"Key Afar, Jinka & Mursi" Jinka by sachara

Jinka Travel Guide: 19 reviews and 50 photos

I had looked forward to my visit to the Lower Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia as one of the most fascinating parts of my three months trip in Africa. In the Lower Omo Valley live a vast number of ethnic groups in a rather small area. These ''untouched'' tribes include the Mursi with women wearing large lipplates, the Hamer with remarkable hairstyles, but also the Karo, Surma, Ari, banna, Bodi, Bumi and other tribes.

The headmarkets of the region are in Key Afar, Dimeka and Turmi, visited by all the different tribespeople in their amazing traditional clothing, made of goatskin, richily decorated with kaurishells and beads.

In reality my experiences in the Omo Region, the so-called last great wilderness on the African continent, were beyond any imagination !

Visit to a Mursi village

Mursi boy

In the Mago National Park we visited a Mursi village.
The women wear lipplates and the male warriors not only knives, but also kalashnikovs. Also the young Mursi boys and girls ornated themselves with bodypainting and all kind of the most amazing stuff.

Key Afar Market

woman at Key Afar market

The first town and market in the Omo Region was Key Afar.
At the market you see mainly the Banna people, living in this area, but also people of different other tribes visited this market.
I was totally unprepared to see these very proud, beautiful, relaxed and friendly people all around.
After a stroll at the market, I just sat down in the shade at the edge of the market and looked for more than one hour to the women and men in their wonderful outfits of decorated goatskin.
Sometimes they came to meet you for a chat, for touching your skin or hair or asking for a picture.

Last visit to Jinka: Feb 2004
Intro Updated Jun 23, 2004
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Reviews (11)

Mursi lipplates Shopping (1)

In the Mursi village the women and girls like to sell us their traditional clay lipplates. The most plates have a round... more travel advice

Mursi boys Off The Beaten Path (5)

Not only the girls, but also the Mursi boys like to decorate and ornament themselves abundantly by unique face and body... more travel advice

Mursi warrior Off The Beaten Path (5)

The Mursi are one of the most remote peoples in Ethiopia and live rather autonomous of the government. They lived... more travel advice

Mursi woman, showing her scars Off The Beaten Path (5)

This Mursi woman was very eager and persuasive to show the skars at her shoulder. She followed me, grabbed at my arm and... more travel advice

Things to Do (5)
See All Mago National Park

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Comments (15)

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Pinat Jul 31, 2009 at 9:42 AM

The photos are stunning and the tips are so informative for me. Wish I have the chance to see these places. Maybe one day...
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ushar May 28, 2009 at 5:16 AM

Ohhh My god.... Really great pages....awesome pics...thanks for sharing the Mursi tribes and their traditions...will visit again .. ush
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hopang Mar 25, 2009 at 6:20 AM

A fascinating place to visit, it has to be said! Mago National Park sounds interesting. ~ho & pang
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Pawtuxet Nov 14, 2008 at 5:06 PM

Very interesting view of these Ethiopian people. You must be an Anthropologist. Only question I have is, are you wearing a lip plate now? :-)
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Pablos_new Sep 9, 2008 at 2:42 AM

8-0 Stuning pix! Thanks for sharing! (Woman with Kalsh is the best)
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angiebabe Jul 14, 2008 at 11:38 PM

Youve certainly been to some amazing places - but been able to get some most amazing photos as well - a really blessed traveller! All the best to you over there in Uzbekistan having another adventure!
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boltonian Nov 2, 2007 at 10:09 AM

This is a trip i am thinking of doing. Is it not scary?
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JLBG Nov 2, 2006 at 10:09 PM

A superb page! I was convinced that liplates were no more in practice. On your front page photo, I thought it was a rusk and understood only later it was a liplate!
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kyoub Mar 2, 2005 at 10:43 AM

This is a super page,Ali. Very interesting info about the lipplates. I have always wondered about those.
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Bonobo2005 Jul 5, 2004 at 10:03 AM

Fascinating, fascinating. fascinating...TOP indeed even for your standards!