Review Joyful, challenging, beautiful trip

My daughter and I spent a week in the Omo Valley in May. We chose Mamaru on the basis of TripAdvisor reviews. It was an extraordinary trip in a magical place. We visited seven tribes and each experience was wildly different. As others have noted, some visits are highly transactional—tourists are a commercial opportunity for these tribes and you will be hounded for photo money (Mursi, Dassanach, Karo). Other visits are curated—you will have a thoughtful guide with a rich explanation of history and culture (Dorze, Konso). Others are more immersive (Banna, Hamer). Our night in a Banna compound was transcendent. Overall, we saw many sights and heard many stories that called us to think deeply about our own cultural assumptions and cultural sensitivity in a global world.
While the tribes may be the reason for going to Omo, you’ll spend most of your time bouncing on rough roads—and sitting at coffee stalls and local cafes—with your guide and driver. We had a great time with and would highly recommend Mamaru and his awesome driver, Mike. We felt safe and cared for at every step. Mamaru and Mike are great friends, and their ease with each other was contagious. We were soon all joking and laughing together. Together, they know EVERYONE in Omo, so we were wrapped into friendship everywhere we went.
A few practical notes: Mamaru’s fee is all-inclusive. He handled all arrangements and transactions discretely and efficiently. This made for stress-free travel. We camped two nights and stayed in lodges or modest hotels, all just fine. We ate locally and deliciously. There was plenty of everything we needed whenever we needed it—especially water. (Don’t be shy about asking for bush toilet stops. Much better than the alternatives.) Mamaru is a great arranger, so if you have a specific desire (a tribe or an event), be sure to discuss your expectations at the beginning of the trip. If he can, he will make it happen. I would also suggest that, each evening, you lay out the plan for the next day. It will change, of course, but that’s part of the grand adventure. Last, every guide and driver we met seemed competent and courteous. However, if you choose Mamaru and have the good luck of getting Mike the driver, you’ll have the ace team!