Karo People

The greatest tourist attraction during any Ethiopia holiday is an incredible diversity & cultural heritages this country has to offer.  Particularly Omo Valley that offers an extraordinary opportunity to meet more than a dozen varied ethnic groups that varies dramatically from region to region.

 

Karo People also known as Kara is a small tribe with an estimated population between 1,000 and 3,000. They are closely related to the Kwegu tribe. They live along the east banks of the Omo River in southern Ethiopia and practice flood retreat cultivation.

The Karo People speaks an Omotic language close to that of the neighbouring Hamer In common with the Hamer, scarification plays an important role in Karo body decoration, and the men plaster their hair into tight buns after killing a human enemy or a dangerous animal. The hairstyle favoured by Karo women is rather striking; tightly cropped at the side, and tied into bulbous knots and dyed ochre on top, it makes them look as if they have rushed out of the bathroom without removing their shower cap.

The Karo people are best known for the elaborate body painting they indulge in before important ceremonies. They dab their torsos with white chalk paint, reputedly in imitation of the plumage of a guinea fowl. Colorful face masks are painstakingly prepared with a combination of pastes made by mixing water with chalk, charcoal, powdered yellow rock and iron ore. You’d have to be unusually lucky to arrive at Murulle when a genuine celebration is about to take place, but colorful dances can be arranged thought the lodge at one the nearby karo villages.

Karo People Photo Gallery

What our clients say about us

[lvca_testimonials_slider slideshow_speed=”4000″ animation_speed=”600″ direction_nav=”true” control_nav=”true”][lvca_testimonial_slide author=”Ken and Marg from Canada” credentials=”The trek was fab!” author_image=”1116″] “…Footprint is doing a great job! I will highly recommend you to everyone I know traveling to Ethiopia An incredible way to truly experience the local culture and villages that have not been spoilt by tourism. And, to do it with a tour company that respects the local people, their culture and environment…”[/lvca_testimonial_slide][lvca_testimonial_slide author=”Ken and Marg from Canada” credentials=”The trek was fab!” author_image=”1116″] “…Footprint is doing a great job! I will highly recommend you to everyone I know traveling to Ethiopia An incredible way to truly experience the local culture and villages that have not been spoilt by tourism. And, to do it with a tour company that respects the local people, their culture and environment…”[/lvca_testimonial_slide][lvca_testimonial_slide author=”Ken and Marg from Canada” credentials=”The trek was fab!” author_image=”1116″] “…Footprint is doing a great job! I will highly recommend you to everyone I know traveling to Ethiopia An incredible way to truly experience the local culture and villages that have not been spoilt by tourism. And, to do it with a tour company that respects the local people, their culture and environment…”[/lvca_testimonial_slide][lvca_testimonial_slide author=”Ken and Marg from Canada” credentials=”The trek was fab!” author_image=”1116″] “…Footprint is doing a great job! I will highly recommend you to everyone I know traveling to Ethiopia An incredible way to truly experience the local culture and villages that have not been spoilt by tourism. And, to do it with a tour company that respects the local people, their culture and environment…”[/lvca_testimonial_slide][/lvca_testimonials_slider]

For more information about us send us a message.