Photo Safaris By Region AFRICA - Botswana Wildlife - Madagascar - Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve, Kenya ANTARCTICA - Ultimate Antarctica ASIA - Essential China—Iconic Landmarks & Landscapes - India—Rajasthan & Puskar Fair - Japan's Winter Wildlife - Laos & Vietnam - Mongolia—The Golden Eagle Festival EUROPE - Best of the Greek Isles - Eclectic Holland - Finland's Arctic Wildlife - Turkey—Continental Crossroads - Tuscany - White Horses of France's Camargue NORTH AMERICA - Alaska Overland - Aurora Borealis—Fairbanks, Alaska - Bald Eagles of the Chilkat River, Alaska - Bosque del Apache & White Sands, New Mexico - Brown Bears of Katmai National Park in Summer - Brown Bears of Katmai National Park in Autumn - Colorado Fall Colors - Denali National Park in Autumn - Exploring Lake Powell - Florida Birds—Best of the West - Grand Canyon at Havasu Falls - Great Smoky Mountains - Horses & Icons of the Wild West - Humpback Whales of Alaska's Inside Passage - Mexico's Colonial Heartland - Monument Valley & Slot Canyons - Nova Scotia—Photo Tour for Women - Olympic National Park, Washington - Predatory Animals of North America - Springtime in Callaway Gardens, Georgia - Ultimate Wolves - Ultimate Yellowstone - Washington's Palouse Country - World's Best Raptor Shoot - Yellowstone & Grand Tetons in Autumn - Nature & Digital Photography Seminars with John Shaw PACIFICA - Midway Atoll SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA - Galápagos - Patagonia's Mountain Landscapes - Ultimate Dolphins Wildlife Models Shoot - Wildlife of Brazil's Pantanal Photo Safaris By Date JANUARY - Ultimate Wolves - Nature & Digital Photography Seminars with John Shaw, Dallas, TX & Raleigh, NC - Ultimate Yellowstone FEBRUARY - Japan's Winter Wildlife MARCH - Florida Birds—Best of the West - Nature & Digital Photography Seminars with John Shaw, Phoenix, AZ & Boston, MA - Midway Atoll - Aurora Borealis—Fairbanks, Alaska - Monument Valley & Slot Canyons - White Horses of France's Camargue APRIL - Springtime in Callaway Gardens, Georgia - Galápagos - Finland's Arctic Wildlife - Patagonia's Mountain Landscapes - Eclectic Holland - Great Smoky Mountains - Grand Canyon at Havasu Falls - Mexico's Colonial Heartland MAY - Wildlife of Brazil's Pantanal - Turkey—Continental Crossroads - Ultimate Dolphins Wildlife Models Shoot - Best of the Greek Isles - Tuscany JUNE - Washington's Palouse Country - Predatory Animals of North America JULY - Brown Bears of Katmai National Park in Summer - Olympic National Park, Washington AUGUST - Washington's Palouse Country - Humpback Whales of Alaska's Inside Passage SEPTEMBER - Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve, Kenya - Denali National Park in Autumn - Alaska Overland - Essential China—Iconic Landmarks & Landscapes - Brown Bears of Katmai National Park in Autumn - Madagascar - Yellowstone & Grand Tetons in Autumn - Botswana Wildlife - Colorado Fall Colors - Predatory Animals of North America - Horses & Icons of the Wild West - Mongolia—The Golden Eagle Festival OCTOBER - Exploring Lake Powell - World's Best Raptor Shoot - Nova Scotia—Photo Tour for Women - India—Rajasthan & Puskar Fair NOVEMBER - Laos & Vietnam - Ultimate Antarctica - Bald Eagles of the Chilkat River, Alaska DECEMBER - Bosque del Apache & White Sands, New Mexico

		Dates Sep 20–Oct 7, 2007 Leaders Joe Van Os and Steve Turner Fee $13,895 from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Deposit $850 Limit 10 Special Terms and Conditions Apply Ethiopia lies at the northeastern corner of the African continent in an area known as the “Horn of Africa.” Its intriguing blend of African and Eastern tribal civilizations and tangible aura of religious fervor make it a spectacular cultural crossroads. Ethiopia is one of the few African countries that was not colonized by European powers. The people are friendly and justifiably proud of their ancient heritage—an exotic blend of African, Judaic and Egyptian influences. Their role has been unique and influential in the development of both Christian and Islamic religions, dating back more than 1,000 years. The Ethiopia: Vanishing Cultures of the Omo River Photo Safari will be a true photographic expedition to encounter some of the most remarkable tribal peoples on Earth! The Omo River Delta is rich in cultural and human history. It’s been said: "If Africa was the mother of all humanity then the Omo River acted as a main artery!" Hominid remains from the Omo Valley date back almost four million years, and it is believed this area had an almost continuous “human” presence during that time. Our travels will take us down the Omo by private boat. We’ll camp along the river and visit a number of spectacular tribal areas including those of the Karo, Hamar, Nyangatom, Mursi and Dassenech. We will spend almost a week in the Omo Delta, photographing within the tribal villages by special paid arrangements with the local people. The precise time in each village depends on what ceremonies are planned and the photo opportunities that present themselves—in true expedition style! We have left the program flexible to ensure that there is enough time to immerse ourselves in these remote and fascinating cultures. Our itinerary will also take us into Ethiopia’s magnificent 12th-century churches at Lalibela. Each shrine is carved from a single rock—pillars, altars, graves, hermits’ niches, roof and walls. The myriad shapes of cliff, cave and cruciform windows will offer powerful photographic compositions. The trip includes photography of some of the unique Ethiopian wildlife species—Simien fox, mountain nyala and gelada baboon at Simien Mountains National Park. Here we will wind down from the intensity of our week of tribal photography and enjoy some of Africa’s most spectacular mountain landscapes. This will be a trip of a lifetime, one so out of the mainstream that we are seeking only the most adventurous and hardy photographers to join us. Though this trip starts and concludes in a 5-star hotel, camping conditions along the Omo Delta will be marginally comfortable compared to the standard of our other trips to Africa. If you are inconvenienced by Spartan accommodations and lackluster food at some locations, or are apprehensive in unfamiliar situations, this trip is not for you! Though this magnificent country closed its doors to the world for almost 20 years, its people and wildlife have endured and are once again being appreciated by adventurous travelers. This Vanishing Cultures Expedition is a chance to experience the land that, almost 4 million years ago, supported early mankind, and is home—even yet—to some of the world’s most remote and interesting tribal people. Today, Ethiopia enthusiastically welcomes outside visitors to share its superlative natural and cultural wonders. Day 1 Depart from home. Day 2 (Sep 21) Arrive at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa. Day 3 Early morning charter flight to Murule, drive to Lumale Camp. (BLD) Day 4 We visit Karo villages today. The Karo excel in face and body painting, practiced in preparation for their dances and ceremonies. (BLD) Day 5 Hamar villages are known for the people’s elaborate body adornments, extensive beadwork and the "bull jumping ceremony," all of which are our photographic objectives. (BLD) Day 6 We move on to Nyangatom villages, whose specialized crocodile hunters use harpoons as they hunt from their dugout canoes. These pastoralists are one of the largest and most feared of the warlike Omo tribes. (BLD) Day 7 We visit the Mursi villages where the women practice some of the most profound forms of body adornment in the world—inserting a 7-inch-diameter clay plate into their lower lips. (BLD) Day 8 We return to a village of our choice today. (BLD) Days 9–10 Travel to Dassenech villages in the Omo Delta. Their cultural practices and body decorations resemble those of Kenya’s Samburu. (BLD) Day 11 Fly to Addis Ababa. (BLD) Days 12–13 Fly to Lalibela and explore the stone-carved churches. (BLD) Days 14–16 We fly to Gondar and drive into the Simien Mountains searching for Simien wolf, gelada baboon and walia ibex. Here you are presented with perhaps the most dramatic scenery in Africa—great volcanic plugs, formed some 40 million years ago and eroded over the eons into fantastic crags, pinnacles and flat-topped mountains—"the chess pieces of the Gods," as one writer has described them. (BLD) Day 17 (Oct 6) We return to Addis Ababa and depart for home in late afternoon or evening. (B) Day 18 Arrive home.

	Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070 Phone: (206) 463-5383   Fax: (206) 463-5484    Email: info@photosafaris.com Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.