Travel information on Security & Safety for visitors in Ethiopia

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Tesfa Calendar available now – runs from 01 Sep 2017

Tesfa Calendars

Whether you live in Ethiopia, or used to live here, or are planning a visit, this calendar is a must.

  • Each month shows the main saints’ days, the fasts, and other holidays set into the western calendar.
  • Ethiopian calendar dates and months are clearly shown too (allowing you to ‘translate’ dates from one calendar to the other).
  • Calendar showcases the Tesfa Community treks in Wollo and Tigray with stunning photographs (mostly from clients).
  • Proceeds are used to support the farming communities along the treks.
  • Full moon depicted on the calendar.

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Desk top calendar

It comes in 3 formats:

  • traditional wall hanging version 52x29cm (when hanging)
  • diary format 20cmx14cm, designed to fit in your bag
  • desk top version to sit on your desk.

Tesfa asks for a donation of 200 birr for a calendar if picked up here in Addis.

We can also post internationally: the cost is £15 for 1 & £25 for 2.

Email:  calendars@tesfatours.com for more info or call 092-349-0495

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Photos needed for the new Tesfa Calendar

Tesfa Calendar 2009 cover page

Tesfa Calendar 2009 cover page

Hi Folks – are there any Tesfa trekkers out there with photos from their trips that we could use in our new calendar (Wollo or Tigray)?

I am looking for some of your photos to include in the 2010 Eth Calendar (2017/8)… if you think you might have some please do get in touch with me – mark@tesfatours.com

Mark Chapman
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For any photo included we will off course give a credit on the photo and a complimentary copy of the calendar will be sent to you!

Thanks

Mark

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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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Join a Tesfa Community trek 2nd part of May

photo of Ras Dashen while on a Tesfa Trek in Simiens, curtesy of Kevin Rushby

photo of Ras Dashen while on a Tesfa Trek in Simiens, curtesy of Kevin Rushby

We have one male American client flying into Ethiopia in mid May who would like to do a trek at the new Simien village guesthouses (but would also be happy to trek on other routes). He is looking for someone to team up with.
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If you would also like to do some trekking in stunning scenery please contact us to arrange your trip.

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Visit the new Tesfa guesthouses – now open

photo of Ras Dashen while on a Tesfa Trek in Simiens, curtesy of Kevin Rushby

photo of Ras Dashen while on a Tesfa Trek in Simiens, by permission of Kevin Rushby (posted on Instagram)

If you have been on a Tesfa trek before then why not try something new?

We have opened new guesthouses in the Simien Mountains. They are situated to the south of the National Park, in a woreda called Janamora. To access this area, until the new service roads are built you drive through the National park past Sankober and Geech, and over the back of Bwahit mountain, then down to Mekhane Berhan. There are 3 guesthouses, Taga Mariam, Khalid Abo, and Timbala, and we suggest a minimum of 4 nights, including a visit to the market at Wossen on Thursdays and Saturdays.  On the final day we would suggest trekking back up towards the park and getting picked up just south of Bwahit to

Khalid Abo guesthouse

Khalid Abo guesthouses

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View of Seheta Guesthouse

View of Seheta Guesthouse

We have also opened a new guesthouse in Tigray in the midst of the trekking we offer in the Agame Massif. The new guesthouse at Seheta, is set just above several farms on the edge of the village and is a great base to use to explore the valleys and local churches. Again we would recommend spending several days at Seheta. At this time of year there are feasts held daily in the villages and you would be most welcome to join in. You can also link staying here with a stay in one of the other longer established guesthouses in the area.

 

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What’s happening in Ethiopia now?

Community celebrate at Festival in Meket

Community celebrate at Festival in Meket

Of course people planning to visit Ethiopia are asking us what is happening now in Ethiopia. There were a spate of news articles as a result of the declaration of the State of Emergency a few weeks back, but as so often with news around the world, interest dries up as fast as it comes and now there is ‘no story’ to report.

This is because there is no more violence, no roads blocked, no strikes, in fact no reason not to come and visit Ethiopia.

Tesfa Tours Landcruiser by salt canyons in Danakil Depression

Tesfa Tours Landcruiser by salt canyons in Danakil Depression

Tesfa Tours has two minibuses with clients coming back from a trip to the north. They drove up to Dessie and Lalibela via a Tesfa trek in Meket.  They then continued from Lalibela to Mekele, visited the Danakil and some places in Tigray before returning.

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On 1st November we have 3 landcruisers picking up clients in Gondar and taking them to the Simiens, and on to Tigray. After visits in Axum and Gheralta they will drive back south the Lalibela, spend a few days on a Tesfa trek in Meket, and visit Bahir Dar, before flying to Addis.

The Mountain Nyala only found in Bale Mountains

Mountain Nyala, Bale, Ethiopia

Another group of tourists have just returned from a trek in the Bale Mountains – this was the texted feedback:-

“Got there and back safely. Nyala,  warthog, wolf , golden eagle, fox they were all there. Rain, sunshine, hail, cold, and much more rain and cold. Absolutely no problems. Great trip. Got the blisters to prove it. Thanx for all your help and advice mate. Next stop Siemens with Tesfa.”

Other clients from UK just finished a trek in Meket and a visit to Lalibela and said on Facebook: “Holiday of a lifetime, highly recommended. Don’t be put off by The Foreign & Commonwealth Office.” (see this quote and their photos on Tesfa Tours’ Facebook page).

Villages below the Meket Escarpment

Villages below the Meket Escarpment

We agree – don’t be put off Ethiopia by the media coverage and travel advisories. Tourism earns much needed money for Ethiopia, money that is driven directly to small businesses and local employees, and in the case of the Tesfa community treks, a big chunk goes straight into the heart of the rural countryside, with villagers earning money by hosting their guests. That could be you.

In the words of one of the guests of the Meket community this month: “Truly the most exhilarating and humbling experience. Inspirational people, fabulous hospitality,stunning views. Magical memories! Thank you for this amazing opportunity.”

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Melcam Meskal

A Meskal Demera (bonfire) built by locals in Addis

A Meskal Demera (bonfire) built by locals in Addis

Today is the eve of Meskal, and Addis Ababa has bonfires growing on street corners and roundabouts all over the city, with long bundles of sticks, huge bunches of bright yellow Meskal daisies and of bright green grass for sale. The Meskal daisy is the image most associated with the holiday, as it grows wild across meadows and grasslands throughout the highlands of Ethiopia.

Meskal (itself means cross) is a ceremony that commemorates the Finding of the True Cross.  Legend has it that in 326 AD, Queen Eleni (Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great) was guided by a dream to light a fire and follow the smoke to find the True Cross. The smoke rose high in the sky

decorations around Addis

decorations around Addis

and descended at the point where she found the Cross.

Across Ethiopia tonight (and for some tomorrow) bonfires will be lit commemorating this event. There are various traditions which include the prediction as to the harvest by the direction in which the cross in the fire falls. Also people mark their foreheads in the sign of the cross with the ash from the fire.

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A small Meskal bonfire at Kebena, dropped in the Ethiopian flag, with a cross on the top.

A small Meskal bonfire at Kebena, dropped in the Ethiopian flag, with a cross on the top.

Mariam celebrated a major pilgrimage and festival just after Meskal each year.

A good place to join in the Meskal celebrations is with the villages on the Tesfa Treks in Wollo and Tigray. In Adigrat (Tigray) and in the villages around there is a very big Meskal celebration.

Best wishes to all for a peaceful and fun Meskal demera tonight and a joyful holiday tomorrow.

 

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Diary version of calendar out now

The 2009 Tesfa diary/ note book calendar.

The 2009 Tesfa diary/ note book calendar.

The Tesfa Calendar is now available in diary version, sized at 20x14cm  it will fit nicely in your bag. Never be without the details of the Ethiopian date, up coming saints days & fasts, and Ethiopian holidays. Note your appointments on the month, and use the note sheet for each month to add more details. Illustrated with the same wonderful photos as the traditional hanging version.

Although smaller than the traditional wall hanging version there are more pages. So the donation we are asking from clients will be the same: 200ETB.  Proceeds go to support the communities involved in the Tesfa Community Tourism.

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Be in Lalibela for the Special Saints Day on 19th June

Be one of a few foreigners to witness this special saints day and follow it with walk in the mountains of Meket.

A painting of Saint-King Lalibela, on a canvas in Lalibela

A painting of Saint-King Lalibela, on a canvas in Lalibela

St Mikael’s day in Lalibela and a Tesfa Trek in Meket

Come and visit Lalibela for Senay Mikael, the St Michael’s day celebrated on Sunday 19th June is one of the biggest saint’s days in Lalibela, with it also marking the anniversary of Saint-King Lalibela’s death. The Church of Mikael in Lalibela is connected to the church known as Golgotha where Lalibela himself is buried.

Only Gena (Ethiopian Christmas) is a bigger celebration in the town.

Fly in on Saturday and see the market – a day when the town is really buzzing, and visit the other churches. After the

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Entrance to Mikael & Golgotta in Lalibela

Entrance to Mikael & Golgotta in Lalibela

processions and celebrations on Sunday morning head off  to Meket to send a couple of days trekking in the mountains before coming back for a flight to Addis on Tuesday.

See details here – prices and tour itinerary

A Meket farmer enjoys the view

A Meket farmer enjoys the view

 

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Looking for photographs from the Tesfa Community Treks

PhotographerAny photographers out there who have been on a Tesfa Trek in Wollo or Tigray – we are looking for some of our clients photos to include in the 2009 Eth Calendar This prescription ought to be taken an hour or probably 45 minutes prior to the demonstration and it will help in holding an erection during sex. canadian cialis generic This may cheap tadalafil uk be either being a medical or psychological condition. The injury to nerves, arteries, smooth muscles, and fibrous tissues are most likely a result of an inherent buy cialis disease. Salab misri is known for curing sexual weaknesses in women and it will provide the energy needed for performing well in the cialis sale loved that bed. (2016/7)… if you think you might have some please do get in touch with me – mark@tesfatours.com

For any photo included we will off course give a credit on the photo and a complimentary copy of the calendar will be sent to you!

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