Guided tours Ethiopia

The local community has set up boat tours for tourists (prices per group of 1 to 4 people). A good opportunity to observe the many hippos here. You can go to Gelila Island (1h30 tour) or Tullu Guddu Island (half-day trip), which is very pleasant. Nice 1-hour walk on the island. Birdwatchers will be able to observe hundreds of birds on Bird Island on the way back, including pelicans. You can picnic and eat fish on the island, but negotiate the price beforehand. A few craft stands in the harbour.

The community of guides from the villages of the Lasta mountains offers fair-tourism treks, mainly in the Abuna Youssef massif. The money goes directly back to the communities, guides and rangers, since it's their own families who host you during your trek. The team speaks English and is super-professional. We recommend Fentaw as a friendly, experienced ranger, and Masrescha as a French-speaking guide. Several treks are possible, from two to seven days.

This young team of 20 local guides has created its own trekking structure, supported by the municipality and a few expatriates who helped them set up the project. The 6-day trek is exclusively camping, which is cheaper than the huts offered by Tesfa Community, but also colder! You need to be equipped for the extreme temperatures at night in the high mountains. You won't be integrated into village communities; this is purely a trek.

Tommy is a Hamer guide, deeply involved in the Turmi Guides Association, who will take you to various tribes in the region. He can guide you to the Hamer, particularly during the Oukouli ceremonies, as well as to the Karo, a little further along the trail. He speaks excellent English and can find you 4 x 4s to rent in Turmi, or accompany you on a one-way trip if you're on a tour, or with more economical motorcycle cabs.