH OMO ZONE
1) Omo Valley PhotoGRAPHY Tours to the Lower Omo Valley tribes, South Omo Zone
The Lower Omo Valley has a diverse range of tribes in a small area like no where else in the world. You don’t need to do any camping and can book a lodge/hotel based photography tour. You can start your Omo Valley tribe tour from Addis Ababa, or fly to Arbaminch or the only Omo Valley airport, Jinka. Keep in mind that flights do not operate every day to/from Addis to Jinka airport and they can also be weather dependant. For a more reliable and consistent flight schedule for your Omo Valley photo tour, Arbaminch airport is the closest alternative.
Perfect cultural photo tour if you don’t want to camp
Perfect cultural photo tour if you are not a confident or experienced traveller
Perfect cultural photo tour if you want less driving days
Perfect cultural photo tour if you don’t have your heart set on visiting the Suri Tribe
Perfect cultural photo tour if you want a less challenging and wild photography tour
Perfect cultural photo tour for those that are not comfortable to travel to the remote area of the Suri Tribe
I call this my Omo Valley Highlight Photography Tour itinerary. Other than the Suri tribe, you can see everything else! If you are happy to leave the Suri Tribe out of your photo tour itinerary then i’d suggest this Lower Omo Valley option. As mentioned above you can always include some additional places of interest on your Ethiopian photo tour.
Depending on your countries travel advice, your personal adventure and comfort level this Lower Omo Valley Photo Tour option might be more suitable than travelling to the Suri tribe. The Suri Tribe live close to the border with South Sudan and we camp in a remote area in the bush.
2) Omo Valley PhotoGRAPHY Tours TO Suri Tribe and THE Lower Omo Valley tribes
THE BEST AFRICAN TRIBE PHOTO TOUR!
Combining the West Omo and South Omo tribes in the one itinerary is the BEST African Tribe Photo Tour!
I call this my Ultimate Omo Valley Photography Tour itinerary. Spending some camping days with the Suri tribe, followed by hotel/lodge based accommodation for the lower Omo Valley part of this Ethiopian Photography Tour creates a wonderful combination or experiences and photography opportunities.
the African “FLOWER TRIBE” is the Ethiopian Suri tribe
Suri Tribe Photo Tours are an absolute delight for photographers! This welcoming community in Ethiopia loves having their photos taken and are incredible at looking at the camera lens! With flowers, twigs and branches adorned on and around their faces so creatively along with body painting and body scarring they are without doubt the highlight of an Ethiopian Tribe Photography Tour!
The best Suri Tribe Photo Tours are with a friendly, experienced and reliable team of tour professionals. There are a couple of places you can stay when visiting the Suri Tribe on an Omo Valley Photo Tour, however I always camp with one of the Suri tribe villages away from the small tribal towns of Kibish and Tulgit. Some photo tour groups stay in Tulgit where you can camp because there is a toilet and a large room in a fenced area, however I think bush camping close to the Kibish River with the Suri tribe is a lot cleaner and the overall experience so much better. It also means you don’t need to drive to the village to take photos as you are staying right there. It is incredibly awesome.
Suri “Flower Tribe”
A photographers dream on a cultural photography tour!
There are more driving days and bumpy roads to visit the Suri Tribe / Surma Tribe and the only reasonable accommodation option is camping. The Suri Tribe / Surma Tribe are more remote than the Lower Omo Valley tribes and visiting them does not suit every traveller. They live near the border of South West Ethiopia and South Sudan in the West Omo Zone of Ethiopia.
Deciding on whether to include the Suri tribe on your Ethiopian photo tour is a big factor on your itinerary and experience. The Suri tribe doesn’t look far from the Omo Valley tribes on the map above, but due to the road and terrain in-between you need to allow more time for driving when visiting the Suri Tribe / Surma Tribe.
4x4 adventure
Driving on some bumpy unsealed roads is all part of the adventure when visiting the Suri Tribe.
I usually start this Ultimate Omo Valley Photography Tour from Jimma airport and finish at Arbaminch which are both only a short flight from Addis Ababa. This saves 2-3 days of driving on your Ultimate Omo Valley Photo Tour. Flights to get to and from the Omo Valley are really beneficial on this itinerary, however I only use Ethiopian Airline flights from the actual airports.
This is an amazing Ethiopian photography tour where you can spend time with and photograph the Suri Tribe as well as the many Lower Omo Valley tribes. You’ll come away with an incredible variety of tribal portraits from set up photo shoots, walking around tribal villages, tribal towns and tribal markets.
SURMA TRIBE PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS - what you need to know
SURMA TRIBE PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS CAN MEAN MURSI TRIBE, SURI TRIBE OR BOTH OF THESE ETHIOPIAN TRIBES
Think of the Surma tribe as a collective parent name and the Mursi Tribe and Suri Tribe are individual tribes under the Surma tribal group. They share many traditions and cultural practices. When you plan your Omo Valley photo tour make sure you know what tribes you are visiting. The Surma tribes share many traditions, however the experience of spending time and photographing the different Surma Tribes are very different.
If you want to visit the Surma but don’t want to camp, want less driving or a shorter photo tour, then I would recommend booking a Lower Omo Valley Photography Tour which includes the Mursi Tribe. You will still see body scarring, ear plugs/disks and lip plates with the Mursi Tribe, but due to their location (close to the Omo Valley town of Jinka) a lot of tourists visit them.
Visiting the Suri tribe you will also see the body scarring, ear plugs/disks and lip plates but the Suri tribe are the African tribe that also decorate themselves with intricate body painting and floral headpieces and are an absolute photographers dream to take tribal portraits of.
WHAT IS THE BEST ETHIOPIAN PHOTO TOUR?
The best ETHIOPIAN PHOTO Tour for you will depend on your preferences, what you want to see, what you want to do, how many days you have and who you book with.
fun, FRIENDLY and RESPONSIBLE CULTURE and photography TOURS in africa WITH JAYNE MCLEAN
TRAVELLING WITH JAYNE MCLEAN ON AN OMO VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
Joining Jayne McLean on an Omo Valley Photography tour we are focused on being friendly, personal and ethical. The Omo Valley tours are unique in our way of showing you the authentic and local cultures and lives. We don’t take you to many of the usual tourist spots, we sit in local coffee places, eat in local cafes/shops and have a cold drink with locals during the heat of the day. When we visit the tribes we spend quality time with them. Time to enjoy and watch them “out of tourist mode”. Depending on who you travel with in the Omo Valley can make such a huge difference to your experience.
I want to show respect to the people we are honoured to visit and photograph.
When you travel with multi award winning photographer Jayne McLean on an Omo Valley Photography Tour the tour packages include most costs and we aim to exceed our tour guests expectations.
Optional add-on photography tours to Harar
Optional add-on photography tours to Lalibela
Customised private Ethiopian photography tour itineraries
Private photography tours (with you, your partner and/or friend/s)
Super small group Omo Valley photography tours
AFRICAN PHOTO TOURS WITH A DIFFERENCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
You are not contributing to the 85% of tourist dollars leaving the host country when you travel with Jayne on an Ethiopian photo tour. These Ethiopian tours are booked through the local Ethiopian tour service provider. Jayne will organise the tours on your behalf and join you on the tour, but you are not booking through an international tour company, but rather a local and experienced tour provider. It is their booking forms and terms and conditions. This arrangement makes a huge difference to the locals and really makes a difference. Some people prefer to book through international tour companies, so please consider if this tour is right for you.
It has always been my vision to make a difference and be a positive influence in tourism.
There are many variables that can determine your experience when on an Omo Valley PHOTOGRAPHY Tour such as who you book/travel with and if they are ethical, friendly, experienced and respectful in their approach.
For an introduction to some of the Southern Ethiopia Tribes including the Omo Valley Tribes CLICK HERE
To see more Omo Valley maps showing the tribes, locations, driving routes and airports CLICK HERE