19 Mar 2023
It was a great trip through the Omo Valley, arranged skillfully by our guide Banti. He responded to all messages quickly and clearly; was flexible with what we wanted to see and pay for; was always on time; things happened exactly as promised; everything was done in a courteous, respectful, and friendly manner - no drama of any sort, only good professional guiding and arrangements. Two big extras was helping us choose a better hotel in Jinka than the one we originally considered, saving us a lot of money too; and filling the last afternoon in Jinka (when Banti had already gone back to Arba Minch) by arranging a very nice hike up to the Ari village led by a local guide for which Banti paid himself and which was not part of the agreed itinerary. That’s what “exceeding expectations” means in practice. Needless to say, by virtue of being based in Omo Valley Banti is more competitive cost-wise than the larger or more distant tour operators who only intermediate. All in all, Banti is an excellent guide/trip arranger who’s local, knows the area inside out, and is highly trustworthy in terms of fulfilling promises, being on time, and going the extra mile. Couldn’t recommend him more highly.