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We introduce tourists to areas where the local communities welcome them. Every new itinerary is done in consultation with the local people to make sure they are happy with it and fully aware of the possible impacts of tourism. Our staff is trained to always treat locals with respect as well as observing their cultural traditions and avoiding patronizing attitudes. Through our welcome packs (given to every client) we encourage our customers to do likewise, by providing them with information about responsible tourism. We use local suppliers and locally run hotels where available. This ensures that the money we pay suppliers stays within the host country and benefits their economy instead of being repatriated outside of the country. All of our vehicles are upgraded and serviced regularly to ensure that we minimize pollution. By walking in a lot of areas, we travel in a low impact manner.
Our tour in Ethiopia uses local guides who can help guests to understand local customs and traditions, interact with local people and ensure at least a minimum level of local involvement in our holidays. Regular and ongoing training on responsible tourism is given to all our staff.
We also use locally run hotels where available and avoid at all costs foreign-owned hotel chains whose profits disappear out of the country. This ensures that the money we pay suppliers stays within the host country and benefits their economy. It also ensures a ‘trickle down’ effect. The hotels we use employ local people, buy their supplies locally and use local people for maintenance, refurbishment and development work. Guests at the hotels we use always have the option of not having their linen changed daily in order to save on water and energy use. This is clearly spelt out in the room information brochure.
This trip was developed for a very specific traveller in mind, that of a traveller wanting to be immersed in history, tradition and culture of an almost unknown landscape. For these enthusiasts, this tour will deliver incredible insights into this vast land and its people who are still suffering the effects of poverty from unrest.
One of the highlights of the trip is a visit to Lalibela. We make a point of sharing World Heritage Sites with clients, to help enrich their appreciation of places that have impacted us on a global scale. Lalibela, with its stone-hewn churches is described as “the creations of angels”.
All of the fees paid at places of interest go towards local economic development. Our tour includes a trip to places which charge a conservation fee and a large portion of all entrance fees is given to the local community. This helps to further conservation efforts in the respective areas. Apart from the historic value of the many places visited on this trip, we encourage visitors to support the local communities, especially in the form of exquisite crafts and handiwork. Senbete Village provides the perfect opportunity to acquire jewellery, woven materials and baskets as well as an insight into the day-to-day lives of the Oromo and Afar people.
Community development projects are supported either directly or indirectly through our local suppliers. Going forward, we endeavour to initiate and develop new community projects, in areas where these could be beneficial to the local people. On an ongoing basis, we continually monitor the social and political issues in Ethiopia, at both a local and national level, and communicating all relevant information to customers prior to departure (where possible). We support local tourism initiatives, where available, such as the cultural tourism programme in Ethiopia with the local Afar and Oromo people. Our guides always encourage our customers to purchase locally manufactured products rather than imported alternatives, and buy gifts and crafts from local shops and markets. We visit local communities where our clients can make donations.
The trip also includes a 3-hour guided walk in the Simien Mountains National Park (another World Heritage Site). On this walk, we will search for 3 endangered species found nowhere else in the world, namely the Walia Ibex, the Simien Wolf and the Gelada (an extremely rare baboon).
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
