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The Omo:wild and wonderful
wilderness
The Omo National Park is nearly 4000sq km
in area. It is Ethiopia’s largest nature sanctuary and richest
in spectacle and game; but the least visited mainly for inaccessibility.
The park is located at the southern end of the Omo river where
it forms the boundary between the Gamogofa and Kefa zones. It
is a habitat for about 306 species of birds. The big five make
parts of the mammals that roam in the area.
Peoples & Nature of the South
Apart from an array of wildlife and untouched
scenery, this part of Ethiopia is home to many diverse and fascinating
peoples & cultures. Just down the rift valley, much lush green
land Ethiopia possesses really flourishes.
As a start to
explore the south, Arbaminch would be an ideal location. Surrounded
by two beauties, lakes Chamo and Abaya, panoramic view’s
are all around. The white grass plains of Nech Sar park offer
a strong contrast to the waters of lake Abaya. Opposite, lake
Chamo is renowned for it’s large & impressive crocodile
population. The abundance of various birdlife, many endemic, can
also be spotted in this region. As for the real cultural people
of Ethiopia, many resources & artifacts are unavailable to
them; the different tribes of the south create unique ways to
release their artistic expressions and show the beauty they behold.
For example, females of the Surma tribe of Omo have a characteristic
of inserting clay disks up to 12 cm in diameter into their lower-lip.
The larger the disk, the more beauty a woman is said to possess,
and her demand as a wife is also applauded.
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To the east of Omo are the
Mursi, a relatively small tribe of some 5000 people. Their supplement
of livelihood depends mainly on milk and large herds of cattle,
but not for food. The cattle are pocked with a sharp object into
a particular vein and blood is drawn to be mixed with milk for
a delicatessen, as the cattle grazing, are rarely slaughtered.
The three major physiographic features surrounding the Omo &
Mago regions are the Great Rift Valley, the lake Turkana basin,
and the Ethiopian highland massif.
The southwest of Ethiopia
is also famed for it’s kaffa (coffee) region, home to the
original wild plant, which still grows as that in many parts of
this area. Finally you have the Omo river, with it’s impressive
gorge & roaring rapids which has become a popular spot for
white - water rafting.
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