David Whetham review 11 Apr 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
While in Turmi, we were able to watch the Hamer festivity where the boy marks his passage from boy to adult by jumping the bulls. Not fixed, or touristy. For me, easily the highlight of the trip!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
None really... anyone that is traveling here on this type of trip is probably an experienced traveler. Not everything is going to work the way your used to, there are power outages, no internet because the server is down, etc. That’s what makes this type of travel interesting, for me anyway... expect the unexpected!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not really... how do you not impact local people when you are visiting tribes that are still somewhat living the way they have been for hundreds of years. We show up with cameras, go click, click, click... and pay money to do so?
I do feel the locals that live across the river from the Karo people (south of Turmi), are exploiting the tribe. Didn't get the impression they cared much about them. But we had to pay them in order to see them.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good, and i was very happy with the guide (Mr Ayele)and the driver... very professional and knowledgeable (speaking of Mr Ayele) on the areas we went. You could tell he was well respected by the locals as well.
Read the operator's response here:
Mr. Whetham has raised an important point that made us give more emphasis on trips we organize especially to the lower Omo valley. However, I don’t think we should conclude that tourism would have a negative impact on the tribes neither said the tribes themselves. Done responsibly, it would rather help them value, learn, promote, and maintain their uniqueness.
Photos are not mandatory but visitors, should they feel to take a picture of a particular person, are required by the same to make small payments. The process can sometimes be a bit awkward. However, it can be managed if travelers are not too desperate for taking pictures as we always advise.
Regarding the positive economic impact the tourism makes, there is much reliance of the locals on it. They need it as they are benefited and better empowered than they use to be years back.
Entrance fee is paid for the local tourism office. The local tourism office hires scouts and guides from the same; contributions are always given for the village elders; markets are also among the highlights where visitors buy souvenir items.
I would like to thank Mr. Whetham for raising the issue which we will also do the same to all participants.
Wei Liu review 13 Jan 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
All very exciting: churches on Lake Tana & in Lalibela, the castle of Gondar, stelae in Axum + visiting the Karo, Dorze, Mursi tribes and witnessing the bull-jumping ceremony of the Hamer people.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for long, bumpy and dusty drives in South Omo
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - Eating in local restaurants & take up local guides when visiting the tribes in the South certainly benefited the local community economically.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very fascinating and worth the effort.
Veerle Damen review 11 Dec 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The experience across the entire holiday was very diverse from the rift valley and the lakes to the Omo Valley and the tribes. Visiting the tribes was definitely the highlight for us. The experience of the drive as well as meeting & interacting with the different tribes was great and the driver/guide were very helpful. Without them it would not have been possible to have had the same experience.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We extended the standard trip with a couple of days and the agency was very good in tailoring the trip to our needs. This allowed us to tour in a more relaxed manner and spend more time at each location or tribe which made it a more enjoyable holiday. Everything was very well organised and was run very well.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The way the holiday was organised and the way the tribes were visited felt like the local community was benefitting from this and that any fees paid went back into the community.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had an amazing holiday and will definitely go back to Ethiopia to visit another part of the country. The country is going through a development phase and this is definitely the right time to visit and have authentic experiences.
The operator is run very well and everything was well organised. The driver and guide were very good and we enjoyed their company. The entire experience from booking the trip (with a very quick turnaround on the changes we asked for the itinerary) to the holiday was very positive.
I would strongly recommend this holiday!
Jenny Makepeace review 5 Feb 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Simien Mountains, Axum - not just the Steles but the town itself. Harar. Some excellent guides, especially Semma and Gurma; great drivers.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a hot water bottle if camping in the Simiens. Take some dried fruit and cured sausage and a bottle of booze.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Probably yes to the first in that Eskinder employs 15 full time staff and has a knock on effect of employing 45. Cannot see that four internal flights and travelling up to 10 hours a day in a 4 wheel drive could be anything but harmful, necessary, yes, but environmentally friendly, no.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A challenging journey of great interest and fabulous scenery. Many hotels left much to be desired, small things which would not be difficult to improve, like bedside lights, hot water which actually comes out of the shower, an attention to the drainage - terrible smell of sewage even in the nicest places like the Tokal Village. Better service in restaurants - 14 staff in one place and it took an hour to get breakfast. Huge problems in Ethiopia, but not beyond the wit of man to improve some of them.
Ryan Fowler review 6 Dec 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We were really excited to see the Ethiopian wolf! Bisangari lodge was beautiful... watching the sunset over the lake, watching the sea eagles and pied kingfishers fish and playing cards with our guides in the tree bar.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't try to do too much. Travelling on hot dusty bumpy roads is really tiring so trying to cover large areas of Ethiopia is really ambitious. Be aware that some visits to some villages are all about taking that photo not learning about the culture of the tribe. If you do not want this, discuss with the tour guide the best places to visit! (We really liked the Dorze, Konso and Ari village tours).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Tourism is beneficial to the development of the country as it provides work and stimulation to the economy. The guides were local to the area, we ate at local places and bought from local shops.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a good holiday, one of those holidays that the more you look back on it, the more amazing you realise the country is. However, it was really tiring and the facilities are not always the best, therefore if we did it again we would have travelled less and spent more time in specific areas. I have to say though that our guide and driver were great and really looked after us.
