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Today is the start of Ramadan, the great fasting month in the Muslim calendar. Muslims around the world will not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset for the lunar month. As the dates go with the lunar calendar they move through the western calendar year, actually the month moves forward a few weeks each […]
On 19th June Lalibela celebrates a big double festival, as it is both an annual day for St Mikael (Senay Mikael) and the anniversary of the death of the Saint-King Lalibela. This is the biggest celebration in Lalibela after Gena (Christmas) and attracts many Ethiopian pilgrims from the surrounding area to see the festival … but […]
For those who prefer the vegan fare, this week brings back the yesom bayenetu (mixed fasting food dish) -with its wonderful selection of tasty vegan dishes, often with a fried fish too. Following the long fast that led up to Easter, was a few months of no fasting, but with the Senay Tsom starting yesterday – […]
“My 19 year old son and I did a three day trek west of Lalibela and absolutely loved it. The walking wasn’t too challenging which was a good thing as we are not used to the altitude. The scenary is stunning, the communities we lodged with welcoming, the food was varied and always delicious. We […]
All is very quiet and calm in Addis Ababa today. There is not the usual clamour of weddings with hooters being beeped as cavalcades cross town. In fact there is little noise at all, and Addis seems like a quiet village. Today – Sunday 24th May, is election day all across Ethiopia. These elections are destined to be […]
I’m just back from a wonderful wedding in which the couple was blessed by the first real rain in Lalibela in many months. But a bit of rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm. A fantastic display of the aggressive shoulder dancing was seen at the various stops, much of it in the local “Sora” style. The […]
I’m really excited. One of my oldest and best friends in Ethiopia is tying the knot today. His bride and he both are from Lalibela and there is a real buzz today in town. It has been proven that by removing youths from problem homes at an earlier age that the welfare cycle can actually […]
Visit Gondar, spend 2 nights on a Tesfa Trek & see Lalibela for just $1,400USD per person for 4 nights and 5 days including local flights, hotels, entry fees, transfers, guides etc. This short trip out of Addis enables you to see the two old capitals of Ethiopia that have shaped its history over the last […]
Book a trip now while places are available for the May day weekend (1-5 May) Experience the beauty and serenity of the Mountains of Eastern Tigray. Explore the Agame massif, a much less visited mountain block just north of Gheralta. Walk along the sandstone ridges enjoying spectacular views and through the intensely farmed valleys. Among […]
Fasika – Easter, is over for another year. Sunday saw the piles of sheep skins on street corners, to be picked up by small dealers in trucks. For the days leading up to Easter flocks of sheep and goats as well as herds of oxen were driven by herders into the city, chickens were driven in […]
Today Thursday 21 November is St Mikael’s day here in Ethiopia – Hedar (the month) Mikael. It’s one of numerous big saints days where the holy tabot is paraded out. But for this day there is a tradition to burn rubbish and that the smoke will take the evil away. For more details see this […]
The UK FCDO travel advice has just been changed to show all the core areas of Tigray (away from disputed territories and boundaries) as green. At Tesfa Tours we have been sending clients there to trek at community-owned guesthouses and see the wonders of the ancient city of Axum and there hidden rock churches of […]