Blog - SimienEcoTours

Investing in People: SimienEcoTours' Capacity Building Efforts

Birhan Asmamaw — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Investing in People: How SimienEcoTours Builds Safer, Stronger Travel Experiences from the Inside Out
This year, from June 30 to July 8, we proudly hosted an intensive, two-part training initiative: Leadership Development for our internal team and Tour Guiding Excellence for all our internal and freelance full-time guides. This was made possible through partial sponsorship from GIZ and Sequa, organizations equally committed to empowering local tourism operators.

Training Part 1: Leadership Training for a Purpose-Driven Team
Led by respected Ethiopian expert Ato Wubeshet, our leadership sessions were designed to equip our internal staff composed by 11 people, across logistics, marketing, operations, and sales with tools to:

Strengthen inter-departmental collaboration
Lead with empathy, clarity, and impact
Make informed, guest-centered decisions
Communicate with confidence and cultural sensitivity

We are designing the tours carefully and our team now operates with even more synergy and shared vision.

Training Part 2: Tour Guiding with Heart, Skill & Expertise
Meanwhile, our experienced guide network participated in a 5 full days hands-on “Escort Guide Training” led by German tourism specialist Andreas Damson from Travel and Personality. The training focused on:

Understanding the expectations and mindset of European travelers
Mastering storytelling, guest interaction, and conflict resolution
Navigating group dynamics in culturally sensitive ways
Planning and delivering tours aligned with sustainability goals
Legal and ethical considerations in travel leadership

The course wrapped up with immersive exercises including a live “City Tour” and presentations, allowing guides to showcase their skills and receive direct feedback.

Why This Matters to You: Safer, Smarter, More Sustainable Travel
So, what does this mean for our travelers?

It means your tour is led by someone who knows how to manage risk and inspire connection.
It means your experiences are carefully crafted by a team trained to think critically, ethically, and creatively.
It means every interaction you have from the first email to your final farewell is rooted in service, responsibility, and human-centered hospitality.

We are proud to be a Travelife Certified company, but more importantly, we act on that promise by constantly improving ourselves, season after season.

Gratitude & Looking Forward
We extend our heartfelt thanks to GIZ, Sequa, Mr. Andreas Damson, and Ato Wubeshet for their support and mentorship. We’re also incredibly proud of our entire team and guide network for their dedication and enthusiasm during the training.

As we welcome guests in the coming season, our renewed energy, sharpened skills, and unified purpose will be felt in every step of your journey whether you’re hiking the Simien Mountains, biking through the Ethiopian Highlands, or exploring the cultural heart of the country.

Is Ethiopia a Vegan-Friendly Destination?

Birhan Asmamaw — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Why Ethiopia is a top destination for vegan and vegetarian travelers

One of the main reasons Ethiopia is so vegan and vegetarian-friendly is its Orthodox Christian fasting traditions. During fasting periods, which occur regularly throughout the year, followers refrain from eating animal products, meaning that plant-based dishes are widely available in restaurants and local homes.

Traditional Ethiopian vegan dishes you must try

Ethiopian cuisine is full of naturally vegan dishes that are both nutritious and flavorful. Some of the must-try options include:

Ye’tsom Beyaynetu (የጾም በያነቱ) – A colorful fasting platter featuring lentils, chickpeas, vegetables, and injera.
Misir Wot (ምስር ወጥ) – A hearty red lentil stew cooked with berbere spice.
Shiro Wot (ሺሮ ወጥ) – A creamy chickpea stew with aromatic spices.
Gomen (ጎመን) – Collard greens sautéed with garlic and spices.
Fasolia (ፋሶሊያ) – A green bean and carrot stir-fry.

These dishes, among many others, ensure that vegans can enjoy authentic Ethiopian food without worrying about hidden animal ingredients. Feel free to check out many more options here (pdf with Ethiopian dishes).

Tips for finding vegan and vegetarian food in Ethiopia

Dining out: Look for traditional Ethiopian restaurants that serve fasting food.
Language pip: To explain that you don’t eat animal products, say “Siga albelam” (ስጋ አልበላም).
Hidden ingredients: Some stews may contain butter (niter kibbeh), so ask for food cooked with oil instead.
Markets: Fresh fruits, vegetables, lentils, and grains are abundant in local markets, making it easy to find vegan ingredients.

Vegan-friendly food tours with SimienEcoTours

At SimienEcoTours, we offer specially curated food experiences for vegan travelers. This 12 Days Vegan Culinary Tour, which dan be customized to your individual needs, allows you to:

Sample a variety of traditional plant-based dishes.
Participate in a hands-on vegan cooking class.
Explore vibrant local markets.
Experience an authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

Final Thoughts

Ethiopia is one of the world’s most vegan-friendly travel destinations. With its long-standing traditions of plant-based eating, a wide variety of flavorful vegan dishes, and an abundance of fresh ingredients, it’s a paradise for those following a meat-free diet. Whether you’re exploring Addis Ababa, trekking in the Simien Mountains, or immersing yourself in Ethiopia’s rich culture, you’ll find plenty of delicious plant-based options along the way.

Ready to embark on a vegan adventure in Ethiopia? Let SimienEcoTours craft a sustainable, personalized journey just for you. Contact us today!

Is Ethiopia Safe and Suitable for E-Bike Tours?

Marco Degasper — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

1. Ethiopia's Unique Appeal for E-Bike Enthusiasts
From the bustling streets of Addis Ababa with its new cycling lanes to the serene highlands of the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia offers a wide range of landscapes perfect for E-Bike adventures. E-bikes provide the flexibility to explore at your own pace, enabling you to navigate urban streets and tackle challenging trails with ease. The combination of stunning scenery, rich culture, and off-the-beaten-path experiences makes Ethiopia a dream destination for adventurous and eco-conscious travelers.

At SimienEcoTours, we specialize in E-Bike rentals and guided tours that are tailored to suit different skill levels. Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or new to E-Biking, our team ensures you have the right support to make the most of your journey.

2. Is E-Biking in Ethiopia Safe?
Safety is always a priority when exploring a new destination, and Ethiopia is no exception. Here’s how we ensure a secure and enjoyable experience:

Local Insights: Our partnerships with authorities and communities along the routes mean you’ll always have access to trusted local knowledge, hospitality, and support. As tour operator we have contacts all over Ethiopia and are continuously updated about the security situation.
Well-Maintained Equipment: Our e-bikes are equipped with modern technology and regularly serviced to ensure peak performance, even on Ethiopia’s rugged terrain. Whether you rent an E-Bike in Addis Ababa or join one of our guided tours, you can trust the quality of our gear.
Experienced Guides: Traveling with our knowledgeable, multilingual guides means you’ll have expert support every step of the way. They are well-versed in local customs, terrain, and safety protocols, giving you peace of mind as you explore.
Carefully Planned Routes: We design our E-Bike routes to balance adventure with accessibility. From scenic roads to lesser-known trails, we consider road conditions and local traffic patterns to ensure your ride is both thrilling and safe.

3. Why E-Bikes Are Ideal for Ethiopia
E-Bikes are particularly well-suited to Ethiopia for several reasons:

Adaptability to Terrain: The varied elevations and landscapes can be challenging with a traditional bike, but the power-assisted technology of E-Bikes makes climbs and long distances far more manageable, even for beginners.
Eco-Friendly Travel: As an operator committed to sustainability, SimienEcoTours ensures that our E-Bike tours leave minimal environmental impact while providing an immersive way to experience Ethiopia’s natural beauty.
Cultural Immersion: An E-Bike allows you to travel slower and more intimately, connecting with local communities and landscapes in a way that faster modes of transportation can’t replicate.

4. Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable E-Bike Experience
Prepare for the Weather: Ethiopia’s climate varies by region and especially be season, so it’s important to check the weather conditions in the planned travel period, and then pack appropriately for sun and potential rain, especially if you plan to explore areas like the highlands.
Stay Hydrated: With higher altitudes and active cycling, hydration is key to staying comfortable.
Book with Trusted Operators: Choosing a company like SimienEcoTours ensures high safety standards, expert planning, and eco-conscious practices.

Explore Ethiopia Safely with SimienEcoTours
At SimienEcoTours, we combine our passion for adventure with a commitment to sustainability and safety. Whether you’re renting an E-Bike in Addis Ababa or joining a guided tour through Ethiopia’s highlands, we ensure a secure, enriching, and unforgettable experience. Ready to explore Ethiopia in an exciting and eco-friendly way?

Ethiopia’s Recent Economic Reform - Progress and Challenges

Birhan Asmamaw — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Key Highlights of the Reform

Market-based Exchange Rate: Ethiopia introduced a flexible exchange rate to address the foreign currency shortage, aligning prices with market demand. This move aims to make the economy more competitive and attract international investment.
Modern Monetary Policy: The reforms include a shift toward interest rate-based monetary policies, which are expected to reduce inflation by limiting the government’s reliance on central bank financing. This modernization aims to create a more stable economic environment.
Fiscal Policy Improvements: To support sustainable growth, Ethiopia is improving revenue collection, reducing public debt, and enhancing government spending efficiency. This includes greater transparency and control over the finances of state-owned enterprises.
Social Support Measures: Recognizing the potential hardships these reforms may cause, especially in the short term, the Ethiopian government has increased social safety nets, providing subsidies for low-income households and targeted financial support for fuel and essential goods.

Benefits of the Reform

Attracting Foreign Investment: By making the economy more open and competitive, these reforms are likely to attract new investments from abroad, which could stimulate job creation and economic growth.
Reducing Debt and Inflation: With a focus on fiscal responsibility, these policies aim to reduce national debt and inflation rates, ultimately making everyday life more affordable.
Strengthening the Private Sector: The reforms promote a private sector-led growth model, paving the way for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to flourish, fostering innovation and economic diversity.

Challenges Ahead

Inflation and Cost of Living: Despite efforts to curb inflation, Ethiopians have seen rising prices for goods and services, which can strain households in the short term.
Exchange Rate Fluctuations: A market-driven exchange rate can be volatile, potentially making imports more expensive, which affects local businesses and consumers.
Implementation Struggles: Effective reform implementation requires significant institutional capacity, monitoring, and adjustments to respond to emerging challenges, making this an ongoing effort.

Ethiopia’s economic reform journey is ambitious, designed to build a more stable and inclusive economy. For travelers and investors, it signifies a growing and dynamic Ethiopia, ready to engage with the world. As reforms continue, Ethiopia’s economic landscape will shape into one that not only welcomes foreign interest but also uplifts local communities and strengthens the nation’s future.

Ethiopia - A Whole Country to Discover (part 2, Gurage)

Marco Degasper — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0200

A year and a few months ago I wrote this article “Ethiopia - A Whole Country to Discover!” after finding and exploring an impressing waterfall in Ensaro and developing hiking tours there. After my first longer hiking trip with clients in the green Gurage zone, I'm back to the office and sitting on my desk, thinking and looking for a title for my next blog article to be written, and I can’t find any other more suitable wording than the same as above, with the addition of "part 2". It’s truly amazing how much there is to discover in this beautiful country - I can't repeat this often enough!

Unlike the usual tourist destinations, of which some have serious security issues at this moment, with this new destination we focus on the Gurage highlands, while spotlighting new areas and delving into the region extensively. The guided packages aim to explore the Gurage highlands, hiking through the local routes, and sharing the everyday lives of the community as it happens. By opting for small group sizes, we ensure a personal experience for guests to hike beside the local community, while listening to their stories, legends, and concerns. The tours also provide mundane experiences other than the well-known festive days for Meskel by the end of September.

On our latest tours, visitors shared their testimonies for exceeding expectations of cultural immersion. "We felt truly welcomed as part of the community" said one. One of the most common feedbacks was that they couldn’t believe that such an extraordinary place is still undiscovered and so close to the capital Addis Ababa, reachable within a few hours. Others praised the variety of the landscape and trails, and commented on deepening their understanding of rural Ethiopian life through the lens of hiking trails. The combination of physical adventure and meaningful interactions left travelers feeling relaxed in body and spirit after exploring Gurage in this thoughtful way.

Want to know more about Gurage? Nestled in the semi-highlands of south-western Ethiopia, Gurage villages lay among beautiful rolling hills, dramatic gorges, and fields of crops terraced along the hillsides. Thatched-roof huts scatter the landscape, clinging to steep slopes. Everything about the scenery feels untouched and timeless.

The Gurage maintain an authentic tribal culture little influenced somewhat by modern life. Generations of traditions endure - folk tales passed down through the years, lively cultural celebrations, richly prepared cuisine, and handicrafts still handmade using ancient methods. Their hospitality and generosity towards visitors reveal an open, engaging community thriving beyond the reach of most tour groups.

A visit to Gurage offers a rare window into traditional and authentic Ethiopian village existence. You wake up in the morning surrounded by nature's beauty, breathing fresh highland air. After a cup of rich Ethiopian coffee roasted over a fire, you set out on footpaths leading through green fields and forests. Following trails lined with Enset plants and tall Adbar trees, you listen to guides tell folk stories once whispered around village fires at night.

At night, travelers unwind in the warm hospitality of Gurage homes. Families open their doors, sharing meals, music, dance, and heartfelt conversations. Guests join in daily chores or crafts, gaining new perspectives on the Gurage culture from within. The multi-course feasts served in homes relying on seasonal, home-grown ingredients are dining experiences unlike any other.

The itineraries are truly carefully designed to be culturally immersive. In family compounds, mothers bake kocho over a wood fire and spin cotton harvested from nearby fields. Fathers carve tools and decorate the leather hide shields displayed by each household's entryway. At dusk, the family welcomes wandering visitors as honoured guests. Over hearty meat and vegetable stews served on large platters, they talk openly about their daily joys and challenges. Their kindness and conversation forge bonds reaching across cultures.

Staying with the Gurage as days pass by in a slow rhythm, you build an understanding of community traditions sustaining these highlands for generations untold. When the time comes to depart, your hosts send you off with smiles and hopes for a soon return, until the day your heart leads back to this magical land once again.

Find here some itineraries of hiking trips in Gurage:

New Training Sessions for our Staff

Marco Degasper — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

After 3 and a half years with very limited business it was challenging to find the budget for a proper training that for us at SimienEcoTours is always important. However, we could find and allocate part of our budget for this initiative. We used the opportunity of the low season and most importantly of the long overdue visit to Ethiopia of our German partner Franziska Gerling.

So we managed to get together for this occasion in Gondar 28-29 July and in Addis Ababa 09-10 August 2023 for a 2 times 2 days training. While in Gondar we found the convenience to hold some practical sessions outdoors, in Addis Ababa it was mostly in our office. During the totally 4 days of training, we managed to touch in our sessions all the following topics. Training content:

SimienEcoTours' philosophy and principle
Lessons learnt from feedbacks
Sustainability in tourism
Introduction of SimienEcoTours policies
Workshops for guides, drivers, agents and cooks
Role plays and outdoor activities about guiding skills
Communication
Community tourism
First aid refresher course

Here below some impressions both from our training session and our informal get together which was a delicious dinner prepared by our cooks.

Kebra Nagast and Rastafarianism explained by Lorenzo

Lorenzo Mazzoni — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The Kebra Nagast, which in the Ethiopian language (originally Ge'ez and later Amharic) means "The Glory of Kings", is an ancient Ethiopian book of the orthodox Christian Tewahedo tradition: an early draft of this text, considered sacred in Ethiopia for over a thousand years, was compiled in the Tigray region between the 4th and 6th centuries AD, but the complete version dates back to the early 14th century AD.

The book contains the detailed narrative about the origins of the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopian emperors, starting with Adam and Eve and ending with Negus Gabra Maskal, under whose reign the text was finally transcribed, compiled and disseminated for the first time, as a pillar of the tradition and epic of Ethiopia. As the scholar Edward Ullendorff, a British professor of Semitic languages and an expert on Ethiopian history, put it: “The Kebra Nagast is not just a literary work, but a gigantic fusion of legendary cycles and, like the Old Testament for Jews or the Koran for Muslims, represents an account of Ethiopia's national tradition and religious sentiments”.

In fact, the Kebra Nagast recounts in great detail the meeting between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, and sets out in a clear and exciting manner the events surrounding the son of the two rulers, named Menelik, as well as the subsequent transfer of the Ark of the Covenant from the kingdom of Israel to the one of Ethiopia: this event officially marks the moment of the religious conversion of the Ethiopian people from the African cult of the sun to the monotheistic cult of the God of Israel, Yhwh (Yahweh - or Jehovah). The narrated events have not only a religious but also a historical significance, as they explain the displacement of the Solomonic dynasty from Jerusalem to Ethiopia, symbolised by the transfer of the Ark containing the Decalogue at the end of the 10th century BC.

In this way, the divine Ark from his father Solomon, King of Israel, passed into the hands of his eldest son, the fruit of his relationship with Makeda (Queen of Sheba), called Bayna-Lehekem (i.e. 'Son of the Wise') and subsequently crowned the first Emperor of Ethiopia with the title David II (or Menyelek) at the end of the 10th century BC, better known as Menelik I. Thus, along with the Ark, the theological monarchy, biblical lineage and divinely inspired wisdom were also displaced in Ethiopia: this is revealed in the Kebra Nagast, a compilation of Hebrew texts from the Old Testament, along with the Christian Gospels, sacred volumes of the Ethiopian tradition, and even extracts from the Qur'an, along with Arabic legends and other texts currently considered apocryphal.

The book can thus be defined as an original reinterpretation of ancient, mainly biblical writings, and among the many events narrated it documents above all that: "Once the whole world consisted of three kingdoms, led by three kings, the three sons of Solomon"; and that there was a long period when: "The kings of the whole world were descended from Shem". Above all, the Kebra Nagast connects the Solomonic lineage (and thus of David, Moses, Abraham and backwards to Adam) to the Ethiopian royal dynasty, unbroken until the modern and last Negus of Ethiopia Ras Tafari Makonnen crowned in 1930 as Haile Selassie I (in Amharic language 'Power of the Holy Trinity'), and thus endorses the possibility that the Ark of the Covenant can still be found in Ethiopia, as the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church has also maintained for centuries. Ras Tafari Makonnen, the original name plus title of emperor Haile Selassie, later gave also the name to the Rastafari movement.

This is exactly the meaning of The Glory of Kings: the continuity of the dynasty of the Kings of Israel with the Kings of Ethiopia, represented precisely by the Ark of the Covenant, Tabernacle of the Law of Yahweh. This text is undoubtedly rich in cultural, philological, anthropological and especially biblical interest, fascinating archaeological questions, and ancient prophecies.

From Ge'ez, Amharic and Arabic (between the 13th and 14th centuries AD), to English, French, Portuguese and German (from the 16th century onwards), the Kebra Nagast has been transcribed, translated and published at different times and places, but never completely: a first complete translation had to wait until 1922, when it was finally printed in full in the UK, with its 117 chapters translated into English by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge, Professor of Jewish History at Cambridge and Head of the Department of Egyptian Antiquities and Assyriology at the British Museum.

As Professor Budge argues, the ancient text of the Kebra Nagast is in fact the result of various transcriptions, mainly during the first four centuries of the Christian era, of Jewish, Christian and Muslim sacred scriptures. The basis of the book is the Old Testament, complete, however, with important sections omitted from the Jerusalem Bible, but present in the traditional texts of Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodoxy, along with rabbinic writings and traditional legends (Ethiopian, Coptic and ancient Egyptian), with commentaries extracted from the Qur'an and other stories from the Arabic tradition (especially from Palestine and Syria, e.g. 'The Book of the Bee'), as well as Christian books currently considered apocryphal, such as: "The Book of Adam and Eve", "Kufale", "St Peter's Instructions to his Disciple Clement", "The Life of Anne, Mother of the Virgin Mary", "The Book of the Pearl" and "The Ascension of Isaiah".

A book like a journey one could say, from Ethiopia to Jamaica, to reach the spiritual cult born in the Caribbean thanks to the dream of a black king (Haile Selassie), of a free and powerful Africa, and of an Ethiopia heir to the ancient Kingdom of Israel: it is the movement known as Rastafarianism, a symbol of emancipation from slavery. Promoted by people like Marcus Mosiah Garvey, founder at the beginning of the 20th century of the liberation movement called UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association), and more recently by the singer Bob Marley and other reggae music groups, the Rastafari movement, which follows the spatiotemporal path of the Ark of the Covenant to the last Negus of Ethiopia, has been gathering more and more sympathisers, followers and believers worldwide for many years now. The sacred text of this religious culture and philosophy of life is indeed the Kebra Nagast, and considering that Rastafari believers have long since spread outside the Caribbean, to all continents, it was high time that their Bible was published and disseminated worldwide.

Our guide and sales manager in Europe, Lorenzo Mazzoni, was the first to translate and publish the book in both Italian (Shake editore, Milan 2023) and Spanish (Kdp, 2019) in editions complete with original introductions and prefaces, with numerous detailed notes and also two appendices, the travel diaries he wrote after his numerous trips to Jamaica and Ethiopia.

It should be noted that all the editions of the Kebra Nagast in circulation in different languages are enjoying considerable success with the public. This wide interest among readers confirms expectations: it is a truly important text, today as yesterday. A sacred, timeless book. Paraphrasing Luke (12:3): "Whatever you said in the darkness will be heard in the light of day".

Finally, also thanks to the book Kebra Nagast, Ethiopia can stretch out its hands to God.

P.S. Beside publishing his theses under the title “Rasta Marley, the roots of Reggae” (Stampalternativa, Viterbo 2009, in recent years Lorenzo has published many books on the history of Ethiopia and the Rastafari movement, including "Kebra Nagast, the Secret Bible of the Rastafari" (also Spanish translation) and the book "Haile Selassie I: Selected Speeches, 1930-1973". In 2020 his fiction book "Fifteen Stories of Ethiopia" was released, followed in 2021 by the volume "Thus Spoke Ras Tafari - Selected Speeches of Haile Selassie", and in 2023 by the new edition of the book "Kebra Nagast, the Rastafari Bible."

Tigray reopens for tourism - and we have been there!

Marco Degasper — Thu, 04 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

We, a selected group of 8 people, are members of an initiative called Ride the Rift. This has the aim to support the tourism sector and its professionals in the harsh time of Covid 19 and later during the conflict in North Ethiopia. We had an exciting team ready to reconnect with Tigray. A call was made by the Ride the Rift initiators, among them Marco of SimienEcoTours, and soon later we all booked domestic flights for the 8 adventurers for a trip Tigray planned less than six months after the peace agreement was signed by the Tigray regional and the central government in Addis Ababa.

Setting foot on Tigray soil for the first time after more than 3 years

On Monday, April 24th, 2023 we flew to the Tigray capital city Mekele on the first flight of the day. We have been picked up from the airport by our local contacts and brought to the centre of the city. We paused for a breakfast with foul, tea and coffee, and had a meeting with newly formed Tigray regional tourism officers to talk about future plans. After having a fruitful discussion we drove to the city of Adigrat about two and a half hours north of the capital. A delicious lunch in Adigrat was served, and eating the well-known Telhelo was amazing but filled our bellies almost too much. Just like in Mekele our time in the city of Adigrat was not that long, we still had plans to proceed to the Agame Mountains for a hike in the afternoon.

Hiking in this chain of mountains which hosts charming, open-hearted and welcoming people brought immediately a positive vibe to the whole team. Today’s destination was one of Tesfa Tours' community guesthouses. Admiring the beauty of the first part of the Agame Mountains, which are not yet known to everyone of us, we arrived at Seheta guesthouse just before sunset. The over-joy tearful welcome of the community was priceless. We were all in the open arms and love of everyone for long intense moments. The blessed night followed a delicious dinner prepared by the community itself.

Stop in a local farmers' house for invitation to sip a coffee

The second day of our totally 6 days trip was dedicated to climbing the beautiful churches called Debre Giorgis and for Gohogot Eyesus. It was a spectacular full-day journey with lots of emotional ups and downs. We met several people on our way, and just like on our first day, their smile and happiness remained truly natural. Even if most of us do not speak fluent Tigrigna it was not tough to understand what they were saying. ”እንቋዕ ድሓን መፃኩም" and "እንቋዕ ሰላም ገበረልና” were their redundant phrases, which literary means “welcome back" and "glad that God made it peaceful”. We were delighted to hear them referring to “the dawn after the war” and “finally this is the end of the war”, and similar expressions we caught all along our hike. Finally, we were hosted in the Gohgot guesthouse hidden between the trees of a the slope just underneath the red glooming sandstone wall.

Hiking with view along the escarpments of the Agame Mountains

Shimbrety guesthouse was the next target to spend the night in the Agame Mountains. Early breakfast and packing had been done before 7am. On our way, we visited two unique Saint Mary churches, named Mariam Bahran and Mariam Buzuhan respectively. Even if it was the longest stage, we walked without any long breaks up to Sikurto tunnel, a tunnel believed to be made by the two brother kings Abraha and Atsebha in the 4th century. These two Axumite kings founded 44 churches all over Tigray. At the Shimbrety guesthouse we experienced the usual hospitality and welcoming. Having guests after three years meant everything to the community. Before sunset Marco, Mark and our local guide Berhe hopped up to the highest peak in the area, Amba Tsion, from where one can admire a 360 degrees panoramic view.

Shimbrety Guesthouse is well known for its amazing views at sunset

Our fourth day morning in Tigray opened its account with a delicious breakfast. This was a day with a short walking schedule to arrive in a small town called Idega Arbi. The town name meaning refers to the market day, which is market day on Friday. But according to the people from the town, the market day just recently shifted to Thursday, the weekday we arrived there. This gave us an additional opportunity to witness the local market closely. When we reached Idega Arbi, most of us didn’t hesitate to jump into a local bar that sells a homemade beer called Talla. From Idega Arbi to Hawzien we drove on rough road for about 2 hours to Hawzien.

Hawzien and Megab are the most well-known spots for the iconic churches of Abuna Yemata Guh, Mariam Korkor, and Daniel Korkor. Our priority was Abuna Yemata Guh. We did a wonderful hike and exciting climb to the top of the rock face with the guidance of our local guide Gebre. It was an amazing experience that melted everyone’s heart. The challenging accessibility, the beautiful paintings and the view make this church exceptional and a visit there unforgettable.

Challenging climbing passage to reach the hidden Abuna Yemata church

Our friend Mulualem from Axum picked us up in Hawzien and drove us to his hometown Axum, where we spent the last 1-2 days of this trip. Visiting the obelisks of Axum and King Kaleb's tombs is always a treasure to take. Luckily we’ve been in Axum exactly on the monthly Tsion Mariam day, and some of us got up at 4am to attend the early morning prayers which are unique in this city.

Ride the Rift team visiting the famous stelae fiel in the centre of Axum

Others went to see the Abba Pantelewon Monastery on the top of a hill with nice view over the city. A friendly priest welcomed us, but took almost 10 minutes to issue the entrance ticket and receipt for us. We were the first tourists since 3 years and the elderly priest forgot the procedure and needed some extra time. Finally, on day six, Saturday, April 29th, 2023 we took our flight back from the small Shire airport.

Priest of Abba Pantelewon trying to remember how to issue receipts

To conclude, Tigray and the people of this region are ready to host anybody and anytime. We are witness for this. Their charming smile, their unconditional love, their true hospitality, their motives for change, their strength for new challenges, their fitness to pass over the past, their efforts to change the pain, and their struggle to set a bright future are spot on. You are already most welcome in Tigray. So set your calendar.

SimienEcoTours gets Sustainability Certified

Marco Degasper — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Our road towards sustainability started some years ago, but things got serious when we used our free time during the pandemic when we got engaged with Travelife and reached partner level about 1 and a half years ago, fulfilling more than 100 sustainability criteria.

We continued to lead the way when it comes to sustainability in Ethiopia, and in this month of February 2023, after several months of hard work on different policies and codes of conducts, document reviews and audits, we finally got the highest sustainability award from Travelife: the certification, attesting our excellence in sustainability and confirming that we're in line with more than 270 sustainability criteria. We're also delighted that we are one of only two Ethiopian tour operators which got this important achievement, feel free to check the partnered and certified Ethiopian tour operators on the Travelife website here.

On this important occasion we remember our vision as stated on our website: "Our vision is to become a driving force for a better and sustainable tourism in Ethiopia". This achievement motivates us to continue with our efforts. But before, just next week, we’re very happy to participate in the official award ceremony taking place at the ITB in Berlin on Tuesday, 7th March at 16:30-17:30h in hall 4.1b. Marco Degasper and Lorenzo Mazzoni, present at this travel exhibition anyway, will accept this award with pleasure.

We would like to thank all other stakeholders who have been engaged with us here in Ethiopia, Christian Sefrin who did a very precious work especially at the beginning of this process, and the staff of CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports, Netherlands) for supporting and constantly pushing us in the right direction.

Paragliding flights are now available in Ethiopia!

Marco Degasper — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0200

About paragliding tandem flights in Ethiopia

Since some time we've partnered with a real paragliding champion and instructor from Europe so that we can offer this type of adventure in Ethiopia.

Tandem paragliding is an easy and natural way to feel the magic of flying like a bird. You don't need any previous experience since the instructor is maneuvering the wing. The tandem (bi-place) paraglider is a wing with a big surface and is certified to fly with up to 240 kg totally with pilot and passenger. You just sit in a comfortable seat, attached to the glider and your instructor, who takes care of everything. If you're courageous then you can take the controls and fly the paraglider, or you can just enjoy the view from above.

There are 3 main types of flying sites in Ethiopia:

Hills and mountains in the central part of high plateaus. They work like "heat low" with strong but smooth thermals and allow easy exploration of surrounding flatlands.
Non active slopes of plateaus and ranges. These are mostly northern slopes in winter and the eastern part of main highlands which initiate the transformation of air masses from Arabian Sea. These areas are pleasant for soaring and local thermalling but you can hardly continue cross-country from them.
The active slopes of high plateaus and mountain ranges. These are usually the southern slopes which provide thermal connections between low- and highlands. There are some exceptions like Lalibela, where local north-west valley winds bring warm air to the ridges west of the main mountain range.

Flying conditions vary from place to place and day by day. The flatland flying inside high plateaus is smoothest with 2-4 m/s average climbs. Some mountain sites can be quite strong with 4-6 m/s average climbs and 10 m/s kicks. The main and local winds are usually light. In Ethiopia it's worth flying over and over again, not only because of the endless variety but also because of the unique elements: flatland style flying over big plateaus, hypoxic mountains, scenic views over volcano craters... A real feast for the mind and the soul!

The best conditions for paragliding in Ethiopia are from November until March. December and January are probably the smoothest due to the weaker sun activity.

Join our paragliding tours and adventures in the heart of Africa. Get in touch with us if you want to book a tandem flight. The price per person varies depending on the season and weekday/weekend, and usually includes transportation from Addis Ababa to the flying site and of course the tandem flight itself. All information about this unique day excursion including prices can be found on our tour page Paragliding Tandem Flights in Ethiopia.

Peace deal signed to end Tigray war

Marco Degasper — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0200

For part of the political analysts and population this agreement came surprisingly, fact is that in Ethiopia and abroad the news was definitely welcomed and celebrated as a very positive development. A few days ago people in Addis Ababa were celebrating in the streets. One can clearly see that the whole country is tired of the war, so now everyone is excited and happy about the reached peace deal.

This agreement includes important measures and steps towards lasting peace such as:

Immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities
Demobilisation and disarming of Tigrayan rebel forces;
Provision of all needed humanitarian aid;
Restoration of essential services to the people of Tigray;
Putting in place of trust building measures;
Installation of a transitional regional government;
Planning of proper new regional elections.

In these 2 official documents released in the last days you can read all the details:

First joint statement 2nd November 2022 (2 pages pdf)
Final agreement for lasting peace 2nd November 2022 (9 pages pdf)

And here you can find the online articles about this headline from the most important worldwide media houses or other organizations:

We're convinced that this is an important step towards more stability in Ethiopia and a crucial factor to see international tourism increasing. Just a few days ago the minister of tourism underlined that "Peace is the passport for Tourism". In this sense we all wish: ሰላም/selam/peace for Ethiopia!

Ethiopia - A Whole Country to Discover!

Marco Degasper — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Added a new destination to the Ethiopian tourism landscape

It was about 1 month ago when I found an interesting spot on Google Earth and decided to see this place in North Shoa in person. With our guide Elyas I spent 2 days exploring the area - and what we found was absolutely stunning! Spectacular canyons and deep gorges, green fields between isolated villages, friendly farmers living peacefully on the border between Amhara and Oromia Region, plenty of full rivers and high waterfalls dropping down the steep cliffs from the highlands. As far as those farmers remember, there has not been any visitor in the area, neither foreign tourists nor Ethiopians, simply no person from anywhere other than the neighbouring villages. The fact that I don’t know any other tour operator or hiking group offering tours to this place and that I have never spotted any photo of the area on the web, just confirmed me the farmers’ statements, so that I can confidently affirm to have discovered a new place worth visiting.

In short something about the hike itself

After completing some necessary paperwork to get all permissions - usually needed in places off the eaten path - last weekend we brought there our very first small group of adventurous hikers. After a 5 hours walk with a jump over a river we reached our campsite right in front of a huge waterfall which the locals call Zala. A short but heavy rainfall surprised us at arrival, but on the other side this showed us how much water can drop down from the plateaus and create many more additional big and small waterfalls, hundreds of them!

Our cook Fantahun prepared a delicious dinner and accompanied by a bottle of wine we enjoyed the evening before falling asleep with the distant calming sound of the waterfall.

On the second day we approached the main Zala Waterfall and the most keen hikers climbed through quite difficult terrain until the base of it. We were lucky with the weather and enjoyed our way back to the farmers’ village through fields of freshly grown green crops. After a lunch break we climbed the slope to reach the plateau where our cars were waiting for us to bring us back to Addis Ababa - via a well deserved beer in a local bar in Muke Turi.

Let me finally also remind that SimienEcoTours contributed with 5,000 Birr to the restoration of a part of the path which was destroyed in rain season. Including the payment for other services like porters, kitchen helpers, fresh food and others we left over 10,000 Birr in the village.

If you're interested to visit this places and book with us, you find all information about the 2 days hiking trip here.

Marco Degasper

New Ride The Rift Adventures in Autumn 2022

Marco Degasper — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0200

We help you planning an outdoor trip to Ethiopia

The Ride the Rift initiative aims to introduce new destinations and hidden places to travellers in Ethiopia and offer opportunities to experience the beauty of these places while participating in cycling, running and hiking activities. Between the four companies there are many decades of experience of working in Ethiopia, organising trekking, cycling and running tours and events, and developing community tourism where relationships from village to local government level are carefully managed.

For each month September to November we offer these combination of packages which can be booked singularly if your time in Ethiopia is limited or in combination if you want to explore the country in a deeper way. All of them are group tours with one or more English speaking guides and a good bargain for travellers who want to keep an eye on their wallet.

September: Meskel Gurage Tour & Northern Explorer Trek

24 September to 9 October 2022 - From $2,300 per person - Shorter options available

Ride the Rift presents a biking adventure followed by a tour taking you to some of most stunning and memorable places for tourists in Ethiopia: biking and experiencing the Meskel Festival in the Gurage Highlands, exploring Lalibela’s labyrinth of churches, trekking in the Meket Highlands among local farmers, paddling kayaks on Ethiopia’s largest lake and touring the majestic Simien Mountains ending your tour in Gondar and its romantic castles. For more information follow this link to the tour.

October: Jamma Canyon Tour & Northern Explorer Trek

10 to 24 October 2022 - From $2,280 per person - Shorter options available

Enjoy a biking adventure to the ‘Jamma Canyon of Ethiopia’ with Ride the Rift exploring canyons just to the north of Addis Ababa with waterfalls cascading out of the highlands alive with emerald crops having first explored some of most interesting and beautiful places in Ethiopia: Lalibela where you will explore the town’s labyrinth of medieval churches, the Meket Highlands where you will trek in stunning scenery and hosted by the local farmers, the majestic Simien Mountains with its unique wildlife and dramatic landscapes, Gondar with its romantic castles, and the Wof Washa forest along the Great African Rift Valley escarpment. For more information follow this link to the tour.

November: Ankober Charity Challenge, Great Ethiopian Run, Northern & Rift Valley Explorer

12 November to 5 December 2022 - From $3,040 per person - Shorter options available

This tour combines two great sporting events for people of all levels with a chance to see different landscapes and cultures of Ethiopia. You get to: explore the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia including Lalibela and the Simien Mountains; you take part in the Great Ethiopian Run, Africa’s biggest mass-participation run and one of Addis Ababa’s biggest street carnivals; you discover the string of lakes with its own wildlife and culture in the Great African Rift Valley; and you participate in the Ride the Rift charity bike ride challenge along the edge of the Rift Valley beside Wof Washa Forest. For more information follow this link to the tour.

Ethiopia lifts PRC test requirement for fully vaccinated visitors

Marco Degasper — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0200

While the infection rates in Ethiopia are as low as they have never been in Ethiopia since the outbreak of the pandemic (currently average of daily 20-30 new positive cases, see picture below), we're happy to announce that the Ethiopian government through its institutions decided to change the entry regulations starting from the current month of April. There are now alternatives to the expensive PCR test which was mandatory until a few days ago. Effective starting from 1st of April visitors entering Ethiopia who are fully vaccinated are not required to show a negative PCR test result. Please be advised that “fully vaccinated” means 2 weeks after taking of the single dose of Johnson & Johnson, or 2 doses for Astra Zeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Moderna, or Pfizer.

The above is the major change affecting visitors wishing to enter the country (as we suppose that large part of our clients are vaccinated by now), but beside this the new directive of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) contains different other provision. You can download the complete directive HERE, or check the summary that is published on the website of Ethiopian Airlines (see "Ethiopia Entry Requirement").

Photo Gallery: Beautiful Ethiopian Faces

Marco Degasper — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Here in Ethiopia we just celebrated Christmas and Timkat, which are, beside Easter and Meskel, the most important festivities for the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. These celebrations are attracting tourists as well as local pilgrims to the most important and holy places such as Lalibela and others. And they are a great opportunity for all visitors to experience the deep spirituality of these holidays. Here following some pictures that we took with our cameras on the Christmas day on January 7, 2022.

Ethiopian Christmas & our team trip to Lalibela

Marco Degasper — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Lalibela has been liberated

It was end of June 2021 when the Ethiopian National Defence Force left the Tigray Region and July when the soldiers from Tigray entered their neighbouring regions Afar and Amhara, including Lalibela. Many residents of Lalibela fled searching refugee in other towns like Bahir Dar or Addis Ababa. In Lalibela mobile network, water and power went off for months, while fear of looting and damages by the Tigrayan soldiers in Lalibela was spreading. Finally, at the end of 2021 the national forces could liberate Lalibela. It was a huge relief, especially for us working in tourism, as Lalibela has always been a kind of flagship for the Ethiopian tourism.

The Ethiopian government tried everything possible to restore power and water supply and take up the operation of the destroyed Lalibela airport within the shortest time, so that the town could receive the thousands of people that every year visit Lalibela for Christmas. That's when we also decided to travel to Lalibela with our company staff. Working in tourism since over a decade, we have many friends there and we know guides, hotel owners and managers that in these times need comfort and support. We wanted to talk to people, listen to their stories and narratives, catch their post war state of mind, and see with our own eyes the level of looting and destruction that took place, so that we know what tours and activities we can offer in the near future in Lalibela and surroundings. That's also why we wanted to see the situation along the road where more clashed happened than in Lalibela town.

Short time in Gondar and Debark

So we decided that Marco would fly from Addis Ababa to Gondar, pass by our office there, travel to Debark for visiting friends and families of the Ethiopian partners, and then drive from Gondar to Lalibela by car with the whole SimienEcoTours staff.

While there's more security in Debark, Gondar is presenting itself as proud and peaceful as usual

Our driver Haile picked us up in the morning of Wednesday 5 January and we drove to Lalibela via Wereta, Debre Tabor and Gashena. We counted 3 broken tanks on the way (of which one is hidden outside of the road) and 2 or 3 burned trucks. Apart these, roads were clean. Damages on houses and other infrastructure are limited to only 2 villages, are really not extensive and will probably be repaired soon. We realised that in case we want or need to drive our customers to Lalibela by car, this route is safe and certainly a valid option.

Witnessing the destruction

Once arrived in Lalibela we took our rooms in the lovely guesthouse of our friend Belaynew. He already advised us in advance that there will most probably be no water supply and electricity, so we came equipped with head torches, candles and jericans filled up with clean water. We spent almost the whole first day visiting hotels, particularly those which we were working with and those who suffered more damages and looting by the Tigrayan forces: Roha Hotel, Lalibela Lodge, Cliff Edge Hotel, Maribela Hotel and Mezena Lodge. While a few of these and other hotel not listed here were almost left untouched, most of them suffered extensive lootings: computers, wifi-rooters and other technical equipment, mattresses, mirrors, carpets, curtains - the list could be continued! We witnessed a lot of acts of pure vandalism like destroying senselessly lamps, mirrors, windows, shelves, and we noticed that everything that was once on a shelf was just thrown down. Safes were opened by force in search of some left money or other precious things.

The safe of the Roha Hotel has been opened by force and left on the ground

If mirrors couldn't be removed from the wall they have been ruthlessly broken

Mattresses of the Lalibela Lodge and many other things have found their way to Tigray

We witnessed some of the material damage which can and for sure will be repaired. On the other side, we are fully aware that there has been a lot of emotional distress, harm and suffering. These grievances need to be addressed and open wounds need time to heal.

Celebrating Genna

Our second full day in Lalibela was the Christmas day and we got up very early to attend the holy mess which is taking place at Bete Mariyam, one of the 11 rock hewn churches. Because of the amount of people taking part in the celebration roads are closed for vehicles, so we walked from the house of Belaynew and could reach the center of Lalibela by dawn. Through a tunnel we entered the carved area around Bete Mariyam church where pilgrims had spent the whole night praying. As the day got brighter more and more people joined, including the important political figures and some celebrities that were announced: President of the Ethiopian Republic Sahle-Work Zewde, Minister of Tourism Nasise Chali and many others. Observing the crowd, we noticed that Covid-19 protocols aren't followed or taken seriously here. Keeping safety distance is impossible and apart for a few exceptions the majority is not wearing face masks. We clearly realised that Covid is the least of the problems of the locals.

Chanting, singing and praying went on for a few hours, and after some short speech by the invited guests, at about 9am, people started leaving the church to reach their homes. Many of them were hungry because of the long night and the fasting time before Christmas, so everyone enjoyed breaking the fasting with a rich meal of injera or bread with meat. We have been invited for breakfast and a cup of "talla", the local beer, by our friend Habtamu, owner of the Lalibela Lodge.

Colourfully dressed priests celebrating around Bete Mariyam church

The Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde among other important political and religious figures

SimienEcoTours' staff with Habtamu right after the Christmas celebrations at the church

After a full day of celebrating, eating and drinking, we spent our last night in Belaynew's guesthouse, then most of our staff retuned to Gondar with our minivan, while Marco took a flight back to Addis Ababa from the Lalibela airport which has been restored and is fully operational and ready to receive the next travellers.

Back home full of impressions

Our days spent in Lalibela were filled with impressions, emotions and feelings, both positive and negative, but we can conclude that the trip to Lalibela was definitely worth it. Moreover, it was important to express our comfort to our friends and all locals which have been suffering in the past months but now have some more hope that tourism and better times will be coming back.

SimienEcoTours is welcoming the Ethiopian Diaspora

Marco Degasper — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Here our special packages for the Homecoming Diaspora

Gurage Highland & Wonchi Crater
4/5 days - from 8,100/11,000 ETB
A special package for Diaspora Homecoming! This tour departing every Thursday takes you to one of the most underrated tourist destinations in Ethiopia, yet full of cultural treasures and delicious food: the ever green and peaceful Gurage area.

Gondar and Gorgora at Lake Tana
4 days - from 14,200 ETB
Visit the romantic imperial castles and churches of Gondar and Ethiopia’s biggest lake, Hayk Tana, on its northern shore, where the green and quiet oasis Gorgora lies. See some of Ethiopia’s endemic wildlife & beautiful birds.

Bale Mountains & Lake Langano
4 days - from 15,500 ETB
Spend 4 days exploring the Bale Mountains, with its plateaus, peaks & wolves, along with the mystical Harena forest. Stop in the Rift Valley at Lake Langano where you can swim and explore the nearby Abjatta Shalla National Park with it's important birdlife.

Sidama coffee and Lake Langano
4 days - from 11,800 ETB
Explore Ethiopia’s Rift Valley lakes until the Sidama coffee region where you can dive into local culture, visit coffee farms and enjoy authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremonies. The perfect ending is Lake Langano where you can bathe among hippos and water birds.

Ankober & Awash's Hot Springs
3 days - from 9,700 ETB
See Menelik’s historical palace on the edge of the Rift Valley escarpment, with the expansive Wof Washa forest along its slopes. Drive into the Rift Valley to relax at the hot spring oasis, and see some of Awash Park's wildlife and waterfalls.

Bahir Dar, Lake Tana & Abay River
3 days - from 12,800 ETB
Relax in Ethiopia’s lakeside city, and see some of the sacred monasteries found there. Visit the holy source of the Nile at Gish Abay and see the Blue Nile Falls. On this trip you will get to see some of Ethiopia’s holy places, but also impressive wildlife and birdlife.

Community Trek in Wof Washa
3 days - from 6,100 ETB
Two nights trekking in Wof Washa forest, staying in community run guesthouses. Set on the slopes of the Rift Valley north of Addis Ababa, this forest is home to Gelada baboons & Colobus monkeys among many other mammals and birds of any kind.

Relax in Sodere & at Langano
3 days - from 8,600 ETB
This tour is a mix of spotting some wildlife in Abjatta Shalla NP and a wildlife sanctuary and spending some time relaxing in the hot springs of Sodere and around Lake Langano. With the new expressway driving distances from and to Addis Ababa are really short.

Short Trip to Gondar & Kossoye
3 days - from 13,600 ETB
See the romantic castles, churches and other sites in Ethiopia's ancient capital Gondar and visit the steep cliffs around Kossoye just north of Gondar, where we will have a short guided walk along the dramatic escarpments with spectacular views.

Ankober Charity Bike Challenge
3 days - from 11,100 ETB
15 months after our 1st charity ride we are staging the 2nd edition of our charity event. Profits from this event are to support local guides & cooks who have had no income since Covid outbreak. We have a rich choice of accommodation and activities to offer.

Entoto Mountain trails & churches
1 day - from 1,950 ETB
Ride along the Entoto ridge with its green forests and see the colourful Entoto Raguel church and Entoto Mariam with its palace and museum. Have some refreshments in Entoto park before the enjoyable downhill run to the city. The trip is good for beginners.

Bike Daytrips around Addis Ababa
1 day - from 1,950 ETB
We will ride along largely unused gravel and dirt roads, with some easy uphill and great downhill runs. Good for intermediate riders. A lovely day out of the city. Hardtail MTBs available to rent. Picnic lunch and support vehicle provided. Pick up & return is Kebena.

Intersted in one or more packages?

For more details including itineraries, prices with in- and exclusions, please contact us via mail at info@simienecotours.com our through our contact form.

SimienEcoTours got the Evaneos Local Hero Award

Marco Degasper — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Evaneos has developed this Better Trips philosophy in a dedication to making tomorrow's tourism more respectful of natural environments, people, economies and local cultures. So, in addition of our commitment with Travelife, together with Evaneos we are working hard to use our common business as a force for the good!

Evaneos created the Local Hero Award in to shine a spotlight on agencies who go above and beyond the Code of Conduct to create significant positive local impacts. “Local Heroes” are inspirational examples of how tourism—in the right hands—can be a force for good.

SimienEcoTours got awarded for Sustainability

Christian Sefrin — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200

The SimienEcoTours story began in the Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia in 2010 when four young entrepreneurs and senior guides of the park, Solomon Girmay, Tadele Molla, Birhan Asmamaw and Yirga Mekuriaw, met each other and realised that it was the perfect time and place to start a travel agency. United in the idea to offer exciting trekking tours and to share some of the profits to benefit nature conservation and social projects in the area, SimienEcoTours started its first steps towards its sustainable future.

As our reputation as a leading tour operator with alternative itineraries and reliable services grow, our responsible approach to tailor-made touring in Ethiopia attracted an increasingly large international client base. Another milestone in 2016 was that one of our group tours for the German market got awarded with the GEO Magazine Travel Award. They recognized and appreciated our approach to actively include new destinations into our itineraries, donate a share of the profits to social projects and visiting local communities to give them an income from tourism.

But with our company’s growth there was also a growing concern among the management that with the growing amount of guests and partners, we might not be able to stick to our ethos to offer the best services and sustainable options anymore.

In 2016 SimienEcoTours launched the first training programs for our teams working for us to maintain services and quality standards upright and even improve them in the long-term. The feedbacks from our guests confirm to this day that these measures have paid off and our services are amongst the most reliable, responsible and committed all over the country.

One of our trainings in the Simien Mountains in 2018

Not only our training programs shape our guides and drivers to work more sustainable while on tour, but in 2018 our move to become one of the first mountain biking tour operators in Ethiopia gave us the opportunity to run tours more eco-friendly by changing means of transport.

Since the pandemic working in tourism is not easy, but it was also the chance to strengthen our sustainability commitment once more. We refreshed our portfolio and internal procedures and policies to make guest experiences and internal procedures more sustainable. Among a whole list of measures that we implemented a plastic bottle ban on tours and in our offices are the most obvious achievements that we not only want to want to work more sustainable, but also live it!

That we are doing the right thing also got rewarded now by Travelife. It is the travel industry's leading international sustainability certification. More than 35 national travel associations are promoting the scheme to their members including, KATO, the Kenyan Association of Tour operators, TATO, the Tanzanian Association of Tour Operators, ABTA, The British Travel Association, PATA, the Pacific Asian Travel Association and FTT in South Africa. It covers all aspects of the tourism supply chain from environmental issues, biodiversity and human rights to labor relations. It's in full compliance with UN-supported Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria.

On a mountain bike tour with SimienEcoTours

On 13th July 2021 we received the Travelife Partner level award. We are proud that our efforts towards a better tourism for Ethiopia have been seen and recognized. We are among the first batch of tour operators who got awarded and comply with more than 100 criteria, related to an operator’s office management, product range, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife Partner level standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights and labour relation.

Mr. Naut Kusters, manager of Travelife for Tour Operators, “I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operator sector is obtaining momentum. The Partner award of SimienEcoTours will inspire other companies in Ethiopia to follow the same path’.

We hope so too and are committed to stay on this track and reach the next level by involving more of our service providers to follow us on our sustainable track as well by giving them trainings and hopefully soon them and us will strive to eventually reach the Travelife Certified stage.

Clean-up initiative in Danakil Depression

Christian Sefrin — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0200

On April 27, 2021, Nick Crane, owner of the Simien Lodge, showed his great commitment for a clean Ethiopia and handed over 1,200 USD to Afar Tourism for the clean up of Erta Ale and other places in the Danakil Depression.

The money was collected from the following environmentally concerned tour operators:
1 Simien Park Lodges PLC - Nick Crane
2 Lake Tana Tours - Elizabetta Gabbarini
3 Medir Tour - Anna Dias
4 Simien Eco Tours - Marco Degasper
5 Welcome Tours Ethiopia - Nik Pappato
6 Agape Tours - Daniel Longai Dieraert
7 Ava Tours - Pascal Leduc
8 Yared Tour and Travel - Getinet Seyoum
9 Global Nomad - Fred Giraud
10 Abyssinia Ballooning - Bram van Loosbroek
11 Tesfa Tours - Mark Chapman
12 Boundless Ethiopia Tour PLC - Hans van de Haar

Afar tourism have decided to ban the use of single use plastics in their tourism areas. It is hope that the idea will spread to other parts of Ethiopia as well.

For us as SimienEcoTours it is great to be part of this initiative as we see with sad eyes how some of our destinations end up with waste management problems not only because of tourism but also. Since 2020 we made it our policy to ban plastic bottles on our tours and thrive towards greener tours. But as usual fighting against windmills as a single tour operator is quite a challenge.

Therefore, we are happy to see that more and more tour operators get involved in environmentally friendlier ideas. In the end it is for the better of all.

Ethiopia's colorful Easter Holiday

Lorenzo Mazzoni — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Actually most people don’t know that “Fasika” (sometimes transcribed as Fasica; from Greek Pascha) is the Ge'ez, Amharic, and Tigrinya word for Easter, also called Tensae (in Ge'ez means "to rise"). As well as they don’t know that in Ethiopia, the most prominent and longstanding religion has been the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church since the times of Frumentius.

Ethiopian Easter, or Fasika, however, takes place in all the Christian Churches throughout the country, whether it be Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant, and follows the eastern method of calculating Easter, thus tending to fall after Easter in the Western calendar (some years both fall on the same date). Fasika is a much more important festival than Christmas, since the Death and Resurrection of Jesus is more significant in Orthodox and Ethiopian Evangelical theology than his birth.

Jesus' crucifixion which led to his death on a Friday, according to Orthodox thought was for the purpose of fulfilling the word of God, and led to the conquest of death and Jesus' resurrection from the tomb after three days, the third day being the Sunday when Ethiopian Easter is celebrated. That’s why Fasika is a climactic celebration. Fasting becomes more intense over the 55-day period of Lent for Orthodox Christians, Catholics and optionally for some Protestant denominations, when no meat or animal products of any kind, including milk and butter, are eaten.

Good Friday starts off by church going, and is a day of preparation for the breaking of this long fasting period. The Orthodox Christians prostrate themselves in church, bowing down and rising up until they get tired. The main religious service takes place with the Paschal Vigil on Saturday night. It is a somber, sacred occasion with music and dancing until the early hours of the morning. At 3:00 a.m. everyone returns home to break their fast, and a chicken is slaughtered at midnight for the symbolic occasion. In the morning, after a rest, a sheep is slaughtered to start the feasting on Easter Sunday.

While Catholics and Protestant denominations have special Easter Services and Masses bringing in people from various smaller community churches together to participate in an Easter sermon and celebration, in Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity or the Tewahedo faith, it is believed the near-sacrifice of Abraham's loved son Isaac (Genesis 22), which was a test of faith from God to Abraham, was interrupted by a voice of an angel from the heavens, and the sending of a Lamb for the sacrifice instead.

This Old Testament story is said to be a prophetic foreshadowing of God sending his only beloved son for the world as a sacrifice and the fulfilling of Abraham's promise. That’s why Easter in Ethiopia and its diaspora communities, is a day when people celebrate; there is a release of enjoyment after the long build-up of suffering which has taken place, to represent Christ's fasting for forty days and forty nights.

People often have food and for most Orthodox Christians locally brewed alcohol from fresh honey (tej, tella and katikala), while to a certain extent Ethiopian Protestantism generally discourages heavy alcohol. Ethiopians in the West especially those of the Catholic and Protestant denominations celebrate Easter on both the Eastern and Western days. While most Ethiopian Orthodox Christians in the West refrain from doing so because celebrating the Western Easter celebration would interfere with the Orthodox Eastern Fasting Season.

In most cases the Catholic Western Fasting Season ends earlier than the Orthodox Eastern Fasting Season as can be seen in the difference between the when the Eastern and Western Churches celebrate Easter (Fasika).

Ride the Rift charity bike ride in the Ankober Highlands

Christian Sefrin — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0200

SimienEcoTours conducts COVID-19 Safety Training for staffs

Christian Sefrin — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0200

In a first stage we used the last couple of weeks to develop our own Safety Guidelines for our company and travelers (see them HERE). It was quite a process getting there as we had to figure out what is actually possible and needed. Several staff trips over the last months helped us to understand in how far our partners and attraction sites all over the country are ready to guarantee safer travels in the future.

Now we can say that Ethiopia is on a good way and the first traveler reports after the tourism re-opening are very positive and most are surprised about the good hygene standards that are provided.

However, not every single moment of your journeys hygienic toilets or hand wash opportunities will be available that is for fact. Therefore, we decided to do more trainings on Safe Travels with our guides, drivers and employees. Already now, all our tours and guides are equipped with our SimienEcoTours COVID Safety Kits that include reusable and washable cotton masks, sanitizers and regular temperature checks for employees and travelers.

On October 16, 2020 we conducted our first Safe Travel Guidelines Training in our Addis Ababa office that was attended by 13 of our head guides. After more than half a year of practice with the common measures of the pandemic such as personal hygiene and social distancing, we focused more on how to face the actual challenges during tours in these days.

Some of the questions we discussed for example where how to guarantee personal hygiene of guests in remote sites where hand washing facilities are not available or how to prevent spread of the disease among local communities and local staffs.

As a result of these discussions SimienEcoTours will now prepare information flyers for local communities and service providers to create awareness for COVID-19 and give instructions on how to prepare themselves for the first tourist arrivals.

For us as a responsible acting tour operator it is clear that we won't interact with any community or local staff that doesn't want us to visit due to the current pandemic and when visiting local communities social distancing and wearing face masks should be practiced.

Furthermore, sustainability remains one of our utmost concerns in times where masks and empty plastic bottles of sanitizers put additional pressure on waste disposal. SimienEcoTours tries to minimize waste by using reusable and washable masks for travelers and employees, buying sanitizer in bigger bottles instead of small ones. Car cleaning will be done with disinfected washable and reusable towels.

All in all, last Friday's training session produced a wonderful output and everyone is motivated to work accordingly. More training session for our employees in Gondar and Debark will be conducted soon.

What's it like to travel in Ethiopia in times of the pandemic?

Christian Sefrin — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Let me tell you already in the beginning that travelling at the moment is so different from the normal. You might think of wearing masks, sanitizing your hands, checking temperature and other precaution measures. Yes, we did this all but what stays from our trips is amazement from spectacular lonely mountain worlds and nature refuges. Even some of the common sights surprised us with their pristine charm and friendliness from the times when tourism was still in its infancy in Ethiopia. Suddenly, there is time and with it authenticity in encounters with locals.

Within the last months the pandemic made travelling related to fears. Can I enter the country I want to travel to and re-enter my home country when coming back? What if I get sick while travelling? Do I get my money back when a trip has to be cancelled? Am I a potential transmitter while visiting other countries? Just to name a few. I don’t want to bother you any longer with these questions and answers. If you need information about this just follow our frequent updates on COVID-19 on our website. Here you get all the answers you might search for when still feeling unsecure to travel in Ethiopia. Our Travel Experts are also available for any further clarification. Feel free to get in touch with them.

I guess it is time again to focus on what travelling is about. It is anticipation, curiosity, discovering, learning, understanding, relaxing and letting go from our day-to-day life. If so, you might like to get to know what happened on our trip to Lalibela during the pandemic.

Ethiopia is re-opening its doors again to receive first guests after all necessary precautions have been put in place to make sure tourists can travel safely. However, borders have never been fully closed and internal travel restrictions where comparatively sound which was a great chance for the SimienEcoTours team to travel ourselves over the last couple of months and discover new destinations, get a personal feeling how it’s like to travel in Ethiopia during the pandemic and prepare great once in a lifetime opportunities for people willing to travel soon.

Leaving the city

The first trip when we had the courage to leave Addis into the unknown lead us to see Lalibela and its surroundings. Somehow it felt like planning the adventure of my life considering all the pros and cons before I was willing to leave families behind in Addis. It sounds silly for a one week’s trip but it was still the time when panic was big and we feared that domestic flights might stop, ground transports could be limited and Regional States might come up with their individual quarantine regulations and we get stuck somewhere for days or even weeks.

Finally, flights were booked and the team and I left for Lalibela. Upon arrival we were quite surprised that safety measures were in place. Our temperature was measured and contact details exchanged so that in case of sickness action could have been taken. I know Lalibela for more than ten years now and stopped counting how many times I have actually been there in the meantime. Still its mountainous scenery strikes me every time I come here. It is just impressive how the 3,300 meters high Mt. Asheten towers over the holy town of Lalibela with its eleven rock-hewn churches from the 12th century.

How is the situation in Lalibela?

No doubt for me as for almost all travellers the historical heritage here is a must see on every visit to Ethiopia. Lalibela developed from a place of orthodox pilgrimage into a touristic place where thousands of locals live from tourism. But since COVID-19 hit? How would it look like nowadays? These days everything remains closed and I am wondering how tourism entrepreneurs make their living in times of the pandemic. In next days, we would use our contacts in and around town to make food and services available. As an individual traveller it would become a challenge to plan activities these days. Everyone is happy to see us and expresses their hope for the new season to start. Restaurants and hotels open their gates only for us and serve us with friendliness and time. Even the bigger places in town spread a very pleasant and personal atmosphere these days. If the kitchen is not open due to the absence of the cook we get spontaneous invitations to the houses of the employees to join their families for meals. I know this will not be the case anymore as soon as Lalibela somehow returns to the new normal in the next coming months but for the time being there is a short window where hospitality reaches an authenticity not common for an otherwise touristic place where everyone rushes to make some money out of the tourists. Currently, everything is on hold and visitors become guests again. It is a nice feeling.

But what about the churches? Officially, all tourist sites were closed for visitors during the first months of the pandemic. But here is the thing, they were always open for locals and pilgrims and so are they now for us. It is a pleasure to see the rock-churches without any tourists at all. It reminds me of my first visits in Lalibela some twelve years back. At that time, there were no specific visiting hours for tourists and it was easy to mix with the pilgrims. As a visitor this was so emotional to see as it gave a deeper sense of meaning and spirituality to the buildings themselves. An aspect that got lost a bit with the introduction of visiting and praying hours when tourist numbers increased over the last years. It is actually nice to see that when a pandemic puts the world on hold, for the believers that come to the churches of Lalibela not so much has changed.

However, as visitors we feel responsible not to disturb this religious balance. We are wearing our face masks and take care to keep our distance. It is still a weird feeling to travel in such a way and therefore we decide for the loneliness of the mountains in the next couple of days where precautions become less of an issue. For us it is also a trial to see in how far outdoor and nature tours will be possible in the coming months when guests might want to avoid too close exchange with people.

Into the loneliness of the Lasta Mountains

High above Lalibela in the Lasta Mountains there are various excellent hiking opportunities in nature where we can let go from this constant feeling of exposing ourselves and others to a threat. Up here in the fresh mountain air we feel free to let go of the pressure to wear our masks. Our trailhead lies about 500 meters above Lalibela town close to the Asheten Monastery. Through green farmlands we set off for our two days trekking to the 4,011 meters high Zigit mountain which lies in the Mt. Abuna Yoseph Conservation Area.

We encounter the beauty of walking through farmlands and passing by farmers’ houses. It seems a normality that we have been missing out the last months living in Addis Ababa were hygiene and other regulations where put in place limiting our freedom. While herding cows and sheep kids play football and enjoy their lives in the countryside. It seems like the news of the pandemic have not reached yet to these remote corners of the country. When coming here we had the fear that we might not be welcome because locals could see us as a potential threat to their health. But the few people we meet along our way are all happy to see us. We ask about COVID and surprisingly they heard about it. Some consider it as a death bringing disease others see it more as something minor than a flu. Somehow it reminds me a bit about the wide range of opinions we see all over the place. Up here misinformation and conspiracy seems the same. However, smiles and excitement fill the faces of the farmers that cross our paths in the next days. Several community tourism opportunities exist in the Lasta Mountains and generated incomes for the locals over the last couple of years. Since COVID-19 outbreak there is no more additional income from the hiking tourism up here and it seems like people can’t wait to receive guests again. It is a good feeling to see their happiness about our unexpected visit and from now on there is no doubt that we took the right decision to hike here.

After six hours of hiking on the flat high plateau and some resting along the way we finally reach our overnight stay at Degosach Eco Lodge from where we will head towards the Mt. Abuna Yoseph Community Conservation Area tomorrow. Degosach nestles on a lofty hill top with amazing views into the lowlands. At 3,800 meters high above Lalibela we get cosy at the warm campfire that the guards prepare for us in the evening. For dinner we slaughter a sheep and exchange hikers stories while eating a traditional Ethiopian dinner with sheep meat and injera.

I guess it is one of the few moments in the last months where COVID-19 seems to be no issue at all anymore. We are quipping, laughing, eating and mingling with the guards of Degosach at the fireplace before heading towards our traditional guesthouses under the starry sky of Degosach.

The next day is an exciting day as we are heading towards one of the highest mountain ranges of Ethiopia. The first hours the trail leads us along the escarpment with spectacular views towards the lowlands. Along the way on one of the mountain ridges lies a small village where we get some rest and a cup of fresh Ethiopian coffee from the jebena - the traditional Ethiopian round coffee pot made of clay. The village marks the border towards the Mt. Abuna Yoseph Conservation Area. From now on the trail leads us through afro-alpine grassy meadows. The conservation area was once established to preserve these diminishing spots of nature and with it its wildlife. Gelada baboons are still very common at Mt. Abuna Yospeh as well as a small population of Ethiopian Wolves.

But our first attention falls on the majestic lammergeyer that soars above our heads along the escarpment. It seems like it wants to guide us the way towards our today’s goal - the 4,011 meters high summit of the Small Zigit Mountain that now for the first time appears close to our eyes. It is not the highest summit of the Abuna Yoseph range but by far the most spectacular - a rocky outcrop that rises from the grasslands with unforgettable lowland views.

Through a narrow and spectacular path we finally reach its base from where we start the last steep and bit challenging ascent towards its summit breathing in the fresh air up here with a little bit of adventure and freedom. It was also the moment when a new trip idea for our guests was born. After returning back to Lalibela and sitting together for a first refreshing beer we decided to share such kind of new adventures with our travellers not only in times of COVID-19 but also in the future. Just because they are great ways to explore and get to know Ethiopia!

JOIN US ON ONE OF OUR NEW COVID-19 ESCAPE TRIPS!

In the aftermath of this inspiring trip, SimienEcoTours teams went out for more exiting adventures to Lake Tana, Simien Mountains National Park and the Gheralta Mountains to see what is possible when the country re-opens its doors for travelling. Now we are there, especially domestic travel is easy again and we have a small but fine selection of short private nature and outdoor trips for you where health risks are comparatively low as we mainly spend our time outdoors.

Furthermore, we worked on our internal Safe Travel Guidelines and trained our staff and guides to guarantee you low-risk journeys in times of the pandemic. We also adapted our booking terms to give you the chance for a really low risk booking with us. Cancelation is free until 5 days prior to your trip.

11 of Ethiopia’s Best Outdoor Experiences

Marco Degasper — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Epic landscapes wherever you go make it an adventurous destination for almost any outdoor activity such as hiking, cycling or running. No matter which style and comfort you prefer, the country has it all. From amazing camping trips or interactive community stays to comfy lodge tours, your outdoor trip can be tailored to your taste.

With so many amazing places to visit and things to do, Marco put together this guide of all his favorite one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences that you don’t want to miss on your trip to Ethiopia.

1. Discover the beauty of rural Ethiopia on a community trek

Whereas the urban cities are modernising, the remote mountain regions of Ethiopia offer a chance to experience pristine and active traditional culture. The best way to experience this beauty of rural Ethiopia is on one of our community treks.

While hiking some of the country's scenic trails, you will encounter the day to day lives of the locals. Overnight stays are organised in traditional cottages near villages that benefit from this model of community-based tourism.

These days, a wide range of trekking opportunities exist all over the country. Treks are well established in the Gheralta region up North, or in the mountains around the holy city of Lalibela. New treks have been established in the Simien Mountains National Park and the Ankober Highlands.

2. Cycle the epic Ethiopian Highlands

Ethiopia is not a well-known cycling destination – or not yet. But with its open roads, warm sunshine and spectacular mountain scenery, it certainly should be. It has everything a bike traveller could ask for. Cycling experiences in Ethiopia offer the perfect pace for watching monumental landscapes passing by. Spectacular climbs are followed by endless downhill rides.

Especially, the Northern parts of the country provide perfect conditions for road cycling on empty and safe roads. But it will also be useful to be prepared with some all-terrain gear as well, in order to enjoy more remote gravel roads with their rural and pristine touch. Ethiopia has it all and you can be among the first to discover such an adventure on your own.

On one of our SimienEcoTours bike trips we want you to feel completely free when you ride. We look after your luggage, your refreshments, and any other needs that arise as you ride. We also offer good-quality mountain bikes for hire to our clients.

3. Spot the elusive Ethiopian Wolves while hiking in the Bale Mountains National Park

A trip to the Bale Mountains National Park is perhaps the most beautiful way to experience the endemic flora and fauna of Ethiopia's high mountains. The park offers an amazing mix of habitats and supports a myriad of rare species, many endemic to Ethiopia and some only found here.

The national park with its countless hiking trails offers wonderful nature experiences and bird-watching opportunities. And with a now fairly stable wolf population, it offers the best chances to see the endangered Ethiopian wolf in its natural habitat. In a single park, so many different ecosystems can be discovered: from grasslands and juniper forests to the barren high-altitude moorlands and even evergreen rain forests.

The best pick is a 3-7 night hiking trip through the park but wide parts are also accessible by car on gravel roads and trails either from Dinsho, Goba, or Rira. The eco-friendly Bale Mountain Lodge is located in Rira, the only high range tourist accommodation in the area.

4. Desert trekking in the Danakil Depression

With a diverse desert landscape, adventure awaits you in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression. Long ago, an ocean shaped these lands and left behind fossils, corals, and salt flats. Nowadays active volcanoes shape these landscapes at the edge of the Great African Rift Valley. It's the perfect destination to discover some of the world’s most fascinating volcanoes and active geological processes.

This hostile region is the home of the Afar people, who make a living harvesting and transporting precious salt to markets in the Ethiopian highlands. For centuries, camel caravans have plied their way across the deserts carrying salt.

Following their desert treks and encountering traders and villagers along the way is one of the outstanding experiences that can be combined with any visit to the interesting and bizarre Danakil depression.

5. Enjoy the endemic birds from the Great African Rift Valley to Ethiopia’s highest mountain peaks

Spanning central Ethiopia, the Great African Rift Valley landscape is rife with deep canyons and chains of tropical lakes. In contrast, the nearby highlands are bare and open.

Ethiopia is the land of Africa’s most incredible endemic birds. The ‘Roof of Africa’ is a rugged and ancient land that is home to no less than 50 endemic and near-endemic bird species. Ethiopia is one of the most fascinating African countries for birding, with new and exciting discoveries being made every year, and is surely also one of the most enjoyable. The wonderful light, diverse habitats, amazing scenery, and very rich and often colourful avifauna provide for the exhilarating birding experiences.

Accompanied by an experienced bird guide you will discover on our birding tours habitats from the low Rift Valley savannas to the high afro-alpine territories of the Bale Mountains National Park with its incredible variation and diversity of birdlife. Some of the rare species we will look for include the Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco, Ankober Serin, Rouget’s Rail, and the Spot-breasted Lapwing, which can only be found here.

6. Run the Ethiopian Highlands like the famous Ethiopian long distance runners

Ethiopia has produced some of the world’s finest long-distance runners, including the pioneering Abebe Bikila, who earned the country its first Olympic gold in 1960 running the marathon barefoot, the double Olympic gold medallist Haile Gebrselassie, and the relative newcomer Tiki Gelana, who set the Olympic record for the woman’s marathon in 2012.

The history of long distance running success is often attributed to the high altitudes at which Ethiopian athletes train, something that should be borne in mind by visitors planning on doing a few casual runs while they are on holiday here. Still, if the altitudes and slopes don’t deter you, Ethiopia has a wonderful climate for running, and you’ll find plenty of locals trotting along the roads of Addis Ababa in the early morning. The 10km Great Ethiopian Run, held in Addis Ababa every November, claims to be the biggest road race in Africa with more than 40,000 participants, and it is almost certainly the highest in terms of altitude.

Some running tours designed around this event give you a great opportunity to test your fitness!

7. Hike the scenic mountains near the holy city of Lalibela

Often related to the Jerusalem of Africa or as one of the wonders of the world, the holy city of Lalibela is a must-visit on most travellers’ lists for Ethiopia. Surrounded by the majestic Lasta Mountains most visitors leave without discovering one of Ethiopia's highest mountain ranges where tourism has not really arrived yet.

Just outside town you can start treks ranging from 2 to 5 days through the basalt mountains around Lalibela where communities farm in the age-old way with ox-drawn ploughs and hand tools. Life for the farmers is hard, but they have a ready smile and love to receive guests. From the summit of Mt. Abuna Yoseph, one of Ethiopia’s highest peaks, you can overlook the majestic scenery, one of the few places where Ethiopian wolves can be spotted.

Treks can be put together in combination with your stay in Lalibela in order to mix cultural visits to historic churches with your chosen rural hiking adventure. It is an option to stay in hotels or spend the nights in community guest houses.

8. Face to face encounter with the iconic red-breasted Gelada Baboons while trekking in Simien Mountains National Park

Marvel at Mother nature’s craftsmanship trekking across the “Roof of Africa”, as the Simien Mountains National Park is often called, with its average altitude above 3.500 meters. The steep rocky cliffs and grassy plateaus are inhabited by the endemic Gelada baboons.

Amazing nature experiences are guaranteed when Augur Buzzards and Rupell’s Vultures are soaring over Jinbar Waterfall, or when you meet the rare Walia Ibex wild mountain goats while ascending Mt. Ras Dashen, the highest peak of Ethiopia at 4.543 meters.

Start your trekking adventure in the National Park from the historical town of Gondar. Trekkings vary in difficulty and duration. From day trips to 10-day full package trekking adventures, everything is possible. For the longer trips, we provide all equipment, food & cook, as well as pack animals, guides, scouts, and transportation. Trekking trips can easily be arranged in advance or even on the spot.

9. Meet the Hamer ethnic group while trekking in the Omo Valley

The southern region of Ethiopia is known worldwide for its cultural diversity. There, archaic ethnic groups live in the same manner as they did hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Lot’s of this originality has disappeared in the Omo Valley with the arrival of new roads and modernisation. But recently, more responsible village tours and trekking trails are possible with the Hamer ethnic group, maybe the best and authentic way to experience the Southern Omo Valley and to help maintain an ancient lifestyle without contributing to the negative effects of mass tourism.

The Hamer Shooshi Trekking is the first-of-its-kind community trekking tour with the Hamar people, and offers a chance to get completely off the tourist trail in the Omo Valley, trek in a stunning remote area, and learn all about their ancient way of life.

Follow traditional Hamer paths through the bushland up to the ancient Buska forest where traditional beehives are still harvested in the ancient manner. Meet them in their ochre paints and with coloured beads on their way to the local market and join villagers for a refreshing ‘bunno’. Whilst quenching your thirst, you will learn about the traditional coffee blessing ritual performed by the village elders.

10. Sleep in one of the country’s top lodges while exploring the monumental Gheralta Region on foot

Climb the red sandstone mountains in the beautiful Gheralta region, or wander around small subsistence farms in narrow mountain valleys. Discover the first rock-hewn churches of Ethiopia, some of them hidden in barren rock faces, be astonished by their beautifully painted interiors.

Traveling in the Gheralta region combines epic landscapes and profound religious heritage sites with just enough adventure opportunities. It has not become as tourist-frequented as other places, and there are still plenty of undiscovered locations where only small trails lead.

And why not give your stay here a touch of luxury flair by staying in one of Gheralta’s fine lodges that are beautifully integrated into this monumental scenery? Let us offer you the best in lodging options and combine it with some hiking for your perfect visit.

11. Slow travel in Choke Mountains in your traditional cottage at Mulu Eco Lodge

Imagine living for several days in a little Ethiopian cottage in the green highlands. Sip coffee made in a coffee ceremony by your new local friend, and take leisurely day trips to neighboring villages and nature highlights, like waterfalls or mountain views to spot wild animals.

If this sounds appealing, then we recommend the Mulu Eco Lodge, a magical place where the emphasis is less on manic sightseeing and more on taking in your surroundings and spending time with local communities.

Here in the Choke Mountains, you will feel like one of the first discoverers on unspoiled paths as this place is yet undiscovered by most tourist companies.

READY TO GET ACTIVE?

Ethiopia offers so many options for those who want to go outdoors to experience incredible landscapes and unique wildlife. Whether traveling by bike or on foot, there are many one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences waiting for you.