Just did a five day trip with Haile to the Omo valley. Tribes, Markets, Trekking around Jinka. Decided to go during my trip to Ethiopia and at first reaching out... read more to tour guides from
On the road seemed tough as there are many companies around and you have no idea who might be good. He was one of the tour companies that came up on
My google search. From all the companies i contacted from on the road Communication with him was great from the first contact. Quick feedback. Good information. Totally ok with my asks and changes for the trip an very accommodating to my not fixed travel times. Trip down south was great. Reliable car, good camping gear, amazing driver. And he is from the area!! Seems everyone in every town and village knows him.He has great contacts in the villages and to local guides. I decided to go a bit more budget as for a solo traveller its quite expensive. So camping and more basic (but completely fine) Accomodation. But you if you have a bit more money to spend he can arrange everything else that is availble here too and provide whats high end down here. Last 5 days were one of the best travel experiences in my life.

Ulf

  Haile picked us up at the airport and accompanied us until we left; he was an extremely friendly, knowledgeable and fun guide to be with. He knew what hours were... read more good to visit the various tribes and he was right. We had a wonderful experience visiting the Mursi tribe and thoroughly enjoyed being invited in Ari houses and talking with the Benna. Our walk around Jinka market was fun too. Meanwhile, Haile was flexible with the things we asked for which was nice. He was very accommodating. Nice hotel. Overall a wonderful experience and will certainly go down to the Omo valley again with Haile.

  I did a three day tour (in reality two and a half day tour + half day for driver to go back to Arba Minch).

I flew to Arba... read more Minch on Day 0 and was received at the airport by Haile, and taken to the Arba Minch Tourist Hotel and settled in. The hotel was OK but no WiFi on the third floor at all.

Day 1: at the breakfast, Haile told me he had a death in the family and needed to stay back but he included my breakfast and dinners and promised I would have local guides everywhere. He also gave me his WiFi card with 100 Birr a day loaded. We started off with China who is an excellent driver. We visited Komso tribe (local guide took me around and showed things but no home visits). Then we continued on to Turmi where we had late lunch at the Tourist Hotel and visited a Hamer village with guide Gale - Gale was excellent and we spent close to two hours at the village and had lot of excellent interaction with the Hamer village people. This was an excellent experience. Back to Turmi and overnight in Dobo Hotel.

Day 2: we started early at 7, had breakfast at Touirist Hotel and continued to drive down to Omorate which is a border town with the Northwest Kenya to visit the Dasenetch tribe - had a river crossing in a dugout canoe and visited a Dasenetch village which was also another excellent experience. Returned to Turmi to attend the Hamer Market. Continued drive to Jinka - en route we also visited a Bunna tribal people at their farm and had great interaction with them. Continued to Jinka and visited the museum and the Ari Tribe. Overnight at the Jinka NASA hotel, which was excellent - so was the restaurant in Jinka.

Day 3: again we started at 7, had an excellent breakfast and drove down to see the Mursi village (popularly known for their attractive culture, women wearing large clay plates into their lower lips) with an escort as well as army convoy. This was another excellent experience, though very dusty drive! Drove back to Jinka and was transferred to Airport for flight back to Addis Ababa.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable and informative tour and everything Haile said we will do, we did. China was helpful and courteous thru-out as well as very punctual. Haile kept in constant touch twice a day to ensure everything was taken care of.

I highly recommend to do this tour with Haile and China - if possible add a day or two to visit a few more tribes. This is an experience you are not likely to forget anytime soon.

  Haile answered all of my requests, was always on time, and made our experience in Arba Minch very memorable! Haile provided a very fair rate for his tour services. He... read more met me in Addis Ababa prior to our trip to discuss any concerns that I had, and made sure that we had a very pleasant time during our long weekend trip to Arba Minch. He can provide custom tour ideas. Haile led us to the Dorze tribe and we visited a family that is off the beaten track to receive tourists. This made our experience much more original, and the whole family was very welcoming to us. We had an excellent time, and I recommend Haile to any tourist looking to take in an original experience in Ethiopia. Very good English and always responsive to your calls and emails.

  We spent 2 days in Arba Minch area visiting Donze Village and Lake Chamo. The tour was great and our driver is helpful.
Haile is a kind person and... read more he is superb! He speaks good English and answered quickly upon our inquiry. He is very helpful on your requests, and keeps following up on your situation even after the tour. Thank you very much, Haile, for giving us a great experience in Ethiopia!

  I spent 5 wonderful days with Haile in Omo Valley. He seems to know everyone and we were welcomed everywhere. Especially camping in a traditional Hamar tribe village (just me... read more and the tribe members) was an unforgettable experience. Was also went to less frequented villages where I didn’t spot other tourists. He always made me feel safe and like a family member.
I highly recommend going on a trip with him!