CONTENT PAGE I. HOME ............................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Message from Head, Culture and Tourism Bureau ............................................................. 2 1.2 Events ................................................................................................................................ 4 1.2.1. World Tourism Day ................................................................................................................. 4 1.2.2. The True Cross /Maskel/ .......................................................................................................... 7 1.3 News.................................................................................................................................. 8 1.4 Speeches ............................................................................................................................ 9 1.5 Tourism Facts & Figures .................................................................................................. 11 1.6 Publications ..................................................................................................................... 12 II. ABOUT US ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.1. The SNNPRS ................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.1. Location, Area and Administrative Divisions ......................................................................... 13 2.1.2. Population and Ethnicity ........................................................................................................ 13 2.1.3. Climate .................................................................................................................................. 14 2.1.4. Topography ........................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.5. Wildlife Conservation Areas .................................................................................................. 15 2.1.6. Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................... 15 2.2. The Bureau ...................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.1. Vision, Mission & Principles ........................................................................................... 17 2.2.2. Duties & Responsibilities ................................................................................................. 18 2.2.3. Organizations ................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.4. Services ........................................................................................................................... 19 III. CULTURE....................................................................................................................... 20 3.1. Culture Overview ............................................................................................................. 20 3.2. The People ....................................................................................................................... 21 3.3. Historic & Cultural Heritages ........................................................................................... 22 3.3.1. Monasteries & Churches .................................................................................................. 22 3.3.2. Mosques .......................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.3. Stelae ............................................................................................................................... 23 3.3.4. Defense Wall & Caves ..................................................................................................... 24 3.3.5. Paleo-anthropological Sites .............................................................................................. 24 3.4. Intangible Heritages ......................................................................................................... 25 3.4.1. Oral Traditions ................................................................................................................. 25 3.4.2. Social Practices ................................................................................................................ 26 3.4.3. Traditional Handicrafts .................................................................................................... 26 3.4.4. Traditional Arts ................................................................................................................ 28 3.4.5. Indigenous Knowledge & Practices .................................................................................. 28 3.5. World Heritage Sites ........................................................................................................ 29 3.5.1. Tiya Stelae ....................................................................................................................... 29 3.5.2. Lower Omo Anthropological Site..................................................................................... 29 3.5.3. Konso Cultural Landscape ............................................................................................... 29 IV. NATURE ......................................................................................................................... 32 4.1. Nature Overview .............................................................................................................. 32 4.2. National Parks.................................................................................................................. 32 4.2.1. Nech-Sar National Park (NNP) ........................................................................................ 33 4.2.2. Mago National Park (MNP): ............................................................................................ 36 0 Bureau of Culture and Tourism Website Compiled Information by Girma Timer 4.2.3. Omo National Park (ONP) ............................................................................................... 38 4.2.4. Chebera-Churchura National Park (CCNP): ..................................................................... 41 4.2.5. Maze National Park (MzNP): ........................................................................................... 44 4.3. Arba-Minch Crocodile Ranch .......................................................................................... 47 4.4. Wildlife Reserve .............................................................................................................. 48 4.4.1. Chelbi Wildlife Reserve ................................................................................................... 48 4.4.2. Tama Wildlife Reserve .................................................................................................... 48 4.5. Controlled Hunting Area (CHA) ...................................................................................... 49 4.5.1. Murule Controlled Hunting Area ...................................................................................... 49 4.5.2. Welishet-Sala Controlled Hunting Area ........................................................................... 50 4.6. Sanctuary (Sinkile)........................................................................................................... 51 4.7. Community Based Wildlife Conservation Area ................................................................ 51 4.8. Important Bird Areas (IBAS) ........................................................................................... 52 4.9. Forest ............................................................................................................................... 53 4.10. Wildlife (Mammals, Birds, Plants, others) ........................................................................ 54 4.11. Water Bodies ................................................................................................................... 54 4.11.1. Rivers and Lakes .............................................................................................................. 54 4.11.2. Waterfalls (Cascade) ........................................................................................................ 55 4.11.3. Cold and Hot Springs ....................................................................................................... 56 4.12. Landscape/Topography .................................................................................................... 56 4.12.1. Mountains ........................................................................................................................ 56 4.12.2. The Great Rift-Valley ...................................................................................................... 57 4.12.3. Lower Omo Valley .......................................................................................................... 57 V. TOURISM ....................................................................................................................... 58 5.1. Overview Tourism .......................................................................................................................