Jinka

At an altitude of 1500 metres, Jinka is a lovely, laid back, green town with a friendly feel - great for spending a few days. It also has a more comfortable climate than the lowlands below it. The town of around 20,000 people has better facilities than elsewhere in the region, including banks, hotels and petrol stations. Additionally, there is a very well kept museum with a library lots of info on all the different tribes of the south – Abore, Hamer, Bana, Ari, Dasenech, Nyangatom, Mursi and Maale. 

Key Afar

Key Afar is one of the larger towns of the Omo Valley and at 1800 metres offers a refreshing break from the stifling lowlands. The town is largely populated by the Ari, who, as in Jinka, wear modern clothes when living in the urban centre. The town, which is on the Konso-Jinka , boasts a large market on Thursday selling traditional and modern goods where the Ari, Hamer and Bena proudly display their colourful traditional dresses – made from the leaves of the enset and koisha plants in the case of the Ari – and their red, blue and black beads.