Community Home stays

Invariably, people who enjoy a little light adventure and who want to veer away from the well-trodden tourist routes, ask about Community village home stays when planning a trip to Ethiopia. One organisation which has excelled in creating and offering such trips, is TESFA. Founded by Mark Chapman (British) who has a deep love for the country, well managed home stays are now offered in the Wollo region around Lalibela; the Adigrat region in Tigray (nearest airport is Mekelle) and also more recently, in the Simien Mountains National Park area. TESFA supported the Community Tourism Guiding Enterprise, which is linked to the guiding sites, to become its own independent business and since then the concept and operation have flourished.

We recommend anything from 2 - 7 nights or even more, depending on your interests and fitness levels. For the most part, you'll be walking from village to village where you then stay overnight in the guest 'tukuls' (huts). During the days, aside from enjoying utterly magnificent scenery, you'll get to know about everyday life of the rural Ethiopian people in whichever region you choose to explore; sometimes witness events which very few 'westerners' ever get to see such as 'gooks', a kind of jousting sport on horseback. Your host families may invite you to join in with preparing dinner, in the process delivering a cooking lesson.

As possible routes vary in length and grading, discuss with us what you would find suitable, and we will supply recommendations and make the arrangements for you.