Travel information on Security & Safety for visitors in Ethiopia

Category Archives: Mountain

Mysterious monasteries as Ethiopia travel gets easier

Mysterious hidden Monastery

Bethlehem church Roof stone and timber

Bethlehem church – timber & stone roof

The mysterious Bethlehem monastery is gearing up to welcome the first tourists. This monastery was reportedly built in the fourth century following the construction of Mariam Sion church in Axum. It is built in the ancient way with blocks of stone for the floor and walls and then a wooden roof, but what makes this church even more intriguing is that it is hidden by typical round wall with a corrugated roof, and so from outside looks like most other churches, although it is anything but!

Bethlehem church -Flagstone marking entrance to basement chambers

Flagstone marking entrance to basement chambers

Even more mysterious is that the monks claim that the Ark of Covenant is kept
beneath the church. They recount the tale of an Italian version of Indiana Jones who some 80 years ago determined to explore the chambers beneath the church. Apparently he came up having experienced an explosion he assumed to be volcanic, left the church and died within a day. The priests sealed the access stone and no one has been back down since.
This monastery is one of the key learning places – a church university for priests who want to study the scriptures and music of St. Yared, and there is a residential compound attached to the church.
We are now able to arrange for guests to stay at Bethlehem, either in a guesthouse or in tents, which will fit perfectly onto a trip between the Tesfa community guesthouses in neighbouring Meket (just south of Lalibela), and Gondar or Bahir Dar.

Travel to Ethiopia gets easier

Bole Airport Addis Ababa

Bole Airport in Addis

With Omicron replacing the Delta variant across the world the threat of COVID 19 has diminished. Although cases may have increased and transmission is rapid, immunity and much lower mortality and hospitalisation seem to follow. Official statistics for Ethiopia show that deaths of people with COVID and active cases have all but disappeared now. In Addis Ababa, where previous spikes in mortality were visible as funeral tents went up along the roads, life has settled down to something approaching normal.
In terms of travel, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute has now revised the directive with the result that travellers do not need to have a negative PCR test if they are vaccinated against COVID (all the mainstream western and Chinese vaccines – all double doses – except J&J, valid two weeks after vaccination) and can provide evidence (one presumes a certificate with the correct stamp on it).
This means the end for most travellers of expensive PCR tests and the worry about having travel plans cancelled due to a positive test.

E-Visas being processed

E-Visa page

Add to this that the online visa applications are being processed speedily now – but do use the correct government website .  Make sure you are using the one ending .gov.et.   You will need the address of your first night in a hotel, and a digital passport photo less than 2MB best as JPEG format. And same size/ format for a copy of the info page of your passport.  If you do not hear back from them in 72 hours please contact us – they may need a nudge to get it done.

Simien Mnt Lodge - High altitude accommodation

Simien Mnt Lodge

National Park Re-opened

The Simien National Park, which was closed during the conflict, is now open for business and Simien Mountain Lodge, which recently was renovated, is serving clients again. Through most of the last 24 months they have kept their staff on the payroll and remain a beacon of light for tourism in the area. Too many tourism professionals have suffered, while others have looked for alternative income streams that have taken them away from the sector. That this lodge remained open has given some of these people hope that tourism will return.

World class attractions

Sebreatsemu Giyorgis in Lalibela - tabots return to the church

Giyorgis church – Rock-hewn in Lalibela

Now that fighting across the region has stopped, the State of Emergency ended, and flight services resumed, the first trickle of visitors is returning to some of the attractions in the region: Lake Tana with its secluded monasteries; Lalibela with its labyrinth of rock-hewn churches connected by passageways and tunnels; Gondar with its romantic castles, baths and an extra ordinary church, and the Simien Mountain National Park with its high mountains, vertical escarpments and unique flora and fauna. Three of these are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the fourth, Lake Tana, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and all are amazing places to visit.

Dawn at Mescha community guesthouse Wof Washa

Mescha guesthouse, Wof Washa forest

Community Tourism

Tesfa Community Treks are also getting going again, as a steady stream of hikers has made their way to the guesthouses in Wof Washa Forest (near Ankober) and to the mountains around Lalibela to explore these stunning areas and experience the lives of the local farmers. Here the local host communities, after two years with virtually no guests, are thrilled to receive visitors again.  Treks can be from 2 nights upwards, and we can do several nights at one guesthouse for those wanting more time with the communities. More details on our website.

Book your trip soon!

I urge you to look at visiting Ethiopia soon. These remarkable places are quiet and peaceful. You can enjoy them without the crowds that were coming in 2019, and in the process help the guides, and other tourism professionals and service givers who are really struggling.  Contact us here or email us on info@tesfatours.com

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Great-Ethiopian Homecoming

Mountain bike in sunset

Outdoor fun in Ethiopia

Following the call by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopian all over the world to join the Great Ethiopian Homecoming Challenge, Tesfa Tours has been working with our partner Tour Companies under the banner of Ride the Rift to develop some exciting tours and offer them at a discounted rate to diaspora.

Ride the Rift Special Diaspora Tours

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We invite you to look at our trips and come and see some of these exiting places with us. Between us we have a huge experience across this beautiful country and would love help you see more.

 

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Gorillas in the Mist – Take a weekend away to see these amazing animals

Mountain Gorillas in Virunga Nation Park

How about a weekend spending time hiking up to see the Mountain Gorillas on the slopes of volcanos in the Virunga National Park?

Virunga National Park is home to more than 1/4 of the world’s critically endangered Mountain Gorillas.

Of the few remaining places left in the world to see the mountain gorillas, Virunga National Park stands alone as the most exotic. Mountain gorillas are highly intelligent, good natured, and fascinating to observe.

Whether you’re admiring one of majestic silverbacks or enjoying seeing the younger members of the family, we guarantee the experience will leave you awestruck and forever changed.

All treks are led by Virunga park rangers and depart from Bukima patrol post. Treks usually require 1 – 2 hours of hiking in each direction, depending where the gorillas spent the previous night and the difficulty of the terrain.Mnt GORILLA pic2__1494847223_5.226.137.179

Long Weekend in Virunga – Suggested Itinerary:

Friday Arrive at Goma (there are direct flights from Addis to Goma!) and you will be transported to Kibumba Camp. Overnight Kibumba Camp.

Saturday After an early breakfast, you will leave for your gorilla trek. The trek will take between 3 to 6 hours depending where the gorillas are. After the trek return back to camp and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or going for a small evening walk to see the lake that is in a crater. Overnight Kibumba Camp.

Sunday After Breakfast, leave for Kibati which is the start of the trek up Nyiragongo. Nyiragongo is the worlds largest lava lake. The trek takes between 4 6 hours. Overnighting in the shelters on the summit, one can watch the lava lake for hours.

Monday Trek down the volcano, which takes approx 4 hours. Transfer from Kibati to Goma.

High Season Rate (Mid May to Mid October and Mid December to Mid March): Double/Twin: $1,100 per person  /Single: $1200
Low Season Rate (Mid March to Mid May and Mid October to Mid December): Double/Twin: $900 per person  / 
Single: $1000

Kibumba Camp will open mid July 2017. It is the most affordable camp in Virunga. It is a traditional tented camp with ensuite facilities. Offering easy access to the gorillas and Nyiragongo.

  •  Directly East of Kibumba Village on the edge of the National Park
  •  Access by road
  •  18 tents, two dining room and a lounge
  •  Run entirely by a dedicated staff of Congolese
  •  Views of Mt Mikeno, Karasimbi, Nyiragongo, Nyamulagira and some days the Albertine Rift.

Booking Information:

Email: virunga@tesfatours.com for more information or to make a booking.


Practical Information: 
To safeguard the health of Virunga’s gorillas, visitors will be provided with surgical masks to wear when in the presence of the gorillas.

As moutain gorillas are extremely susceptible to human illness, we do ask that if guests are feeling unwell at the time of the scheduled trek that they please cancel.

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