Jinka
Jinka is an administrative center of Debub-Omo Zone and it is one of the smallest towns in the  Region. It is located about 750km from Addis Ababa and 138km from Konso. Jinka is the nearest town to Mago National Park and to Ari, Bena, Murssi, Boddi and Dime ethnic groups. Although, the location of Jinka is far from the central part of the country, good services (hotels & restaurants, banking, electricity (fuel dependent), telephone(both Ground & Mobil) provided for tourists. The largest and colorful Sunday market is the best for visitors. Different ethnic groups the Murssi, Benna, Bodi, Ari, Hamer, Karo, Koygo, attend the market day. The Debub Omo Zone Museum & research center supported by the German .is  perched on the hill overlooking jinka town on the northeast. The Museum has different display and cultural materials, which are the reflection of the different ethnic groups living in the South Omo Zone.
Debub Omo Zone Attractions
This Zone is one of the top most tourist destinations and endowed with unique and diverse cultural, historical and natural attractions in the country. The attractions include:
Omo National Park Mago National Park, Chelbi Wildlife Reserve, Tama(Murssi Bodi) Community Based Wildlife Conservation Areas, Murule and Wolishet Sala Controlled Hunting Areas, Lower Omo Delta and Lake Turkana biodiversity.
Peoples of the area: the “Lower Valley of the Omo” consists of 16 different ethnic groups that have their own culture, language, norm, and traditional life styles. The Murssi, Bodi, Koygo, Ari, Bena, Hamer, Dassench, Nagatom, Muguji, Karo, Tsemay people are found in this Zone. A visit to the lower Omo Valley (Debub Omo Zone) is a visit to another world. The environment is harsh and wild but the people are welcoming and their life styles and tradition is untouched and unmixed for centuries
. Historic and Cultural Heritages: the lower Omo Paleo- anthropological sites
Market Day in South Omo/lower Omo: A terrific way of seeing some of the colorful Lower Omo People is the traditional local Market. The most interesting market in Debub-Omo Zone (Lower Omo Valley) include: Jinka (Saturday,), Gazer (Monday & Thursday), KeyAfer(Thursday), Qaqo( Monday) Dimeka (Tuesday & Saterday), Turmi (Monday), Omorate( ), Weyto (Saterday), Surma (Sunday), Hana(Saturday)
Place to stay and eat: Rocky recreation center (park), Lucy campsite, Jinka resort, Orit Hotel, Goh Hotel, Kokeb Hotel, Jinka Red cross pension, Mengistu pension, there are also different local favorite hotels ivangadi, Degene Hotel, Mehbub pastry etc .
There are tourist service rendering facilities (in the different towns (Key-Afer, Tourmi, and Omorate)
Visitors can have information about the various attractions of the Debub Omo Zone from the Zonal Culture and Tourism Office situated at Jinka..
Address
Debub Omo Zone State Communication and Culture & Tourism department
P.o. Box:
Telephone: +251467750054
Fax: +251467750008
Jinka |
