Vincent Buxton review 31 Jan 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Impossible to pinpoint any one individual part; the whole experience was memorable. History, culture, scenery, meeting the people - deliberately or accidentally - were highlights and if one person has to be named then it must be Eskinder, the master mind behind the whole operation.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go with an open mind; don't expect French cuisine, German motorways, North American customer service or British Health and Safety standards. Ethiopia is rich in rewards but a desperately poor country at the same time. It is in need of external investment to improve things for its peoples and tourism is one way to help this. Strongly recommend the Bradt Travel Guide to Ethiopia - the best guide book we have ever used.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. Local guides and drivers obviously benefit but so do hotels, restaurants and so on. City-hopping by plane and so much road travel aren't exactly environmentally-friendly but there is no other way to do it in such a big country. We felt that some of the villagers in the south could do more to help themselves rather than just expect tourists to pay for taking their photos; we were uncomfortable about this aspect as it made us feel like voyeurs visiting a human zoo.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Unforgettable. No TV documentary, reading or other external source of information can replace personal experience and contact. We wanted to see the real Ethiopia and thanks to Eskinder and his team, feel that our lives have been enhanced.
Michael Dower review 28 Jan 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Timkat celebrations and trekking
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Just relax and enjoy, everything is well taken care of.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, definitely benefited local people
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
100 per cent.Very well organised by Eskinder, who went above and beyond to ensure that everything ran smoothly - not an easy task as there was eight of us, but Eskinder and staff managed with great ease. A pleasure to travel with this company. We'll be back.
Gary Ward review 2 May 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole trip was a sensation, far better than we expected. The fantastic scenery especially in the north, the climb to Maryam Korkor church, diverse cultures, rural areas where there are no tourists, of course Lalibela, Simien mountains, Omo tribes, key afar market, Shala and awash national parks. Also some great accommodation ie Gheralta, Awash, Lalibela and Arbaminch.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you have the time travel by road. Some of the roads are not too good ie Debark to Axum, but the scenery is stunning.
Don’t give money etc to beggars.
Change small amounts of money as you go along, Ethiopia is a very cheap country.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We had a main guide and driver for the whole trip who were brilliant, plus local guides at the main sites. We travelled north, south and east over 20 days covering over 4500 kms by road with just two internal flights; if we had the time to cut these out we would have done.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic, brilliantly organised by the company’s owner, a top man. Everything apart from a 45 minute delay for a puncture went without a hitch; having travelled quite a bit in Africa, that’s saying something.
Helene Aicolina review 18 Feb 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole trip was memorable. Highlights include: the climb to Maryam Korkor church in Tigray. Gheralta Lodge. Boat trip Lake Tana. Complimentary cultural evening organised by Eskinder for our last night in Ethiopia. Wildlife, the mountains, canyons, gorges and the glimpses of rural life. The charming people especially in Tigray. The vibrant colours of the houses. Rock churches in Tigray and Lalibela. Staying in a traditional guest house in Harar.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't change too much money, it is virtually impossible to change the local currency back to a hard currency. Don't give money or pens to children. If you want to give money give to a local charity.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We deliberately selected an Ethiopian based company and flew Ethiopian Airways, this meant that all money spent on our holiday went to local people/companies.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Lots of wonderful memories. Excellent trip, efficiently organised by Eskinder. The itinerary was well planned and adapted to our specific requirements. There was a good selection of hotels including the outstanding Gheralta Lodge and Rowda Webr Guesthouse in Harar. We appreciated the range of sightseeing options and activities, the knowledge of our local guides which gave an insight into the country and its history. Our driver and tour leader inspired confidence and we felt safe and well looked after at all times. We would highly this tour company.
Richard Antolak review 15 Jan 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Because the country is so varied, there were several high points. In the North, Lalibela stands out on account of its beautiful situation high in the mountains. And also of course, the series of famous rock-hewn churches it contains. What impressed me most was that these churches were not simply empty museums, but active sites of worship. When I was there, pilgrims were already arriving from all over Ethiopia to celebrate Christmas. It was a wonderful sight.
In the south, the highpoint for me was the visit to the Karo village, beautifully situated on a high plateau overlooking a bend of the mighty Omo river. The Karo people were very friendly and forced me to think deeply about things (and values) that were really important in life.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Just sit back and enjoy it. A lot of work has been done in the background to make sure everything appears smooth and effortless. There is also an element of flexibility built into the holiday, so if you see something you didn't expect and want to investigate, it is usually possible to arrange it.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Apart from bringing foreign money into the local economy, I arranged to assist the Ari people collate and translate their oral history and legends. This will become a resource for visitors as well as for future generations of Ari people. I also managed to initiate links between a Primary school in Axum and one in Scotland, which should be of mutual benefit to the children of both schools in the future.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was excellent. First class.
Federica M. Cumer review 13 Nov 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It is hard to choose one particular part, as the whole trip was really special. On my list of favourites are Lake Tana, the Blue Nile Falls, the Simien mountains, of course Lalibela (truly astonishing!!!), the Dorze and Konso villages, Key Afar market (fantastic); but the steles scattered in the fields around Axum and the castles and churches at Gondar and the Mursi and Karo people were marvellous and unforgettable too. Lalibela probably deserves a special mention: it is hardly known internationally, but it is a top-ranking town of art and history (and I should know, as I'm Italian); what really makes it different is that the art and history is still absolutely alive: you do not just do sightseeing, it's not just a beautiful museum, it is part of people's everyday life. Ah, and our guides were also memorable, in the best possible way :-)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Trust your guides: they are committed to show you how beautiful their land is. Ask: they will be happy to give information, explain and also just chat. Enjoy the moment, try out everything, don't be afraid. Let yourself be surprised by all the very unexpected and excellent things this land has to offer: a truly riveting history, breathtaking historical and natural treasures, kind and cultured people. Bring comfortable shoes: sandals might not be the best choice (see Tungiasis, it happened to me - nothing terrible, but a bit unpleasant). Read as much as you can about the country and it's history. I found the Bradt guide to be very good, and while there I gave in and also brought and read "The Sign and the Seal" by Graham Hancock: I consider him to be slightly out of his head, but the book is very informative, interesting and entertaining.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It surely benefited local people: many are striving to set up a touristic infrastructure, and mostly are succeeding very well. My impression is that right now tourism in Ethiopia has all the potential to become a very important source of income and of contact with the rest of the world. Ethiopia is beautiful, and Ethiopians are righty proud of it, and it is a shame most of us know so little about this country. I consider the fact that I can now contribute to give a positive image of this country to also be a benefit for the local people. I truly hope that tourism, now still at the beginning, might be developed in a sustainable way.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It probably is already clear from what I have written above that I rate this holiday very highly. I did not really know what to expect when I chose this destination: I knew bits and pieces about Axum and the Ark of the Covenant and the Queen of Sheba and Menelik II and Haile Selassie (we Italians invaded Ethiopia in 1936 and staid till 1941, doing all sorts of horrible things... so we know a bit about it and Eritrea). What I found was beyond all expectations. This country has serious problems which it would be silly to deny: poverty and education come to mind immediately. But please forget the stereotyped images of a huge stretch of desert haunted by starving children: this land is green, dotted with lakes ad crossed by rivers, rich in culture and art and natural wonders and human kindness.
Jan Baker review 22 Apr 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hard to say as it was all memorable! The contrast between North and South Ethiopia is startling so we would not wished to have missed either, the North with its history and architecture, including the amazing rock churches, and the South with its culture and different tribal groups.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you don't have a lot of time, then go with the reputable tour company, as we did. This meant that they took charge of all guides and scouts when visiting sites (usually compulsory) and made life easy and relatively hassle-free.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, as far as possible. All the guides and drivers were people local to the area being visited so we felt that the financial benefits of our holiday were quite wide-spread. Guides were very informative about local customs etc so we didn't offend. However, of course we stood out and we did use internal flights - perhaps less harmful than the diesel fumes being pumped out by trucks on the road!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent in all respects. Eskinder and his team were very helpful, courteous and generous throughout and the trip ran without a hitch, even though we covered a huge amount of the country. Ethiopian people are friendly and charming and we learnt a lot about the country and its people.
Kathy Cheetham review 7 Mar 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
All of it was wonderful, the most amazing part was the tribes in the Omo Valley, it was like being transported to another world & time.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The trip was great although some of the distances travelled by car were long, I would suggest having a look at some internal flights although having said that, you would miss the wonderful & vibrant everyday life just walking along the streets and in the villages, there is always something to marvel at.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The local people benefited from travellers happy to support local shops by buying local products, all at an amazingly low price. There are no big groups of tourists on buses, how refreshing, and people traveling in these parts seem well aware of any impact on the environment, no rubbish thrown around.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We have travelled extensively over the last 14 years, this was by far the most memorable, enjoyable & best trip we have done. We are hoping to return again if possible in the not too distant future.
Jaime Perena review 10 Nov 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole trip was really fantastic. One of the most interesting things in Ethiopia is diversity. There were four main destinations. Each one worth a travel: Nile Blue falls, Simien Mountains, Lalibela, and Omo Valley. We had a great expectation about Lalibela and Omo Valley. Nile Blue, lake Tana, and Simien Mountains were very exciting surprises.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
First of all, you need to go both North and South. They are so different and so interesting. That means that you need to have enough time. Our only regret: we would have be able to spend more time in each place. Probably some places are rather different depending in the month of the year. We travelled in September and we were very lucky: everything was green and beautiful. The trip has to be planned to be able to visit some local markets: they are unforgettable.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Of course. Tourism is a very effective way to development, mainly when a country has so many things to offer. The tourist is doing a significant financial effort but you can see that your money is creating a lot of jobs and is shared by a lot of people who are having their living on an activity where both parties have significant benefits.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Wonderful holidays. Beautiful landscapes, nice people, safe place, good food, rich history, great diversity, wonderful tribes, paradise of photography. We would like to have the opportunity to spend more time and to go to new places (the East) and see more tribes.
Guisamano Gladys review 1 Nov 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We are in love with Ethiopia! We decided to go there for various reasons with unclear expectations or none, but the whole experience was beyond any thought. From the very first day in Addis we felt so touched by its gentle people, the colourful landscape of the city. It is so worth it to stay a couple of days in Addis and explore its churches, its streets, and perhaps have your first contact with a coffee ceremony, injera and a St George beer. We flew to Bahir dar from Addis, the flights are quite cheap and the time you save is definitely worth it. Bahir Dar is an amazing city! We had a very nice guide there and enjoyed every single moment there, specially the trip on the way to the Blue Nile Falls and of course the falls themselves blew our minds. I will never forget those kids and the scenery. The monasteries in Lake Tana are a piece of art full of history!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We drove to Gonder, we didn’t like it much this city, but this was the door to go to the Simien Mountains. We stayed there for 3 days enjoyed the view unfortunately it was a bit misty. The whole experience here was a mixed of feelings because apparently you need a scout, a guide, a cook, cook assistance and driver! We thought that this was too many people and it is not cheap. We would advise you to stay at least 5 days to make it worth it. We think that most of the agencies there have overpriced the Simien mountains trip. However the scenery is beautiful, the fauna and vegetation unique. Be aware that the temperature can drop up to 0 degree at night. We were quite cold in our first night at the second camp and did not have the appropriate equipment. From Gonder to Lalibela by plane, since we arrived we liked it! A different landscape and different experience. A small town full of cultural icons, impressive ancient churches, indeed a spiritual place. I was most impressed by its rich history. We visited other southern cities such as Shashamane where we meet very nice families, Awasa Lake, Lake Langano etc.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Eskinder from the very beginning was very useful and replies to our emails very quickly, he has loads of patience with us too. He and his team was very caring, friendly and try to meet our requests including a visit to a boxing club, arrange a nice Rastafari guide in Shashamame and orphanage at the very last minute. We would certainly recommend this operator! It was an amazing experience, looking forward to going back.
Sérgio Nogueira review 6 May 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Easter Saturday night in Lalibela churches.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
There is a lot to discover and a lot of different places to see in Ethiopia.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A must for the ones that want to discover different cultures, people and places.
Paul Cheeseman review 12 Feb 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The extraordinary landscapes of the Simien Mountains; the churches and monasteries of Lake Tana; the wonderful rock-hewn churches of Lalibela; the boatrip on Lake Tchamo with its 'crocodile market' where we saw more than 50 crocs and some hippos. The outstanding service provided by Eskinder, from the tour operator.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Consider carefully how much travelling you want to do. We had asked for two night stays in various places and we were very pleased we did so. If doing the trip again we would probably ask for even less road travelling and some built-in times to relax (perhaps visiting fewer places but having more time to take it all in). It can be very wearing travelling for hours and hours on dusty, very bumpy unmade roads, of which there are rather a lot!
Dollars are more useful than pounds sterling. You cannot change birr back into pounds sterling at the airport so be careful not to change too much. Be prepared for cold nights in the mountains and hot days generally.
Assume hotels outside Addis to be sometimes lacking in some basics such as hot water or electricity, even if they are supposed to be 3-4 stars. Best bets for hotels seem to be the Lodge-type.
Although not compulsory tipping guides/drivers etc. seems to be expected but it is very difficult to work out how much to give. We worked on the basis of about 60 birr a day for guides and 30 birr a day for drivers.Haggling needed for any purchases. People in the north usually happy to be photographed if asked but in the tribal areas most locals definitely do not want their photos taken and will stop you taking photos if you try, even from a distance. Important to respect their wishes in this matter.
With the Mursi tribe expect to pay 3 birr per person per photo! Don't give money to children who will approach you. If you want to give money do so via Eskinder who will be able to organise for your money to be used for schools, etc.
Meat usually very chewy but fish tasty. Expect to taste the best coffee you have ever had but it is usually very strong - worth asking for extra hot water or have a 'macciato' (with milk). At least 2 hours needed at Addis airport for return check-in. Local flights on time and easy.
Don't be afraid to tell your guide/driver when you want to stop for photos, stretch your legs, have a coffee, etc. The guides have an itinerary they are supposed to stick to but you are the customer and should be able to say what you want and what you do not want! We sometimes decided to take an afternoon off from the schedule as we needed a rest!
Be honest with Eskinder when he asks how everything went - he wants to know in order to make things better for his next clients and he does not get at all upset with polite suggestions. But do tell him the good things as well!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Ethiopia seems to be in its infancy with regard to tourism, and so far there appears to have been little negative impact caused by tourism in the north of the country. Most people are welcoming to tourists and clearly tourism is bringing financial benefits to the population. Inevitably, however, locals, particularly children, have cottoned on to the fact that it is worth begging from tourists, although the government is taking steps to minimise this. Sadly the effects on the local tribes in the Omo Valley are not entirely beneficial. The Mursi, for example, charge for every photo and their whole lifestyle is now related to their daily tourist visits. They store up the money they make and don't spend it!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We rate this holiday very highly. Eskinder is a wonderful tour operator - he worked very hard for us, doing his best to make the holiday as memorable (for the right reasons!) as possible. He met us at the airport and showed us Addis Ababa on our first day. He took us out to dinner when we returned to the capital half way through our holiday. He clearly wanted to know how everything had been, the good and the bad points. He contacted his agents every day more than once so kept thoroughly up to date on how things were going. He met us when we came back from the south and again wanted to hear our impressions of every aspect of our trip. He drove us to the airport when we left. He is everything that we were hoping for, and more. He looked after us very well. The whole holiday that he had organised seem to go very smoothly.
Ethiopia itself is a fascinating country quite unlike any other sub-Saharan country, in part because, despite a few years of Italian occupation, it has never really been colonised. It is a country of unspoilt landscapes and people. In some ways it seemed to us that the north and the south were two different countries, with different cultures and histories and eco-systems, the north closer in feel to Egypt or Yemen and the south closer to northern Kenya. Go visit before it gets too popular with tourists, and ask Eskinder to organise your trip!
Daryl Cohen review 4 Jan 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The churches at Lalibela and the Simien Mountains are both stunning destinations and for very different reasons. The Simien are spectacular - a bit like half the Grand Canyon - and with interesting wildlife; and Lalibela is extraordindary, especially around New Year, in the preparation for Orthodox Christmas.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
By booking through this operator (speak to Eskinder) we avoided a middleman and the whole cost of our holiday went to Ethiopians. The service offered was of a very high standard and he (Eskinder) clearly cares hugely about all aspects of the trip.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was a great holiday, but please take more time than we did (9 days)- Ethiopia deserves far longer to attempt to do it justice.
Christine Hoyle review 10 Feb 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every day was exciting and I would not have wanted to miss out any of the places visited. But to pick a few, experiencing the procession of the Ark at Lalibela, being fed holy honey by a priest in an ancient church, sitting surrounded by gelada baboons, interacting with the Hamar people (including of course shopping in the market in Turmi), and photographing Muris ladies with their lip plates in. But also the care, professionalism and simple pleasantness of our guides at every location.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Recognise Ethiopia is a big country and if you want to see it all, and you will, you must put up with long days travelling. Any hassles from children and young men are mild (e.g. "give me pen" or "what is your name") and are easily handled with a smile and "salem". Ethiopians are generally polite and friendly. You will enjoy interacting with people. Forget your preconceptions about famine and desert. Fortunately famine is infrequent and localised. Much of the country is green, lush and productive, and rural people (that is 80% of the population) are able to support themselves and their families and have hope for the future. It is a beautiful country with varied terrain. Generally warm to hot but cool at times in the highlands. The booking conditions required us to pay 50% prior to departure and 50% in cash in Ethiopia. I was a little nervous about carrying the money but we were met at the airport on arrival and in practice it was not a problem. On the plus side as this is an "all inclusive" package, you do not have to carry much money yourself when travelling around the country - just enough for any alcoholic drinks, for tips and for souvenirs. And the cost of these is low by European and US standards.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
There are substantial benefits. Tourism is a vital industry bringing foreign currency that is much needed for development. Even those people largely outside the cash economy such as the Hamar and Mursi do need some money and tourists provide this without necessarily having a profound impact on their way of life (schooling will have a much bigger impact than tourists taking photos). The tour company's guides provide good advice on how to behave to minimise negative impacts on the people and places visited.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A wonderful country to visit and an excellent tour company to visit it with. In particular Highway Tours is managed in a very hands-on way by a man dedicated to making the experience as enjoyable and trouble free as possible. The level of service he provides is fantastic and all the guides who work for him strive to achieve the same standard. He is very willing to amend the itinerary as new opportunities arise too. Just ask and he will try as best he can to make it happen.
Cathy Condon review 9 Feb 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were several memorable parts to our holiday and it is impossible to decide which to choose so I'll tell you about just four of them! We chose our date to be at Gondar for the Timkat festival - the Christian Orthodox Epiphany where the Ark of the Covenant is paraded through the street by priests in the principle Ethiopian towns. We accompanied the huge procession for its 2 kilometre walk to Fasilida's baths and the next morning watched the men and boys leaping off the tower into the water of the baths to be purified (the baths are filled for this ceremony and in consequence there is no water left for the hotels etc.)
Our walks in the Simien Mountains were impressive as the scenery is magnificent with steep gorges, Gelada baboons and plenty of bird life. The ghastly "hole in the ground" toilets at the camp site were sadly, also memorable. Being hugged by 2 drunk Hamar women in the Omo Valley is also unforgettable. I accepted to put on one of their headdresses so consequently had a ring of red clay mixed with rancid butter around my head as this is what they apply to their hair for decoration. Finally: being invited by Eskinder to participate in the sheep killing ceremony at his mother's house. It was the day before fasting began (for 56 days), so fresh (!) sheep is eaten the day before. When we arrived the sheep was alive in the yard, when we left there was a little mutton left sizzling over the open fire. Of course we eat the meat with injeera, the staple food of the people (it is an acquired taste!).
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared! It was our 2nd trip to Ethiopia but other than the abundance of new roads being built but not yet completed, and many new buildings being constructed in Addis, little has changed. Hotel accommodation in Addis is excellent but the city is very highly polluted by black smoke belching out of exhaust systems. Outside Addis reasonable accommodation is not easy to find and sometimes you will be without running water and/or electricity?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Local people benefited as we booked directly with Eskinder, so there were not any "between men" - all our expenditure went directly to the people there.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. We would highly recommend using Eskinder because he was so considerate and attentive. He provided us with a tailor made tour and virtually everything went according to plan. The drivers and guides he used were very good, particularly Girma who accompanied us to the South.
Mark and Diane Williams review 15 Dec 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most memorable part of our holiday was when Eskinder, head of the tour company, surprised me and my husband with T-shirts and enrolment in the World Food Walk. The tour operator really took the time to specifically organize something that me and my husband spoke of, even though it is out of the ordinary for tour companies to do something like that. Eskinder took great care of us and my husband and I will always remember what a great time we had contributing to Ethiopia!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do not go for just ANY tour company! In a foreign place, you just don't know who you will end up with or what kind of events will be worth your money. My husband and I are really happy we chose this operator - I cannot stress enough what a great time we had in Ethiopia. From the food to the intimate tours - there was detailed attention put into every aspect of our trip. It was within budget and we had an amazing time!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
ABSOLUTELY! We were able to donate food to the locals and had the opportunity to participate in socially aware events such as the World Food Walk. We visited natural scenery and local villages. Ethiopia has really tried to keep its originality. Our tour company was great - they organized amazing hikes at unbelievable locations. You will have memories and pictures for a lifetime!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
5 out of 5!!!! Our trip was GREAT! Our organizer was SO considerate and thoughtful. We really have Eskinder and the whole tour company to thank for our incredible time!
Martin Roberts review 11 May 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The two places that stood out were Lalibela and the Simien Mountains. The rock-hewn churches around Lalibela are not only outstandingly beautiful but a stunning human achievement which has stood the test of time. Being there in Easter week, it was especially gratifying to see that the churches are not just a tourist venue, but they are also an important part of people's lives across the country: the priests still pray there, and allow people to see the holy relics, or just wander in to pray or meditate. The Simiens provided breathtaking scenery, with something a little other worldly about the shape of the mountains in the distance. They are worth visiting just to see the Gelada baboons grazing in packs of many dozen, but we also saw klipspringers, bushbucks, a solitary Walia Ibex as well as vultures and lammergeyers. We were also pleased to find time to visit Harar, though it was not long enough for a place which is extremely relaxing, especially if you can find time just to soak up the atmosphere. Watching the hyenas feed was quite an experience, even though only one of us plucked up the courage to go near them. Oh, and the coffee is fantastic, even for Ethiopia.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Given more time, we would have loved to go to the rock churches of Tigray, which are more readily accessible from Axum than we had thought. It would also be an opportunity to go a bit more off the beaten track, though that is not to say that any of the sites in Ethiopia, stunning though they are, had more than a handful of tourists when we were there.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We were particularly keen to book with a locally-based company, and we were glad we did because Eskinder, who runs the tour operator, could not have done any better. He set up an itinerary which we felt was just right for the amount of time spent in each place, and his guides and drivers were all first class. Eskinder himself was so concerned that everything went well in Harar that he took a 12-hour coach ride both ways just to check out his new driver there.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had been wanting to go to Ethiopia for a long time and we were glad we finally went. There are so many outstanding and memorable places to visit which are only not so well known because the country is just starting to attract visitors in any numbers. The people are all so welcoming, and there is absolutely no sense of any danger, either to yourself or your belongings. The finishing touch is the food which will be an unexpected delight for those not previously acquainted with Ethiopian cuisine, though you will need to develop a liking for injera.
Read the operator's response here:
Laurence Leclerc review 14 Sep 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The highlights were definitely Gonder and Lalibela, and all the beautiful landscapes we drove through. The local guide at Gonder was particularly helpful and interesting. The driver and organiser who travelled with us all the way were both friendly and very efficient.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you take along warm clothes and rain gear if you're travelling in July/august! The rainy season is NOT a joke - though it was sunny and dry at least part of every day...
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We did benefit local people in as much as we had local guides at every stop along the route, and did some shopping, but as regards the environmental impact, I'm not sure: we drove instead of flying, which was fantastic, but I'm not sure about the carbon footprints! A list of local charities at the major stops one could donate to would be helpful too. There's a good system in Lalibela with donation boxes at the hotels, but perhaps the local guides and agents could help organise this in the other places? It seems a far better way to deal with charity than random coins given to beggars, depending on the state of your conscience that day...
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a very beautiful, very enlightening holiday, though not a restful one. The road conditions made it necessary to take a roundabout route, and we spent quite a bit longer in the car than we would have liked to. That's no fault of the organiser's, more of my own for not reading up enough about the itinerary.
Read the operator's response here:
I am glad to read our client, Laurence's honest and realistic review. I would like to say that the review will be an important input to further improve our services also in a way that would reduce carbon releases.
There were a total of nine local guides involved in the thirteen day trip. All the accommodation my clients stayed at and the restaurants are locally owned which also use primarily the local resources such as employing their staffs from the local residents; purchasing their needs like vegetables, cereals, and teff from the local farmers. Also in Addis my guests visited manufacturing cooperatives of traditional
weavers and had bought some of their products. This has a great significance in encouraging the weavers' effort and supporting their economies.
To protect the environment and preserve the cultural and historical heritages, our clients were provided with Travelers' Code of Conduct and recommendations on different issues like on wild life and vegetation; camping and fire; water; waste disposal; interacting with people; religious and cultural sacred sites etc. Also as the trip didn’t required it, we didn't camp and /or used firewood or drive inside parks. I can say that the trip has left no negative impacts on the environment. As most part of the trip was by car, we could do little to minimize fuel carbon release; however, since the Lalibela - Addis trip was by flight we could at least do some effort in this regard.
