Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
Environment
Roads can be poor in parts of Ethiopia and distances long but, conscious of our environmental impacts, we have reduced the number of domestic flights on this tour. This also enables us to get more of a feel for the country as we travel by road through small towns and villages.
We aim to support development first and foremost by doing business well but there are many people in Ethiopia who are unable to benefit from tourism. For this reason we also support the work of Send a Cow who provide breeding livestock and agricultural training to rural communities in Ethiopia, giving them better protection against food insecurity.
Community
Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world but by visiting and operating responsibly we are able to deliver economic benefits to a variety of local businesses. This means employing local guides in each town; using locally owned hotels and spreading our custom to small local restaurants and craft shops where possible. Even just stopping to buy fruit at a local market can really help supplement a family’s income.
Using local guides is also the best way to get in depth information on not only the historic and cultural aspects of Ethiopia but insider information on day to day life and learn to respect local traditions. Ethiopians are very friendly and hospitable people and we try to find as many opportunities as possible for you to meet the people in a fun and positive way for both sides.
We support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost.
This small group operator is just celebrating its 30th year and was originally set up to enrich people’s lives through adventure travel. The directors have roots in overland trucking and are determined to keep a pioneering spirit alive. They believe what sets them apart is the strong relationships they’ve developed with local suppliers and tour guides over the years. A tour leader who thinks creatively can turn a good experience into a fantastic one and open up a place so that travellers gain insight into a completely different way of life. They operate in many different countries and try to avoid a blanket approach – their aim is to get customers involved in the projects they visit and to forge lifelong friendships.
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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!
