Ethiopian Experiences
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All the tours information
** We ask every guest travelling with us to take the time to read carefully what follows ...
First of all, an all-important question for you to answer ...
Are these tours the right ones for me?
Our Ethiopian Experiences itineraries are designed to appeal to a wide range of interests and cater for guests of all ages who want to explore some of the most fascinating countries in Africa, in comfort and safety at all times. Our long and varied experience in Ethiopia and our growing experience in both Madagascar and Kenya mean that you will have an amazing time, in beautiful countries,
with hugely welcoming people.
Let us remind you that we not only run escorted group tours at certain times of the year, but we also cater for those who prefer to travel on their own, with a partner or friend, or as a group of friends or associates
at any time of the year.
For our group tours, we limit the numbers to about eight guests in order to keep things personal and intimate. It is part of a tour leader's skill to adapt quickly to the needs of the group as a whole and to the individuals within that group.
And in that respect, we think we can claim to be particularly skilful.
See 'Our tour testimonials' on the 'Our tours' menu above
to read what people say about us.
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And remember that, by coming with us, you are automatically making a significant donation to Ethiopian Experiences supported charities and helping some very needy people in Ethiopia to live more effectively and happily.
You are having a great time touring with us while helping and supporting some of individuals who need help the most.
Hotels
With more than twelve years of touring experience, we have clearly learnt that even the most adventurous guests appreciate returning to a safe and comfortable base each evening. The hotels we choose for our guests are always comfortable, peaceful and welcoming. We go out of our way to provide a special place of retreat in each of the towns where we sleep.
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Please note: While we plan and confirm all arrangements well in advance of every tour, there can occasionally be times when changes are needed at short notice. We try to adhere to the published details whenever possible but we reserve the right to adjust elements for the general good of the guests if and when necessary.
Food and restaurants
The cost of each tour includes all meals and coffee stops en route. Only alcoholic drinks and extra food items need to be funded individually. You will be welcome to choose from a great variety of traditional local food whenever you wish to and we shall certainly make sure you have been introduced to the local dishes if they are new to you. But otherwise you can expect to find a wide range of international cuisine wherever we dine - excellent fish dishes; all sorts of pasta offerings; egg dishes; chicken, lamb and beef dishes. The standard of cuisine in Madagascar is particularly fine, thanks to many decades of French influence. If you have vegetarian leanings, you will certainly not be disappointed in any of the countries we visit. We tend to take breakfast around 8am so as to be ready to start the day's activities at 9am. We try to finish those activities somewhere between 4 and 5pm to give free time before dinner, which usually takes place at around 7pm.​
Please note: These are the basic intentions - the reality has to remain flexible and responsive.
Transport
When we are not flying high over dramatic countryside, moving between major centres, we usually travel in our own fleet of high quality Toyota tourist vehicles, either the larger Toyota High Roofs or the smaller Toyota Landcruiser 4x4s. In places where we have short urban trips to accomplish, we might occasionally use the local public transport - sometimes an adventure in itself! And for shorter countryside trips, we might well use rather more down-to-earth vehicles that are still carefully chosen for their roadworthiness.
On our lengthy Madagascan Odyssey road trip, we use roomy and comfortable tourist vehicles with large uncluttered windows to maximise the touring experience for every guest, the vehicles and their drivers staying with us throughout the main road-trip.
Itineraries
The itinerary for each of our tours can be found on the relevant tour page accessed via the drop-down menus above.
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Please note: While we make every attempt to adhere to the advertised arrangements for each tour, flexibility and responsiveness to local conditions is always necessary and we reserve the right to flex details in order to create a successful and enjoyable tour. This can apply to all aspects - routes, activities, schedules, hotels and transportation. In every case such changes will only be applied to ensure the best experience for our guests.
Safety
Ethiopia has, for much of the last twenty-five years, shown itself to be one of the most stable and welcoming of African countries for the visiting tourist. Unfortunately, that reliable record has been broken rather frequently recently, and we keep a very sharp eye on political and social developments at all times. We monitor local news on a daily basis and automatically receive any postings from the UK Foreign Office as soon as they are issued. We would only go ahead with a tour if and when we felt that things were peaceful and safe in the areas through which we travel. If anything of note were to occur, we would expect to know about it long before it became a problem.
Both Madagascar and Kenya have been largely peaceful and stress-free for tourism in recent times.
We ourselves travel in all these countries on a regular basis and can assure you of a warm and friendly welcome wherever you go. All three countries are very special places indeed.
To read more information about personal safety and individual responsibilities
relating to our tours, click here.
To see the fairly standard list of disclaimers that you will be asked to agree to
when you join us for a tour, click here.
Health matters
During more than ten years of organising and accompanying tours, we have never experienced anything worse with our guests than an occasional tummy upset or mild allergic reaction (and the very rare tumble that has needed some gentle patching up). The standard sets of inoculations for these countries are to be thoroughly recommended and we shall update you with further specific thoughts during the preparation stage for each tour. If any of the countries were to insist on any specific health protection measures, we would make sure to inform you prior to departure. In general terms, your doctor must be your main source of advice in all matters medical.
Booking process
As soon as you are ready to go ahead and reserve a place on one of our tours, you get in touch with us via the form at the bottom of this page, telling us briefly your contact details and which tour you have chosen. As soon as we have received your message, we shall get back to you and welcome you to that tour. From there on, we shall guide you through every step - transferring your deposit, lodging your personal details with us, and so on.​
To see full details of our booking process, click here
Finances
When you are ready to reserve a place on one of our tours, we ask you to transfer the standard deposit of £200 per person. All tour finances are securely placed in a Barclays holding account in the UK until just before departure. After the deposit has been paid, the balance of the cost is welcome at any time up to one month before the tour begins.
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Please note that we impose no single supplement on our tours. We do invite individuals to share twin rooms if they are happy to do so and this often results in a more spacious and airy room for their comfort. On tours with particularly small numbers of guests, this also allows the budgeting to work successfully. But the ultimate decision is made by each individual guest without pressure of any sort.
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Every guest is encouraged to arrange suitable personal insurance for themselves and we ask to be informed of the basic details prior to any tour.
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To learn about our cancellation policies, click here
Flights
We usually organise all the flight bookings for guests as a single package. We often use the well-respected and reasonably economical Ethiopian Airlines or Kenyan Airways. For tours in Ethiopia, we are able, by using the same national carrier for both international and domestic flights, to get the latter discounted to half price.
All flights are ATOL covered. Flights are usually reserved as soon as the tour is confirmed, and guests are then asked to transfer the flight cost as promptly as possible to secure the prices obtained. We use very reliable and efficient flight agents who have been our partners for many years.
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Visas
A reliable online facility now exists for obtaining tourist visas in advance of travel for both Ethiopia and Kenya. Indeed, at the time of writing, the online visa-in-advance for those two countries was the only option. It is somewhat tricky to accomplish however, and we shall be happy to deal with this process on your behalf if you wish us to do so.
Madagascar has a very straightforward visa-on-arrival facility and we shall make sure that all guests understand the process prior to the trip.
Extra information documents for this page
Personal safety and
individual responsibilities
Personal responsibilities and suitability of individual tour elements
​We have no stated maximum or minimum age for guests who accompany us on our tours. It is for each guest to make their own decision as to their physical suitability for the activities included on the itinerary. We shall always be as clear as possible in our descriptions of such activities, but it is up to each guest to decide whether or not to take part in each element of a tour and to take personal responsibility for their inclusion in each of those elements. If any particular tour element has a significant level of danger or extreme effort associated with it (a very unusual and unlikely situation in most of our tours) we shall make sure that all guests are clearly aware of this prior to the activity so that they may take personal responsibility for their inclusion in such activity.​
In the exceptional circumstance of an activity requiring a level of personal fitness that your tour leaders consider particularly demanding, we reserve the right to decide at our sole discretion whether such an activity is suitable for an individual guest on a case-by-case basis. Tour descriptions will identify well in advance any such challenging activities
​(2) Expertise of leaders and facilitators
All of our in-country staff are fully insured for the activities under their control. Ethiopian Experiences does everything in its power to ensure competence in both its own plans and actions and in the competence and suitability of any third parties used to facilitate tours – tour leaders, guides, drivers, hotel owners, local experts, etc. Local insurance is a compulsory element for all those in-country offering services to tour guests.
​(3) Delays​
Please be aware that delays outside of our control are a distinct possibility when travelling in such environments, whether involving variance in transportation schedules, delays in food provision in restaurants, lateness in availability of hotel rooms, problematic arrival of baggage after flights, etc. No financial compensation would be due in any such cases, but your tour leaders would of course endeavour to make the very best of any such situations.
​(4) Insurance
We remind every guest that it is their responsibility to ensure a good level of personal insurance for their trip, informing us of the basic policy details prior to departure.
​Please note:
At the time of booking a tour with 'Ethiopian Experiences' we shall ask you to read and agree to a short list of standard disclaimers, a process used by almost every tour company. If you would like to read those disclaimers now, please read below.
Disclaimers:
Please read the following with care.
Once you have done that, we shall ask you to confirm that you will be happy to add your hand-written signature at the bottom of this document just as soon as we meet up at the start of the tour.
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By booking this tour, you acknowledge and agree to each of the following:
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Risk of Injury: You understand and accept the inherent risks associated with adventurous activities and travel. The tour company shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, or death arising from your participation in the tour, except in cases of proven gross negligence.
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Physical fitness: Our tours can occasionally involve individual activities of a more physically demanding nature. You confirm that you are in good physical and mental health, suitable for this tour. Should there be any doubt about any individual elements, please talk to us beforehand and we will endeavour to offer you alternatives for those activities. In the exceptional circumstance of an activity requiring a level of personal fitness that your tour leaders consider particularly demanding, we reserve the right to decide at our sole discretion whether such an activity is suitable for an individual guest on a case-by-case basis. Tour descriptions will identify well in advance any such challenging activities.
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Personal Belongings: You are responsible for the safekeeping of your personal belongings. The tour company is not liable for any loss or damage to personal items.
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Weather Conditions: You understand that weather conditions can change and may affect the itinerary. The tour company reserves the right to modify or even cancel elements of any tour due to inclement weather.
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Insurance: You must obtain appropriate travel and medical insurance to cover any unforeseen circumstances.
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Cancellation Policies: You agree to the tour company's terms and conditions for cancellations and refunds as shown here on this webpage, below.
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Local Laws and Customs: Guests are responsible for adhering to the local laws and customs that prevail in the country of your visit.
(To be signed by hand at the beginning of your tour)
I have read and am happy to sign my agreement with these disclaimers.
Your name ………………………………………….
Your signature …………………………………….
The booking process
for scheduled small-group tours
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You decide which group tour you would like to join. Details of each tour are here on our website.​ Click on the 'Our tours' tab above.
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​If you have further questions, start by looking at our Frequently Asked Questions page - click on the 'FAQs' tab above. ​
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If you would still like to chat with us about anything, you can email us using info@ethiopianexperiences.com or you can phone us on +44 7890 407353
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You decide which group tour you would like to join. Details of each tour are here on our website. Click on the 'Our tours' tab above
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​​If you have further questions, start by looking at our Frequently Asked Questions page - click on the 'FAQs' tab above.
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​​If you would still like to chat with us about anything, you can email us using info@ethiopianexperiences.com or you can phone us on +44 7890 407353.​​
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Once you are happy to proceed, use the form at the bottom of any webpage to reserve your place. ​​
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We shall get back to you promptly to confirm receipt of your booking. For cancellation policies, click here - Cancellation policies​
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​We shall ask you to transfer the standard deposit of £200 to reserve your place.
For bank transfer details, see FAQs (above) > Money matters > 02
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​​If you are a couple or a group of friends, we shall be able to confirm your tour immediately. ​
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If you are a single traveller reserving your place on a new guest list, we shall be happy to accept their booking, but we might briefly need to delay the confirmation of the group tour until such time as we have at least one other person on the guest list. But that said, we are often able to confirm the tour immediately, with no private tour supplement being asked for in this special case.​
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Once a tour has been confirmed, we shall remain in contact with you, giving you regular updates on how the tour preparation is going. ​
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We shall ask you for some basic personal details for our records - contact details, health and diet requirements, etc.​
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As we get nearer to the date of departure, we shall help you to book your flights. We shall let you know when this is about to happen and tell you the cost details. ​
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We use a well-trusted agent here in the UK who manages all bookings for us. All flights are ATOL covered. ​
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Very soon after this, we shall ask you to transfer the necessary flight finances promptly so that we do not lose the reserved booking.​
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As we get even closer to the departure date, we shall send you regular and fulsome tour notes to provide you with all the necessary information to prepare you for the trip.​
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The final payment for your tour may be transferred at any time before a deadline of one calendar month prior to departure.)
Cancellation policies and
other financial matters
(1) Deposits
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An initial deposit of £200 is required from each guest to confirm their place on a tour with us.
(2) Confirmation of tours
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We confirm all tours immediately, provided we have a minimum of two guests travelling with us. If you are a solo traveller and the first person to book for any group tour, we shall be happy to accept your booking, but we might briefly need to delay the confirmation of the group tour until such time as we have at least one other person on the guest list. But that said, in practice we are often able to confirm the tour immediately, with no private tour supplement being asked for.
(3) Refunds
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With the exception of a situation where only one person has requested to join a tour, some or all of the initial deposit is non-refundable as per notes 5 and 6 below. Where only one guest has asked to join a tour and where no confirmation has been issued, the deposit will be refunded to that guest at least 30 days prior to the proposed tour commencement date.
(4) Payment of tour balance
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The balance of the tour cost will be required from each guest at least 30 days prior to departure.
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(5) Cancellation by the guest
If a guest cancels a booking, cancellation fees (shown below) will apply, such cancellation only coming into effect upon the receipt of written confirmation from the guest by us.
If a place is cancelled for a confirmed tour:
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60 days or more prior to departure, 50% of the deposit will be forfeited.
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between 31 and 59 days prior to departure, 100% of the deposit shall be forfeited.
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30 days or fewer prior to departure, 100% of the total tour cost shall be forfeited.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Where a guest chooses to change tours rather than cancel, and given that this comes into effect at least 30 days before the commencement of the original tour, we shall happily facilitate this, subject to a £100 administrative fee.
**Personal insurance
It is each guest's individual responsibility to provide themselves with personal insurance if they wish to cover the potential financial loss caused by late cancellation.
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(6) Cancellation by Ethiopian Experiences.
An unconfirmed tour may be cancelled by us at any time. Should a confirmed tour be cancelled by us for reasons outside of our control, including (but not limited to) terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other factors which may prevent us from running that tour, a guest may either
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transfer all paid funds to a future tour date or
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receive a full refund of finances already paid to us for the cost of the tour itself.
We are not responsible for any other costs that a guest may have incurred associated with this booking, including (but not limited to) flights, visas, vaccinations and insurance.