We set off at 8am from for the Karo village of Kolicho which, although only 57 km away, took us two hours as it was a single bumpy rutted track with dense bushes, shrubs and small trees on both sides.
On arrival we parked up under a tree and were met by one of the elders who stage managed the photography session against a backdrop of the River Omo down below. As with other tribal visits it was so difficult choosing who to photograph. Fortunately they were a lot less pushy than the Mursi tribe and there was very little touching.
The Karo people are best known for a short distinctive hairstyle and painting their faces and entire bodies with elaborate designs using water mixed with chalk, charcoal, powered yellow rock and iron ore. It is said to make them both more attractive and at the same time ward off rivals.
A small boy was dotting the face of another in a pattern and so our guide Eskedar asked him to do the same to him. The women wore colourful beads around their neck and goat skins which if studded with metal denoted they were married.
Having taken photographs we walked around the village huts and eventually came to what was described as the village bar/ restaurant where we sat on low stools and had a reviving sprite.
Once again, I feel unable to adequately describe the people and hope you enjoy the photographs.
