Ethiopia wildlife & walking holiday

Ethiopia wildlife & walking holiday

How this holiday makes a difference

Life for the majority of Ethiopia’s 73 million people is harsh, even by the standards of Africa’s poorest nations. The average Ethiopian person earns less than $100 per year and will not live beyond 44 years of age. North Wollo is amongst the poorest areas of the country, depending largely on rain fed subsistence agriculture.

Our guide Mark established TESFA - a local charity organisation that was set up in 2003 with the specific aim of developing community-based tourism in Ethiopia WITH communities. By putting communities in charge of their own tourism resources, payment goes directly into the communities - 60% for the communities, 25% to a local guides service (that also transmits bookings to the communities), and 15% to cover administrative costs. After the communities have paid their staffing costs and for the consumables (food, toiletpaper, soap etc) the remainder is split between profit and a fund to allow for reinvestment and depreciation. The profit is then put into a community fund for the whole community to decide how it should be spent, such as the purchase of a community grain grinding mill.

Our Ethiopia trips also fund A-Cet (African Childrens Education Trust) a small independent charity helping young Africans to achieve their maximum potential through education. A-Cet supports 1.000 youths with scholarships, 2 rural primary schools and 2 computer training centres.

When you take one of our trips, we make a contribution to “Carbon Clear” – an organisation who work with hundreds of organisations to measure their carbon footprint and reduce their carbon emissions. We also support several other NGOs around the world such as the Hope Foundation, Tibetan schools trust and Adopt-A-Minefield, which are all carefully selected to improve the standard of living for the communities we visit.

Ethiopia wildlife & walking holiday

Reviewed 21 Nov 2011 by Catherine Potten

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Walking in the Simien Mountains. I had seen pictures and had been telling my friends that I wasn't going to the desert but I was not prepared for the spectacular beauty of these mountains. The walking was not challenging as we were on the escarpment but it helps if you are relatively fit as you are at altitude.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

If you are looking for a mixture of culture in a country that for centuries did not have outside influence and so is pretty unique, as well as being active outdoors in wonderful scenery, then this is a superb trip.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Not too sure. We used local guides & were obviously bringing income to the areas that we visited. We travelled between towns by air as travel by road takes too long. If you are conscious of reducing air travel then note that there are 3 internal flights as well as the international flights.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Fantastic; Ethiopia is a wonderful country to visit. The people are welcoming and to visit 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites in a week's trip is no mean feat. Our tour guides were excellent; everything was well organised and apart from the fact that I wish that we had spent longer in the mountains this can only serve as proof that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Read the operator's response here:

We are so delighted you enjoyed your trip Catherine. I'd also like to emphasise how this trip benefits local communities - the walking component of the trip was set up as a community project, offerring employment to local guides and a source of income to villages who participate. This encompasses everything from guides/camp assistants to purchasing supplies. Our 2012 Ethiopia program includes another incredible community project TESFA - silver medal winner in the AITO Roger Diski community tourism award. To read more visit www.community-tourism-ethiopia.com

In order to facilitate an enduring support structure for the communities we visit, and to show a commitment to these values, we have also set up a charitable foundation through which we can channel funds to both existing NGOs and our own development projects. In addition to organising ethically sensitive tours, having our own charitable foundation allows us to raise money – through the cost of our tours, charity trips and fund raising events – which can then be used to fund various projects in education, sanitation, reforestations and a number of other important issues facing developing communities.

Reviewed 09 Jan 2011 by Sue Corby

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

TEFSA trekking and Gheralta.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes - provides employment.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Reviewed 02 Mar 2009 by Stephanie Van Vaerenbergh

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The major highlights were the 2.5 days hiking majestic Simien Mountains, the amazing and unique landscapes. A mountain range that cannot be compared to any other in the world. Wild, vast yet mysterious and peaceful.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

That beyond the only stories you read about Ethiopia are about the famine and the war. But this country is so much more. Yes, there was famine, yes there was war and yes there is a great deal of poverty. But the kindness of the people, and the beauty of the landscape sheds a totally different light on all what you heard before.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes, we did work with local people throughout the trip and whatever little there was the group could do to help the community, they did (some of the participants brought some second hand clothing that was handed over). We were always made silently aware of preserving the environment.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

The holiday was a great opportunity to discover so much more than a name associated to famine and war. From cultural awareness through visits of historical sites to walking in an astonishing nature, a great mix for a week's break from work!

Reviewed 18 Mar 2008 by Puja Darbari

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Ethiopia is a beautiful country and confounds every expectation. Having Live Aid so firmly etched in my mind, I went expecting to see abject poverty and desert but instead found myself overwhelmed by the majestic landscapes and besotted with the independence and pride of the Ethiopians. This is a place to visit soon before it becomes overrun with tourists.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

The trekking in the Simien mountains is an experience not to be missed but it is hard work and requires a good level of fitness.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

The tour operator worked through a local tour company and during the trip we took porters, cooks and guides from the local areas. There was a great deal of walking involved so I guess this was good for the environment and getting fit.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

The holiday was brilliant. It is the most beautiful country I have visited in Africa and it has the great combination of being inexpensive, having good facilities and very few tourists.