About
Tesfa
About
Tesfa
A focus on
A focus on
Community Tourism
We believe community tourism means holidays that support local communities, but we also believe that holidays must give our guests a wonderful time.
Tesfa Tours was set up in 2010 to take on the mantle of promoting the community tourism that has been developed in Ethiopia under Mark Chapman’s guidance since 1999. Our holidays all include a key element of this community tourism.
We work closely with the communities, the guides and other stakeholders to ensure the success of this special ‘project’ which now involves over 20 communities serving food and hosting guests in both the Wollo (Lalibela) and Tigray areas.
Community Tourism
What does it mean to us?
At Tesfa Tours, responsible tourism means partnering closely with the communities who host our guests. Local people co-own the experience, take part in decision-making, and receive the direct benefits, helping strengthen livelihoods while preserving cultural and natural heritage.
Community Tourism
What does it mean to us?
At Tesfa Tours, responsible tourism means partnering closely with the communities who host our guests. Local people co-own the experience, take part in decision-making, and receive the direct benefits, helping strengthen livelihoods while preserving cultural and natural heritage.
Community Tourism
What does it mean to us?
At Tesfa Tours, responsible tourism means partnering closely with the communities who host our guests. Local people co-own the experience, take part in decision-making, and receive the direct benefits, helping strengthen livelihoods while preserving cultural and natural heritage.
Community Partnership
We work with community-run sites so ownership, decision-making, and income stay local, with a traditional community group.
Environmental Responsibility
Our treks promote conservation through low-impact travel, reforestation, and wildlife protection.
Economic Responsibility
We hire local guides, use locally owned lodges, and ensure tourism directly supports livelihoods.
Social Responsibility
We help communities preserve their culture, strengthen identity, and share their stories with pride.
Community Partnership
We work with community-run sites so ownership, decision-making, and income stay local, with a traditional community group.
Environmental Responsibility
Our treks promote conservation through low-impact travel, reforestation, and wildlife protection.
Economic Responsibility
We hire local guides, use locally owned lodges, and ensure tourism directly supports livelihoods.
Social Responsibility
We help communities preserve their culture, strengthen identity, and share their stories with pride.
Community Partnership
We work with community-run sites so ownership, decision-making, and income stay local, with a traditional community group.
Environmental Responsibility
Our treks promote conservation through low-impact travel, reforestation, and wildlife protection.
Economic Responsibility
We hire local guides, use locally owned lodges, and ensure tourism directly supports livelihoods.
Social Responsibility
We help communities preserve their culture, strengthen identity, and share their stories with pride.
Our
Our
journey
journey
in
in
video
video
Our
passionate
teammates
Meet the heart and soul of xplore – our own dynamic team of travel enthusiasts.
Meet the heart and soul of xplore – our own dynamic team of travel enthusiasts.
Mark Chapman
Founder
Mark first started exploring Ethiopia in 1992/93 and moved there permanently in 1997. Soon afterwards, he began developing the concept of community tourism in the mountains around Lalibela, an idea that would later grow into Tesfa Tours, with which he has been closely involved ever since. Despite greying hair, he retains a deep passion for exploring Ethiopia’s countryside and mountains, whether on his mountain bike or on foot while trekking.
Mark Chapman
Founder
Mark first started exploring Ethiopia in 1992/93 and moved there permanently in 1997. Soon afterwards, he began developing the concept of community tourism in the mountains around Lalibela, an idea that would later grow into Tesfa Tours, with which he has been closely involved ever since. Despite greying hair, he retains a deep passion for exploring Ethiopia’s countryside and mountains, whether on his mountain bike or on foot while trekking.
Mark Chapman
Founder
Mark first started exploring Ethiopia in 1992/93 and moved there permanently in 1997. Soon afterwards, he began developing the concept of community tourism in the mountains around Lalibela, an idea that would later grow into Tesfa Tours, with which he has been closely involved ever since. Despite greying hair, he retains a deep passion for exploring Ethiopia’s countryside and mountains, whether on his mountain bike or on foot while trekking.
Betelhem Tesfaye
Office Manager, head of Sales
Betty has been working for Tesfa Tours since April 2016 when she joined as sales assistant. She now runs the office and manages the team. Initially Betty worked in horticulture, she decided to switch her career path to tourism and obtained her international tourism diploma at National Aviation college in Addis Ababa. She manages by example, really paying attention to our customers needs and wishes. She has also developed a passion for hiking!
Betelhem Tesfaye
Office Manager, head of Sales
Betty has been working for Tesfa Tours since April 2016 when she joined as sales assistant. She now runs the office and manages the team. Initially Betty worked in horticulture, she decided to switch her career path to tourism and obtained her international tourism diploma at National Aviation college in Addis Ababa. She manages by example, really paying attention to our customers needs and wishes. She has also developed a passion for hiking!
Betelhem Tesfaye
Office Manager, head of Sales
Betty has been working for Tesfa Tours since April 2016 when she joined as sales assistant. She now runs the office and manages the team. Initially Betty worked in horticulture, she decided to switch her career path to tourism and obtained her international tourism diploma at National Aviation college in Addis Ababa. She manages by example, really paying attention to our customers needs and wishes. She has also developed a passion for hiking!
Kalkidan Tariku
Sales Consultant
Kal worked for us before the pandemic hit, but as business dropped off she left to pursue other options. As the business came back she was happy to rejoin Tesfa Tours and helped as interim cashier and bookings, but is now back in sales. With a degree in Folklore and Culture - she loves the community tourism that is a big part of what we are about, and we are so pleased to have her bubbly enthusiasm back in our team.
Kalkidan Tariku
Sales Consultant
Kal worked for us before the pandemic hit, but as business dropped off she left to pursue other options. As the business came back she was happy to rejoin Tesfa Tours and helped as interim cashier and bookings, but is now back in sales. With a degree in Folklore and Culture - she loves the community tourism that is a big part of what we are about, and we are so pleased to have her bubbly enthusiasm back in our team.
Kalkidan Tariku
Sales Consultant
Kal worked for us before the pandemic hit, but as business dropped off she left to pursue other options. As the business came back she was happy to rejoin Tesfa Tours and helped as interim cashier and bookings, but is now back in sales. With a degree in Folklore and Culture - she loves the community tourism that is a big part of what we are about, and we are so pleased to have her bubbly enthusiasm back in our team.
Eyerusalem Awudie
Cashier
Jerry joined us a few years ago with a degree in Accounting & Finance from Arba Minch University and quickly mastered our finances. She has become a valued part of Tesfa Tours.
Eyerusalem Awudie
Cashier
Jerry joined us a few years ago with a degree in Accounting & Finance from Arba Minch University and quickly mastered our finances. She has become a valued part of Tesfa Tours.
Eyerusalem Awudie
Cashier
Jerry joined us a few years ago with a degree in Accounting & Finance from Arba Minch University and quickly mastered our finances. She has become a valued part of Tesfa Tours.
Ydnekachew Kbru
Mechanic and driver
Ydne is a gentle and calm person with a big smile. He takes his job of maintaining vehicles very seriously and approaches it with the patience and care that are his hallmark. He has worked for Tesfa since 2017 and has become an integral part of our family.
Ydnekachew Kbru
Mechanic and driver
Ydne is a gentle and calm person with a big smile. He takes his job of maintaining vehicles very seriously and approaches it with the patience and care that are his hallmark. He has worked for Tesfa since 2017 and has become an integral part of our family.
Ydnekachew Kbru
Mechanic and driver
Ydne is a gentle and calm person with a big smile. He takes his job of maintaining vehicles very seriously and approaches it with the patience and care that are his hallmark. He has worked for Tesfa since 2017 and has become an integral part of our family.
Abel Seyoum
Driver
In addition to being a great driver, Abel is a fun person to be with, but he takes his responsibility seriously and looks after his passengers well being. Recently, he has taken a real interest in birds and has become very good at spotting them along the way.
Abel Seyoum
Driver
In addition to being a great driver, Abel is a fun person to be with, but he takes his responsibility seriously and looks after his passengers well being. Recently, he has taken a real interest in birds and has become very good at spotting them along the way.
Abel Seyoum
Driver
In addition to being a great driver, Abel is a fun person to be with, but he takes his responsibility seriously and looks after his passengers well being. Recently, he has taken a real interest in birds and has become very good at spotting them along the way.
A History of
Tesfa Tours
Mark Chapman began developing the concept of community tourism in the mountains around Lalibela in 1999 while working with SOS Sahel on an integrated rural development programme in Meket Woreda. He envisaged a network of community-run tourism enterprises that would allow visitors to trek across the remarkable landscape, experience the culture of the Ethiopian highlands, and generate much-needed income for local communities facing increasingly precarious farming livelihoods.
After initial discussions, pilot activities began in Mequat Mariam in 2002. Later that year, the SOS Sahel project came to an early end, bringing the initial community tourism pilot to a close.
In 2003, donors asked Save the Children UK to continue aspects of SOS Sahel’s work, including community tourism, as part of a livelihoods programme. At the same time, Mark and former SOS Sahel colleagues established a local NGO, TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives), to implement the community tourism component. TESFA was registered in 2003 as a local non-profit organisation.
In 2009 TESFA re-registered as TESFA Community-based Tourism (TESFA CbT). With offices in Addis Ababa and field teams in Lalibela and Tigray, TESFA CbT expanded community tourism activities across northern Ethiopia. Between 2004 and 2010, support from international partners enabled the development of guiding enterprises, marketing and booking services, and the expansion of community tourism sites in Meket Woreda and the Abuna Yoseph mountains, where TESFA worked with Frankfurt Zoological Society to support environmental conservation.
In 2010 Mark Chapman left TESFA CbT to establish Tesfa Tours to continue marketing the Tesfa community tourism network. TESFA CbT ceased operations in 2012.
Tesfa Tours continued to provide booking and marketing services and developed new partnerships. From 2014 to 2017, Tesfa Tours worked with Village Ways to develop community-owned guesthouses in the Simien Mountains with support from the African Wildlife Foundation. A long-term collaboration with SUNARMA has also led to Tesfa Tours supporting community-owned guesthouses in Wof Washa Forest on the Rift Valley escarpment in North Shoa.
A History of
Tesfa Tours
Mark Chapman began developing the concept of community tourism in the mountains around Lalibela in 1999 while working with SOS Sahel on an integrated rural development programme in Meket Woreda.
A History of
Tesfa Tours
Mark Chapman began developing the concept of community tourism in the mountains around Lalibela in 1999 while working with SOS Sahel on an integrated rural development programme in Meket Woreda.
A History of
Tesfa Tours
Mark Chapman began developing the concept of community tourism in the mountains around Lalibela in 1999 while working with SOS Sahel on an integrated rural development programme in Meket Woreda. He envisaged a network of community-run tourism enterprises that would allow visitors to trek across the remarkable landscape, experience the culture of the Ethiopian highlands, and generate much-needed income for local communities facing increasingly precarious farming livelihoods.
After initial discussions, pilot activities began in Mequat Mariam in 2002. Later that year, the SOS Sahel project came to an early end, bringing the initial community tourism pilot to a close.
In 2003, donors asked Save the Children UK to continue aspects of SOS Sahel’s work, including community tourism, as part of a livelihoods programme. At the same time, Mark and former SOS Sahel colleagues established a local NGO, TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives), to implement the community tourism component. TESFA was registered in 2003 as a local non-profit organisation
In 2009 TESFA re-registered as TESFA Community-based Tourism (TESFA CbT). With offices in Addis Ababa and field teams in Lalibela and Tigray, TESFA CbT expanded community tourism activities across northern Ethiopia. Between 2004 and 2010, support from international partners enabled the development of guiding enterprises, marketing and booking services, and the expansion of community tourism sites in Meket Woreda and the Abuna Yoseph mountains, where TESFA worked with Frankfurt Zoological Society to support environmental conservation.
In 2010 Mark Chapman left TESFA CbT to establish Tesfa Tours to continue marketing the Tesfa community tourism network. TESFA CbT ceased operations in 2012.
Tesfa Tours continued to provide booking and marketing services and developed new partnerships. From 2014 to 2017, Tesfa Tours worked with Village Ways to develop community-owned guesthouses in the Simien Mountains with support from the African Wildlife Foundation. A long-term collaboration with SUNARMA has also led to Tesfa Tours supporting community-owned guesthouses in Wof Washa Forest on the Rift Valley escarpment in North Shoa.
As Featured in
As Featured in
As Featured in
Our
History
April 1999
April 1999
April 1999
Community tourism idea conceived
Community tourism idea conceived
Community tourism idea conceived
January 2002
January 2002
January 2002
Mequat Mariam project starts
Mequat Mariam project starts
Mequat Mariam project starts
February 2003
February 2003
February 2003
Tesfa NGO is born
Tesfa NGO is born
Tesfa NGO is born
October 2004
October 2004
October 2004
Brad Pitt stays at Mequat Mariam
Brad Pitt stays at Mequat Mariam
Brad Pitt stays at Mequat Mariam
June 2009
June 2009
June 2009
Re-registering the NGO
Re-registering the NGO
Re-registering the NGO
March 2010
March 2010
March 2010
First guests to Tigray/Agame Mnts
First guests to Tigray/Agame Mnts
First guests to Tigray/Agame Mnts
October 2010
October 2010
October 2010
Tesfa Tours begins operation
Tesfa Tours begins operation
Tesfa Tours begins operation
March 2012
March 2012
March 2012
Tesfa NGO comes to an end
Tesfa NGO comes to an end
Tesfa NGO comes to an end
February 2016
February 2016
February 2016
First guests to Janamora/Simiens
First guests to Janamora/Simiens
First guests to Janamora/Simiens
November 2017
November 2017
November 2017
First guests to Wof Washa/Shoa
First guests to Wof Washa/Shoa
First guests to Wof Washa/Shoa
September 2023
Start of Gurage homestays
September 2023
Start of Gurage homestays
Ready to
embark
on a
new
adventure?
Let us craft your Ethiopian adventure. Get in touch with us now.
We are trusted by our partners
Ready to
embark
on a
new
adventure?
Let us craft your Ethiopian adventure. Get in touch with us now.
We are trusted by our partners