Ethiopia Transport - Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somaliland - page 693

Tours
For the independent traveller, incorporating an organised tour into your travels in Ethiopia
is useful for four things: specialised activities such as safaris; access to remote regions
with limited public transport such as the Lower Omo Valley or the Danakil Depression;
'themed trips' (such as birdwatching) with expert guides; and to help those with limited
time who are keen to see as much as possible.
»If you're interested in taking a tour, contact the agencies in advance and compare itiner-
aries and prices.
»To reduce the cost of tours (few are cheap), hook up with a group of other travellers, or
contact the agency far in advance to see if there are pre-arranged tours that you can tag
onto. You'll need to be flexible with your dates. The Thorn Tree forum on the Lonely
Planet website is an ideal place to hook up with other travellers.
»Agencies offer all or some of the following: guides, 4WD hire, camping-equipment hire,
Historical Route tours, birdwatching and wildlife viewing, Omo Valley tours, photo safar-
is, Simien and Bale Mountain trekking, Rift Valley Lake trips, and Danakil and Afar ex-
cursions. Some have branches in towns outside Addis Ababa, from where (if prebooked)
you can hire a 4WD or guide or take a tour.
»Though prices are officially fixed, most are very open to negotiation, particularly during
the low season. Many agencies now accept credit cards (with a 2% to 3% commission).
The following list is far from exhaustive, but it includes those recommended by travellers
and Ethiopians in the tourism industry.
Abeba Tours Ethiopia Offline map Google map ( 0115 159530;
www.abebatoursethiopia.com ; Ras Hotel, Gambia St, Addis Ababa) Friendly and very
professional, this operator seems to go the extra mile for its customers. It organises gener-
al tours throughout the country. The drivers they use are about the best in the business. If
travelling by jeep is just too rough for you then they can also organise helicopter tours!
Ethiopian Quadrants Offline map Google map ( 0115 157990;
www.ethiopianquadrants.com ; near Adwa Bridge, Addis Ababa) Respected and very
well-managed tour company run by knowledgeable staff. All the standard tours as well as
birdwatching, butterfly, flower and coffee tours.
Four Seasons Travel & Tours Offline map Google map ( 0116 613121;
www.fstatours.com ; Bole Rd, Addis Ababa) A reasonable outfit offering all the standard
tours. Reader recommended.