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.
We are passionate about community tourism, trekking & sustainability. We believe community tourism means holidays that support local communities, and that are sustainable, but we also believe that holidays must give our guests a wonderful time. We love to develop itineraries to fit the interests of our clients and to promote the incredible diversity that exists in Ethiopia.
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), Wof Washa forest, The Simiens , Tigray and Gurage areas.
Our holidays, where we can, include a key element of this community tourism. We design tours across the whole of Ethiopia, keeping in mind sustainable approaches, but want to share our knowledge and expertise of this remarkable country.
We believe that true community tourism is a sustainable partnership between philanthropic businesses and community run enterprises. This partnership should enable local communities to generate sustainable improvements in their livelihood through the development of their own tourism related enterprises, while also contributing to the protection of their physical and cultural environments.
"Let us develop a personal itinerary with you so that you can see the best of this wonderful country."
Mark Chapman, Founder
Each hosting community is based around sub groups of a local parish church.
They are registered as cooperatives and are run for the benefit of all their members.
There may be as many at 300 households in one such community, probably around 1,500 people.
So the income a community makes from hosting you really does go to the community level!
The landscape is spectacular and the people too. It has inspired us to want to visit other parts of the country, and to travel with your help once more. You did everything you said you would do and so much more. A huge thank you.
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 […]
