People & Culture · Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
Mursi People
One of the best-known peoples of the Omo Valley, living between the Omo River and Mago National Park.
- Best Time
- Year-round except April and May
- Suggested Stay
- Half day
- Altitude
- 500 to 1,500 m
- Region
- Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
Why We Go
Cattle herders of Mago National Park, known for the clay lip plate.
The Mursi are agro-pastoralists whose cattle are central to wealth, marriage and identity, and who cultivate sorghum along the Omo River. Some communities move seasonally with the availability of water and grazing.
They are internationally known for the lip plate worn by some women, a symbol of identity and beauty, and for body painting with white clay. Visits are usually made from Jinka; we ask that photographs are always taken with consent.
Highlights
- The lip-plate tradition of Mursi women
- White body and face painting
- Cattle-centred culture and Donga stick fighting
- Villages in the hills of Mago National Park
Journeys Including Mursi People
Routes that pass through here
More in Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
Plan This Destination
Build Mursi People into your journey
Nothing here is fixed. Tell us how long you have and what else you want to see, and our team will plan the route, including the flights, the guides and the hours that matter.
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Speak to someone who has been there this season
Our guides travel these routes all year. Ask about road conditions, festival dates or the best time to visit. You will get a straight answer.
Or call us directly on +251 912 039405