Client Tour Reviews 2009
Reviews by clients of cultural, historical, wildlife, sight-seeing and adventure tours taken in
Ethiopia and organized by Highway Tours in 2009.
Clare Nicholls writes:
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The Simien Mountains were breathtaking and the lodge is a haven. Lalibela
lives up to and supasses expectations.
We were very lucky to see two important festivals taking part in the churches. It was incredibly special to see
the churches as living places of worship and not mere tourist sites.
Ethiopia is an extraordinary country, with a deep, rich heritage and Ethiopians are incredibly
civilised, dignified and welcoming.
One of the best trips of my life.
A brilliant country but the trip was really made by our agent, Eskinda I cannot stress how professional and
considerate he was throughout the holiday. Read the fullreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Clare Nicholls
London, England.
Places Visited Nov 03 - Nov 21, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Lalibela, Axum,
Tigray Churches
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Alexander Hoare writes:
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It takes a certain leap of faith to book a holiday and send lots of money
to someone you don't know. In our case we knew Eskinder was vetted by Responsible Tourism.
We drew some reassurance from his speedy and intelligent responses to our numerous and varied
queries, and eventually took the leap.
Anyway, he met us in the airport on arrival, and he and his affiliates
looked after us perfectly, and we had a wonderful holiday in Ethiopia.
The country has much more to offer than I realised. In the end, it was the
countryside which made the greatest impression on me - but that's not to demean the history and /or the
churches.
Alexander S. Hoare
London, England.
Places Visited Nov 03 - Nov 21, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Lalibela, Axum,
Tigray Churches
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Ryan Fowler writes:
It was a good holiday, one of those holidays that the more you look back on it, the more amazing you realize
the country is.
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We were really excited to see the Ethiopian wolf! Bisangari lodge was
beautiful......watching the sunset over the lake, watching the sea eagles and pied kingfishers fish and playing
cards with our guides in the tree bar.
Don't try to do too much. Travelling on hot dusty bumpy roads is really
tiring so trying to cover large areas of Ethiopia is really ambitious. We really liked the Dorze, Konso and Ari
village tours.
The guides were local to the area, we ate at local places and bought from
local shops.
It was a good holiday, one of those holidays that the more you look back
on it, the more amazing you realize the country is. However, it was really tiring and the facilities are not
always the best, therefore if we did it again we would have travelled less and spent more time in specific
areas.
I have to say though that our guide and driver were great and really
looked after us. Read the fullreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Ryan Fowler
London, England.
Places Visited Nov 5 - Nov 19, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Rift valley lakes, Netch-Sar National Park, lower Omo valley tribes, Bale Mountains National
Park
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Geoffrey White writes:
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Dear Eskinder,
Many thanks for a great holiday it exceeds all our expectations. And much of it was due to your organization
and guides, with your personal input being the major factor!
We are spreading the word about Ethiopia and about Highway Tours in particular, and I think it quite likely
that you may see people from Argyll next year and from further a field.
Again, many thanks and best regards..
Geoffrey White
Hazelwood, Port Appin, Argyll, Scotland.
Places Visited 13 Oct - 26 Oct, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela, Harar
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James and Janet Hall write:
Eskinder and his staff did an outstanding job of introducing us to the history and culture of this ancient
and unique civilization.
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We only had a limited time in Ethiopia and made arrangements very late in
our Africa trip planning. In spite of these challenges, Highway Tours did a fine job and we had a great tour.
We visited Bahirdar, Gonder, Lalibela, and Addis Ababa over a period of six days.
We flew some parts of the tour and traveled by road on others. The Highway tours staff was prompt, attentive,
and knowledgeable.
Accommodations and food were better than in many other third-world countries. We rested and ate
well.
In spite of our short time in Ethiopia, Eskinder and his staff did an outstanding job of
introducing us to the history and culture of this ancient and unique civilization.
We visited the magnificent rock churches of Lalibela, the ruined palaces
in Gonder, the island churches and the Blue Nile in Bahirdar, and the museums in Addis Ababa.
We also saw a lot of the countryside and, because of the openness of the guides, learned about the culture and
daily lives of Ethiopians.
Two highlights of our visit were (1) a traditional dinner with Highway Tour's staff in an Addis Ababa
restaurant which featured a magnificent exhibition of Ethiopian dances and (2) a coffee ceremony with a local
guide in his home.
James and Janet Hall
Los Alamos, NM, USA.
Places Visited 16 Oct - 21 Oct, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Lalibela
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Rae A. Schmidt writes:
I have traveled on every continent except Antarctica and this tour was my best tour experience ever.
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First of all, I want to apologize for not getting back to you sooner. As
you know I have been in Tanzania for the past month. Internet access was almost impossible while I was
there.
Now I am home......
Thank you for a wonderful Ethiopian experience. And yes, I have been enjoying the Ethiopian coffee you gave me.
Thank you for that also. Please edit and use this in any way you want...
I have traveled on every continent except Antarctica and this tour was my best tour experience ever. Ethiopia
has many unknown treasures which were a delight to discover.
The guides did all that one would expect, and then more. It was their extra efforts which set them apart from
ordinary guides.
Mr. Eskinder's personal attention made me feel that he wanted us to have a good time and my tour wasn't just a
job for him.
I highly recommend his company. If anyone would like to contact me for more information, please feel free to
do. so
[Contact Highway Tours for Mr Schmidt's email address]
Rae A. Schmidt
Woodside, Ca, USA.
Places Visited Sep 21 - Sep 27, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Lalibela, Axum
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Kay DeWeese writes:
We were so pleased with the care an attention from Highway Tours ... Every anticipation and expectation was
more than met.
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Hello Mr. Eskinder,
Recently I printed out my pictures from our wonderful tour of Ethiopia and relived the fascinating and
enriching tour with your company.
We were so pleased with the care an attention from Highway Tours. Your web site and your prompt and complete
responses to our questions put us at ease as we anticipated our tour.
Every anticipation and expectation was more than met.
Ethiopia deserves a greater share of the world's attention.
The rich rewards are so great one forgives the inconveniences of travel in this part of the world. I was amazed
by the vibrant green teff and rice fields, the beautiful mountains with wild flowers, and the smiling and
helpful people we met in the hotels and airports.
The guides along the way met us at each airport, escorted us to the hotel and to the various sites we wished to
see.
I especially enjoyed the unplanned experiences they provided such as the coffee ceremony with Meleza in the
home in Bahirdar, and seeing the bread and injera preparations along the city street.
The boat ride across Lake Tana to the 14th century church was a delightful experience. Seeing the hippos
bathing in the head waters at the Blue Nile was an added delight. The drive from Bahirdar to Gonder was an
opportunity to see the towns and countryside with bright yellow muscal flowers blooming along the way.
In Gonder our guide Getachew was a rich source of history and fascinating stories about the region and the
antiquities.
He's a bright story teller.
All along the way the weather was ideal, pleasantly warm.
The Tukul Hotel in Lalibela was so nice with books on birds, history of the area, and novels to exchange.. The
excavated churches there were amazing and caused me to repeatedly ponder, "How did they possibly do that ?"
As we left Axum the town was being visited by hundreds of white clad pilgrims coming for the Meskel festival.
Many were carrying huge bouquets of yellow Meskel flowers and many wore haloes of greenery on their heads.
It was a sight out of National Geographic.
The Ethnographic Museum in Addis was another highlight as was the National University Museum to see the
skeleton of "LUCY".
The concluding dinner and musical at the Abyssinian restaurant was a fitting close to the memorable tour you
provided for us. Eating injera with you and Girma while watching the musicians and dancers was an unexpected
delight. Thank you for all your efforts on our behalf.
As we parted Rae asked you, "What were your goals for your company ?" You replied, "To make friends with my
clients."
You more than succeeded!!
We are enjoying the coffee and I thank you again for that lingering delight of Ethiopia and your kindness to
us.
Kay DeWeese
Haleiwa, HI, USA.
Places Visited Sep 21 - Sep 27, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Lalibela, Axum
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Mark and Diane Williams write:
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Highway Tours really took time to specifically organize something me and
my husband spoke of, even though it's out of the ordinary for tour companies to do something like
that.
Eskinder took great care of us and my husband and I will always remember
what a great time we had contributing to Ethiopia !
Do not go for just ANY tour company! In a foreign place, you just don't
know who you will end up with or what kind of events will be worth your money. My husband and I are really
happy we chose Highway Tours.
I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD IN ETHIOPIA. From the food
to the intimate tours - there was detailed attention put into every aspect of our trip. It was within budget
AND we had an AMAZING time !
We had the opportunity to participate in socially aware events such as the
World Food Walk. We visited natural scenery and local villages. Ethiopia has really tried to keep its
originality.
Our tour company was great - they organized amazing hikes at unbelievable
locations. You will have memories and pictures for a lifetime !
5 out of 5!!!!
Our trip was GREAT! Our organizer was SO considerate and thoughtful. We really have Eskinder and the whole
Highway Tour company to thank for our incredible time ! Read the fullreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Mark and Diane Williams
Chicago, USA.
Places Visited May 30 - Jun 08, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Lalibela, Axum.
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Martin Roberts writes:
Some wonderful memories, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend.
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The rock-hewn churches around Lalibela are not only outstandingly
beautiful but a stunning human achievement which has stood the test of time.
The Simiens provided breathtaking scenery, with something a little other
worldly about the shape of the mountains in the distance.
We were particularly keen to book with a locally-based company, and we were glad we did because
Eskinder, who runs Highway Tours, could not have done any better.
He set up an itinerary which we felt was just right for the amount of time
spent in each place, and his guides and drivers were all first class.
Eskinder himself was so concerned that everything went well in Harar that
he took a 12-hour coach ride both ways just to check out his new driver there.
We had been wanting to go to Ethiopia for a long time and we were glad we
finally went. There are so many outstanding and memorable places to visit...
The people are all so welcoming, and there is absolutely no sense of any
danger, either to yourself or your belongings. The finishing touch is the food which will be an unexpected
delight for those not previously acquainted with Ethiopian cuisine, though you will need to develop a liking
for injera.
Read the fullreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Martin Roberts
London, England
Places Visited Apr 05 - Apr 18, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Blue Nile Falls, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Lalibela, Axum, Diredawa, and Harer
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Roger Bradley writes:
We enjoyed our trip tremendously ... editing the video reminded us of how enjoyable it was.
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Eskinder,
We have taken far too long to contact you to express our gratitude for organising our visit to Ethiopia but it
is amazing how time flies when you get home.
We enjoyed our trip tremendously and working our way through the photographs and editing the
video reminded us of how enjoyable it was.
Thank you again Eskinder for your efficient organising, your cheery greeting at the airport and various
locations along the way, your willingness to be flexible and your kindness in allowing Clare’s friends to share
our transport.
We are sorry that we couldn’t have a meal together on our last night, we
had so much to tell you!
We will certainly contact you if we are able to return to Ethiopia again one day. We wish you well with your
endeavours to help with environmental and economic development in your fascinating country.
Read the full story at: Remembering our Ethiopia Travels
Best regards
Ann, Roger and Clare Bradley
Herefordshire, United Kingdom.
Places Visited 2nd - 16th January 2009:
Addis, Bahirdar, Gonder, and Lalibela
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Sandy Topzand writes:
Fascinating, enriching, educational. Changed some of my perceptions about many things. Very enjoyable.
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This trip is really about the people of the country. Being in Lalibela at
the same time as the pilgrims ... brought home the real value of the places ...
It was a fascinating trip though, amazing sights and history and people.
Don't go on this trip without a sense of adventure, a sense of humour, a
lot of patience and the ability to just accept Africa on its own terms.
The place is safe enough and the local guides are excellent.
Water and electricity supplies are unreliable. Don't expect a hot shower
every day, even at the best hotels. The food is fabulous, providing you stick to the local dishes.
Sandy Topzand
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Places Visited Dec 22, 2008 - Jan 02, 2009:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, and Lalibela
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