Lale’s Camp

Highlights

• Co-founded by legendary Kara guide Lale Biwa, fluent in many Lower Omo tribal languages
• Authentic, low-impact visits to Kara, Hamer and Mursi communities
• Seven en-suite Meru tents under tamarind trees on the Omo River
• Boating excursions with sightings of De Brazza's monkey, Egyptian plover and Pel's fishing owl
• Overnight fly-camping upriver to meet the Mursi people
• Genuinely off the tourist circuit, with guests often the only foreigners in the area

You Should Know

• Minimum age 12 years
• Accommodation rates for children under 12 are 50% of the adult sharing rate
• Exclusive-use bookings only, minimum two guests for a minimum of three nights
• Camp is closed during April
• Access is by river only, after road or charter flight to Murulle airstrip
• Laundry is not included in the rate

The Details

Location

Lale's Camp sits on a sinuous bend of the lower Omo River in southern Ethiopia, set in deep riverine shade with tamarind trees sheltering the camp from the sun. The nearby Kara village of Dus, one of just three settlements belonging to the Kara people, is a few minutes' walk away, with isolated Hamer homesteads further inland.

The camp is reached only by river, after first flying or driving to the little-known Murulle airstrip, which is under two hours by private charter from Addis Ababa. This remoteness is central to the experience and is what allows guests genuine, uncrowded access to the cultures of the Lower Omo, including the Kara, Hamer, Mursi and Nyangatom.

Accommodation

Seven spacious Meru tents are carefully spaced along the high banks of the Omo River on either side of the central mess tent. Each tent is en suite, with a flush toilet and a traditional safari shower, and is positioned in the deepest shade of the riverine forest. Gauze panels serve as windows, maximising airflow and ensuring guests can hear every sound of the African night. Vervet monkeys, guereza colobus and Gambian sun squirrels are regular visitors in camp.

Dining

Meals are served in the comfortable dining and lounge tent at the heart of the camp, or outdoors around the fire. All meals and selected beverages are included in the rate, with cooking that draws on fresh ingredients suited to the remote setting.

Activities

The focus at Lale's Camp is cultural rather than wildlife-led. Guests spend time on foot with local guides, walking to the Kara village of Dus, visiting small Hamer settlements inland, and travelling upriver by boat to fly-camp with the Mursi at sites where the women collect clay for their lip plates. The Omo River itself is part of the adventure, with boat trips offering sightings of unusual primates such as De Brazza's monkey, large crocodiles basking on the banks, and rare birds including the Egyptian plover and Pel's fishing owl.

Price Includes

• All meals
• Selected beverages
• All shared scheduled activities
• Round-trip road transfers between camp and Jinka or Murulle airstrips
• Community and park fees
• Private 4x4 vehicle including Wild Expeditions guide
• VAT