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Omo Valley, Bale Mountains & Danakil Depression – ETHIOPIA
Lale’s Camp – The ultimate cultural immersion
These journeys suit travellers who value immersion and time spent in truly wild places. Here, luxury is defined by access to remote landscapes and experiences available to only a small number of guests each year.
An idyllic and ultra-remote encampment of seven comfortable en-suite Meru tents under the cooling shade of tamarind trees on the banks of the Omo River, Lale’s Camp was co-founded more than two decades ago by the legendary guide Lale Birwa. Quite simply, there is nothing else like it in Ethiopia.
An ethnic Kara from the neighbouring village of Dus, Lale is fluent in many of the tribal languages of the Lower Omo and, from this comfortable base in Ethiopia’s cultural melting pot, excursions are made to isolated villages of Kara, Hamer and Mursi people. Remote from the main tourist circuit, guests at Lale’s are the only foreigners who visit the area, making Lale’s Camp a unique place and experience.
Wild Expeditions experiences are united by passionate founders who share 3 fundamental beliefs:
Firstly, that ecotourism, as a central pivot of the wildlife economy, is a critically important driver of African conservation.
Secondly, rural people (often neighbours or owners of conservation areas) are a vital part of modern conservation.
Thirdly, the planet, its ecosystem services and its biodiversity are a shared natural heritage and an understanding of, and connection with, nature is necessary for the future of the human race.
The future of Africa’s wildest places and traditional tribes increasingly requires conscious and intrepid travellers seeking these bucket list journeys, together with brave stakeholders who are committed to providing meaningful and immersive travel experiences.
We invite you to take a Wild Expedition.
Lower Omo Valley, Bale Mountains (Ethiopian Wolf) & Danakil Depression, Ethiopia
Exclusive-use rate from US$ 760 per person per night (Rates vary by region, expedition type and itinerary; packages often priced per trip)
Lale’s Camp (Omo Valley): Scheduled flights from Addis Ababa to Jinka, followed by a road transfer and river boat up the Omo River; private charters to Murule Airstrip also possible.
Expedition: Ethiopian Wolf (Bale Mountains): Fly from Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains Airport (BHM) or via Dire Dawa with road transfers to camping base.
Expedition: Danakil Depression: Fly to Mek’ele or Addis Ababa then road transfer; expedition access requires robust 4×4 support and experienced guides.
Lale’s Camp works in partnership with the local Kara community to support protection of approximately 400 hectares along 9.5 km of Omo Riverbank, helping to reduce overgrazing and deforestation while generating economic participation through cultural tourism.
Children 10+ years welcome (expedition suitability varies by region and activity)
Deep cultural and wilderness expeditions across Ethiopia’s most extraordinary landscapes – from immersive encounters with Lower Omo Valley tribes to geological wonder in the Danakil Depression and rare wildlife-focused treks in the Bale Mountains in search of the endemic Ethiopian wolf.
The most authentic low impact way to experience the cultural tribes of the lower Omo Valley (Kara, Hamer, Mursi).
Stay longer and explore the Omo River by boat, fly-camping along the way and encountering different tribes.
Encounter unusual wildlife species and rare cultures in a truly remote area where traditional values are honoured in the face of modern life.
Discover far flung Ethiopia with fixed wing or heli flights to the Bale Mountains to view Ethiopian wolves.
WATCH THIS SPACE
Gondar, Lalibela, Simiens, Danakil
Located on a sinuous bend of the lower Omo River in southern Ethiopia, Lale’s Camp.
A comfortable dining and lounge tent, or mess, is the central point of Lale’s Camp. Meals are taken here or outdoors around the fire.
Being exclusive use, the camp sleeps a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 12 guests with a minimum stay of 3 nights.
Carefully spaced along the high banks of the Omo River on either side of the main area are seven large, spacious Meru tents. En-suite, with flush toilets and traditional safari showers, each tent is carefully positioned in the deepest shade of this special patch of riverine forest. Gauze panels serve as ‘windows’, maximising the through draft and ensuring our guests are immersed in nature and can hear all the sounds of the night.
The nearby Kara village of Dus (one of just three villages belonging to the Kara people) is only a few minutes’ walk away, with some isolated Hamar settlements further afield.
WHY HERE?
This is the most authentic low impact way to experience the tribal cultures of the lower Omo Valley (Kara, Hamer, Mursi).
The whole joureny is integrated into, and benefitting, the local Kara community.
On each trip guests also have the opportunity to encounter unusual wildlife species as well as traditional cultures in a truly remote and disconnected region.
The Ethiopian Highlands, and the Ethiopian Wolf and other endemic fauna and flora that survive there, are relics of a long-forgotten age.
Isolated islands in the sky harbour the last populations of this striking and charismatic creature (at any one time the global population is between 250 and 500 animals). Like these ‘red jackals’, just about everything up here – plants, birds, mammals, scenery – is different from the rest of Africa. The age of the landscape, the solitude, and the unique environment cannot fail to make an impact on you.
On this expedition, as we search for wolves, we explore all of the accessible parts of the Bale ecosystem – from the grasslands at Gaysay, to the juniper woodlands at Dinsho, the plateau at Sanetti and more – in search of other species like Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck and the Bale Monkey, not to mention birds like Blue-winged Goose and a veritable feast of raptors.
Being exclusive use, the camp sleeps a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 8 guests with a minimum stay of 3 nights.
WHY HERE?
Privileged private viewing of Ethiopian wolves in their highest density areas;
Exceptional Afro-alpine ecosystem and solitude;
High quality viewing of large mammal endemics like Mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck, as well as Giant Mole-Rat, myriad endemic birds and otherworldly plants like Giant Lobelia.
Together with Africa’s highest peaks, Ethiopia is also home to one of the lowest altitude areas on the planet, the Danakil Depression … an area lying at the junction of three tectonic plates and the northernmost point of Africa’s Great Rift. Scorching hot, achingly barren and climatically inhospitable, this harsh terrain is not for everyone. It is however utterly spectacular, both in terms of landscape as well as culture, and the effort to reach it is well worthwhile. The garish multicoloured thermal springs at Dallol, the molten lava lake of the active Erta Ale volcano and the hypersaline lake at Afrera are all unique.
At more than 100m below sea level at its lowest points, the Danakil is surreal not just in terms of its otherworldly appearance but also in terms of the existence of a centuries old salt trade and camel caravans that carry salt tablets for trading in small towns to the west. Wild Expeditions cannot promise comfort here but they do promise adventure and reflection.
Being exclusive use, the camp sleeps a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 8 guests with a minimum stay of 3 nights.
WHY HERE?
Spectacular geological and geothermal formations and processes including an active lava lake;
The forced reflection imposed on you by one of the most inhospitable parts of the planet;
Because there is nowhere else on earth quite like this!
Bookings can be made by contacting the Wild Expeditions reservations team.
Email: wea.res@wild-expeditions.africa
Tel: +27 71 359 8322
WhatsApp: +27 82 401 7035
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
Addis Ababa is accessed via Bole International Airport, one of Africa’s best-connected hubs, with regular international flights from Europe, the Middle East and across Africa. The airport is served by Ethiopian Airlines, as well as Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, Kenya Airways, RwandAir and Turkish Airlines.
Domestic connections within Ethiopia are well established, allowing for onward travel to remote regions.
Wild Expeditions works closely with guests and agents to coordinate all onward travel and logistics from arrival in Addis Ababa, ensuring smooth transfers and seamless connections throughout the journey.
Lale’s Camp | Bale Mountains | Danakil Depression
Amenities (Across All Experiences)
- Remote, expert-led journeys focused on cultural immersion and wild landscapes.
- Fully inclusive arrangements with meals, local beverages and camp support.
- Low-impact, off-grid operations with a strong emphasis on respect, conservation and community engagement.
- All internal logistics, guiding and expedition support included.
- Travel and medical evacuation insurance required.
Lale’s Camp – Lower Omo Valley
Amenities
- Exclusive-use tented camp on the banks of the Omo River.
- En-suite Meru-style tents with private verandas.
- Central open-air dining and lounge area.
- Road transfers between camp and Jinka or Murulle airstrips included.
- No WiFi or mobile signal.
Activities (Included)
- Guided cultural visits to communities such as the Kara and Hamar.
- Fly-camping expeditions upriver to visit remote Mursi communities.
- Omo River boating and guided walks.
Bale Mountains & Danakil Depression – Expeditions
Amenities
- Fully supported mobile expeditions, using a mix of lodges, community camps and fly-camping (itinerary dependent).
- Specialist guides with deep regional, wildlife and geological knowledge.
Activities (Included)
- Bale Mountains: Walking and wildlife exploration in Afro-alpine landscapes, tracking Ethiopian wolf, mountain nyala and endemic birdlife, plus cultural encounters.
- Danakil Depression: Exploration of volcanic terrain, salt flats and lava fields, visits to Erta Ale volcano (conditions permitting), and cultural encounters with Afar communities.
Wild Expeditions Africa operates in remote regions where tourism is limited and access is challenging, including parts of southern Ethiopia. In these areas, their approach is centred on long-term presence, local partnerships and operating at a scale that respects both people and landscapes.
At Lale’s Camp, conservation and community engagement are closely linked. The camp operates along the Omo River in an area where land use, grazing pressure and cultural continuity are ongoing considerations. Wild Expeditions works alongside local communities and partners to support land stewardship and culturally respectful tourism practices.
- Support for land stewardship along the Omo River, where areas adjacent to Lale’s Camp are managed in a way that reduces pressure from overgrazing and deforestation. These riverine habitats are known to support a variety of wildlife, including several primate species.
- Partnerships with the Kara, Hamar and Mursi communities, through a model of cultural tourism developed collaboratively and conducted on the terms of the communities themselves.
- Local employment and skills development, providing income opportunities linked to guiding, camp operations and hosting.
- A low-density tourism model, helping to limit environmental pressure while maintaining meaningful engagement between guests and the region.
Through these contributions, Wild Expeditions supports an approach to travel that respects cultural autonomy, encourages responsible land use and maintains a careful balance between access and preservation in the Omo Valley.
High-resolution images available for download showing accommodation, surroundings, and activities.
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