The Lower Valley of the Omo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the South Omo Zone of Ethiopia's Southern Nations region, near the town of Jinka. It is also known simply as the Omo Valley. The site covers about 165 square kilometers along the Omo River, and it is valued for its paleontological significance: many early hominid fossils have been found here.
What a visit offers
Most visitors come for the landscape and for the story the ground holds. The river and its banks form the core of the site, and the fossil finds that have come from this valley are the reason it is recognized internationally. Because the area is large and largely open, a visit tends to be one of looking and listening rather than moving quickly from one display to the next.
Planning your trip
- Base: Jinka is the town most closely associated with the site, and it is a practical place to organize your time in the area.
- Region: The South Omo Zone is part of the wider Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, so a trip here can be combined with other places in the south.
- Contact: To check arrangements before you go, the listed telephone number is +251-911-234567.
If you are interested in the early history of human ancestors, or in river landscapes in southern Ethiopia, the Lower Valley of the Omo is worth considering. Allow time to travel the distances between places in this part of the country, and confirm current details with the contact above before setting out.