SNNPRS is one of Ethiopia's federal states located in southern Ethiopia. It is home to over 50 ethnic groups and possesses significant cultural, historical, and natural diversity. Some of its major tourist attractions include seven national parks containing wildlife, rivers and lakes, hot springs, and diverse cultural resources showcasing the region's ethnic groups. The region is biologically diverse as well, containing 127 mammal and 574 bird species, some of which are endemic or threatened. Nech Sar National Park specifically shelters over 100 mammal and 350 bird species and features scenic landscapes and wildlife including zebras, gazelles, and crocodiles.

1. SNNPRS is one of the federal regional states of Ethiopia endowed with a remarkably
rich cultural, Historical and Natural diversity The presence of more than 50 nations
Nationalities and peoples (70% of the country) with an exceptional variety of
ceremonies, festivals, celebrations, rituals, and other living expressions. Moreover,
The Southern Ethiopia
two of the world heritages sites; the Great Rift Valley Lakes; wildlife protected areas;
hot springs; waterfalls, the south-western natural forest; Konso Cultural village,
Gedeo agro-forestry practices, together with the diverse cultural resources set the
region among the top priority attractions.
The place
where you feel
MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION PLACES
the breathing
culture of
Natural attraction: Wildlife Protected
Ethiopia…
Areas: The Region holds seven
National Parks (Namely: Mago, Maze
and Chebra-Churchura, Gibe-Sheleko,
Loka Abaya, Nech-Sar, and Omo), two
wildlife re-serve(Tama & Chelbi), two
Home for crocodiles Controlled Hunting Areas (Welishet-
Sala & Murule) and different
community based wildlife
conservation areas.
Rivers and Lakes: The Region is
fortunate in possessing a number of Colored by the nature
water basins which is certainly one of
the reasons for the rich biological
diversity. Omo (one of the big river in
the country), Gojeb, Gibe, Bilate,
Segen, Akobo and Woyto Rivers and
Rift Valley Lakes such as Abaya (the
largest of the Great Rift Valley Lakes
of Ethiopia), Chamo (the most
productive), Hwassa, Chew Bahir and
Rudolf are found within SNNPRS.
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2. Cold and hot springs
The region has numerous natural
springs as well as holly and mineral
waters which are curative &
attractive. The Forty-Springs “Arba-
Minch” ( Gamo-Gofa), Wondo-Genet
& Gidabo Hot-Springs (Sidama),
Arto Hot-Springs (Halaba), Dadiben
Hot-Springs (Kaffa), Loqe and Jatu
Hot-Springs (Gurage) Wejemta and
Get Colored Usinka Hot-Springs (Benchi-Maji
Zone.
Historical and man made
attractions
A number of ancient monasteries Cultural and Ethnic Attractions
and Churches are known in the
region. Most of the Orthodox SNNPR one of the
Churches ark of tabernacles came most important
from the northern parts of the regional states of the
Southern country and are built on the top of country embraces
hills. about 56 nationalities
that have their own languages and cultures. The ethnic diversity is
high in South-Omo Administrative Zone, where there are 16
Nationalities. The peoples have diverse & unspoiled culture in their
life style, body decoration, dressing, wearing jewelries and way of
life. Each of the nationalities of the region has their own, weeding, burial, religious
and other cultural ceremonies. Some of nationalities are known of their special cotton
cloths weaving and dressing, in addition to that making bracelets, nickels, earrings
and bead. The stone and wood curving techniques of the Konso nationalities are very
impressive and attractive for tourists.
Erbore: very colorful people
Erbore: very colorful people
Erbore are a very exciting people. Their happy way
of life is rooted in their deep belief that their
singing and dancing eliminates negative energy and
with the negative energy gone, the tribe will
prosper.
Although relatively large, Erbore is far more rustic
and unaffected than many similarly sized towns in
South Omo. The Erbore build their huts slightly oval
in shape. The Erbore have a bodily mutilation of
raised dots on the chest and abdomen. The Erbore
believe in a Supreme Being creator and father of Together with the Burji, and the Konso,
men whom they call Waq. the Erbore speak Cushitic language.
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3. Mursi or Mursu
Mursi or Mursu
The Mursi or Mursu people are the most popular in Ethiopia's Omo
Valley. They are well known for their unique lip plates. They are
settled around the Omo River and in the Mago National Park since they
have to move accordingly with the climate. They herd cattle and grow
crops along the banks of the Omo River. The Mursi women paint their
bodies and face in white. They also are the ones who wear the lip
plates. Women of the Mursi tribe may have their lips cut at the age of
15 or 16. A small clay plate is then inserted into the lip. Through the
years, larger plates are inserted into the lip causing it to stretch. The
larger the clay plate, the more the woman is worth before she gets
Women of the Mursi married. It is said that the clay plates were originally used to prevent
tribe may have their lips capture by slave traders… this region have a lot of other tribes other
cut at the age of 15 or than the one listed above.
16…
Tsemai
The Tsemai, the dominant
people of Weito village on
the Konso-Jinka road, are
regarded to be among the
least known ethnic groups of
Ethiopia. Estimated to be a
This region is also have embraced many tribes with that are not
total of some 5,000 people,
their territory extends along included here...
the western bank of the
Weito River, known in
Tsemai as the Dulaika River.
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4. Ethiopia known for its wide spectrum of biological diversity with endemic,
endangered and globally threatened flora and fauna. The diversity of the biological
resource is a reflection of the Region unique geological history and diverse physical
and climatic conditions. The wildlife resource of the Region are mainly restricted in
Wildlife Protected Areas, Namely: seven National Parks, two wildlife Reserves, six
Controlled Hunting Areas and ten Important Bird Areas as well as different
community based wildlife conservation areas. So far 127 mammals (46% of the
country) and 574 birds (65% of the country) have been recorded together with some
endemic, near endemic and/or globally threatened species.
Nech-Sar National Park (NNP)
Location: NNP is found in SNNPRS between the two
Flora and fauna Great Rift Valley lakes (Chamo & Abaya) near Arba-
Minch town & located about 500 & 270km south of
Addis Ababa and Hawassa, respectively.
Main Attractions: NNP diverse habitats and
vegetation types shelter for over some 104 small,
medium and larger species of mammals, 351 species
of birds and 1000 species of vascular plants
The park is known for its beautiful natural scenery
and varieties of mammals and avian species. Among
mammals: Burchel’s zebra, Grant’s gazelle, greater
kudu, waterbuck, Guenther’s dikdik, bushbuck,
jackal, spot-ted hyena, leopard, lion, cheetah
servalcat, honey badger, gureza-coloubs, vervet
monkey, olive-baboon, wild dog and caracal are
common & conspicuous in the park. Among the avian
the endemic Nech-Sar Nightjar and the globally
threatened lesser-kestrel, lesser-flamingo and
phalied-harrier are known. Nech-Sar is very well-
known for its wonderful attraction sites such as
Crocodile Market (where hundredth of giant Nile
crocodile with congregation of waterfowls and hippo
Burchel’s zebra herds are commonly seen on the shore of the lake Nech-Sar National Park
: seven National Parks, two wildlife Reserves, six Controlled Hunting Areas and ten
Important Bird Areas as well as different community based wildlife conservation
areas. So far 127 mammals… with some endemic near endemic and/or globally
threatened species…
HIGHLIGHTS
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