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| Jinka | ||
| region | Region of southern nations, nationalities and peoples | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | 1,490 m | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Jinka is a city in Ethiopia.
background
Jinka is a small town with a university, hospital and airport in southern Ethiopia and one of the starting points for tours in the Omo Valley.
getting there
By plane
Jinka has had a runway and a small airport building in operation since 2018. Ethiopian Airlines now flies the Addis Abbeba - Arba Minch - Jinka - Addis Abbeba route several times a week. The one-way price is approx. 150 USD (foreigners without discount, Dec. 2018). When the Dash-8 arrives, Tuctucs will be available for transportation into town. Ethiopian Airlines has a small city office in Jinka
By bus
Jinka can be reached from all surrounding places by bus and minibus connections. A bus station is located in the center of the village next to the former country runway. Direct buses from / from Addis Abbeba were not spotted in 2018.
- Key Afer / Demeca approx. 1 hour,
- Arba Minch approx. 5 hours,
- Turmi over 2 hours
If you continue to Turmi, you should make sure to get one of the few direct connections, even if you have to prepare for a long and uncertain waiting time at the bus station: it is safe to be stranded in Key Afer or even in Demeka (also Demaka, Demaca) not very comfortable, later getting on a fully occupied minibus no pleasure or even completely impossible.
If you are traveling by minibus, you can buy the (outer!) Passenger seat for a small tip, which is definitely recommended because there is no expectation that further passengers, goats and the like will be loaded there later. There is also an extra charge for luggage on the roof and occasionally for loading and unloading the same.
In the street
Key Afer (from there to Turmi, Konso, Arba Minch etc.) is easily accessible on an asphalt road by buses, minibuses, if necessary with Tuctuc or a private motorcycle taxi.
mobility
One moves in the city
- on foot,
- with a tuctuc (Indian Bajaj). These can accommodate 2 passengers and luggage, but are not suitable for longer distances due to the tiny wheels.
- Numerous young men drive 100 / 150cc motorcycles in town as a status symbol and are happy to transport passengers for a fee. In this way, as a single traveler, you can easily reach all nearby destinations (e.g. museum and back 100 Birr), if necessary also drive overland (e.g. to Demeka, 1000 Birr). This mode of transport is recommended for intensive contact with the population, detours, photography, but not for trips to the Mago Ntl.Park, see below.
- with the off-road vehicle. Those who are not already on an organized tour (most of them are) still have the opportunity in Jinka to try to book a car with a driver and (obligatory) guide, e.g. through the hotel.
Tourist Attractions
activities
The vast majority of tourists travel - for good reason - with a car, driver and guide who have already been booked from home, in Addis Abbeba or, at the latest, in Arba Minch. This way of traveling is comfortable and, above all, time-saving and therefore not significantly more expensive than one Individual trip, for which more overnight stays and a lot more time have to be spent on transports. The individual tourist will possibly not reach all interesting places and conditions, e.g. due to a lack of knowledge.
Jinka is the ideal starting point for visiting the Mursi Tribal im Mago National Park. The nearest village is just over an hour from the city and can be easily reached via a slope. A visit to the Mursi is an absolute must and the highlight of a trip to South Ethiopia, which is well known to the local guides: In December 2018, the half-day trip, including all actual and fictitious ancillary costs, was charged over 200 USD, arranged by the Marmo guide at the Orit Hotel. For this visit you can probably not avoid the car and driver.
The tribes of the Ari, Benna and the Hamer can be explored well and inexpensively by taking a day trip in a minibus to Key Afer (Monday is market day) or after Dimeka (Market day on Saturdays) and back or, even better, with a private motorcycle. In Key Afer there is a lodge that makes a decent impression from the outside, there are no known tourist accommodations in Dimeka. The numerous Hamer but one is also of Turmi get to know each other well.
shop
There are many smaller shops (groceries, clothing, electronics), no real souvenir shops.
kitchen
nightlife
accommodation
- "Nasa Pension". The pension is right next to the bus station and is new and very clean, you can go to one of the restaurants to eat across the street.Feature: pension.Price: 600 Birr single without breakfast, Dec. 2018.
- "Goh" hotel. The hotel in the city center is the accommodation of the drivers. Very simple standard, not very clean and quite loud. Restaurant.
- "Orit" hotel. The hotel with its garden restaurant under large mango trees is the social hub of the travelers, guides, drivers and other VIPs in town. Usable restaurant, acceptable rooms (approx. 500 birr), always electricity, decent WIFI, breakfast, not always running water.
- There are a lot of very inexpensive small hotels and pensions, which are aimed primarily at locals. It was mentioned positively somewhere Nardos Pension.
- Eco Omo Lodge. The lodge is a bit outside of the city center. Probably more expensive than the hotels in the city center (not checked).
- (outside) Rift Valley Lodge. This lodge is located near the Omo, far from Jinka. It has a private airstrip and is rumored to be operated by a big game hunter.
Learn
Work
security
Jinka is very safe. As a foreigner you are probably constantly spoken to and begged, but never seriously harassed, not even as a woman.
health
Jinka has a hospital and a few pharmacies.
Practical advice
There are numerous banks in Jinka that exchange euros, British pounds and Swiss francs. It is therefore not necessary to take larger amounts of USD with you. A number of ATMs give up to 5000 birr on Visa. Works well.
Jinka has gas stations (but not always gasoline), tire service, grocery stores.
trips
literature
Web links
- An official website is not known. Please open Wikidata add.
