People & Culture · Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
Banna People
Living in the hills between Key Afar and Jinka, the Banna share language and many customs with the Hamar and Bashada peoples.
- Best Time
- Year-round except April and May
- Suggested Stay
- Half day
- Altitude
- 1,200 to 1,600 m
- Region
- Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
Why We Go
Highland neighbours of the Hamar, famous for stilt walking and beekeeping.
The Banna combine cattle herding with farming and are skilled beekeepers. Singing and dancing are central to their social life, and natural pigments are used for body decoration during important occasions.
Key Afar’s weekly market, where Banna, Hamar and Tsemay meet to trade, is one of the liveliest in the Omo Valley.
Highlights
- The Thursday market at Key Afar
- Young men on stilts, painted with chalk
- Colourful beadwork and clay hair decorations
- Traditional beehives in the trees
Journeys Including Banna People
Routes that pass through here
More in Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
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Build Banna People into your journey
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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