Boundless Ethiopia

My 3 daughters and I just spent 10 wonderful days travelling around NW region of Ethiopia and we used Boundless Ethiopia to organise our trip.
I cannot recommend their services enough, everything was faultlessly planned to the detail; there was not a single hiccup in these 10 days, despite changing hotels 7 times and some last minute requests from our part. Hans and his team are meticulous and extremely efficient, and communication was very easy. Our guides were passionate and knowledgeable, we had a fantastic time and are already thinking of returning….

From the moment I contacted Boundless I felt comfortable with Hans and the Boundless team. I contacted four local tour operators to organize a month+ long Ethiopian experience and Boundless quickly rose to the top. Boundless was responsive and creative, helping us craft an itinerary which hit the highlights of Ethiopia’s incredible diversity, included hiking, cultural interaction, the endemic wildlife and a homestay. We had a single driver, Tadesse, throughout the trip (along with a couple flights), who was a pleasure to travel with, and after a month together, felt like buds – found us good eats (we prefer local cuisine to lodge eating), provided Ethiopian insight and kept us moving – it was a long trip for Tadesse. The highlight of the trip was a three day trek in the Lalibela Highlands where we did our homestay – fantastic family, beautiful scenery and a look at local life in the highlands. Post trip, the only thing I would consider changing is taking a few down days along the way – Ethiopia is a big country with a lot of driving. You will enjoy a great adventure to Ethiopia with Boundless.

Just back from this amazing trip — thank you Hans!!!

My husband and I went on a 34-day private and customized tour through Ethiopia, organized by Boundless Ethiopia. After researching tour companies more than one year in advance of our trip, I selected Boundless and am very glad I did! From the early planning stages and through the many back-and-forth emails, Hans was extremely responsive, knowledgeable and helpful. My husband and I are in our late 60’s and although we are experienced world travelers, we knew this was going to be an ambitious trip. But from the start, I had confidence that we would be well taken care of — and we were!

We had one driver for the north (Yordonis) and one for the bulk of our trip which included the south (Gitch). Both were very safe drivers and wonderful companions. The cars were comfortable and well equipped for road travel in Ethiopia.

Most of our trip was with Getahun (Gitch) and I can’t say enough about how great he was! He paid close attention to our well being and was always one step ahead in making sure our needs (and wants) were met. He truly is a professional guide and although we had always had a local guide at every stop, Gitch provided further information, insights and tips. He even took us to a Rift Valley wine store so we could stock up and enjoy wine in our room before dinners. When one of the hotels made a mistake in our room assignment (twin beds instead of one double and a lower category room) he was swift to sort out the problem and also reconfirm the remaining hotels to ensure we had correct room assignments. Hitch’s English is excellent and he was a wonderful travel companion. Thank you for everything you did to make our trip so wonderful, Gitch!!!

Two months before our trip, we decided to add in Axum and Tigray. Hans had originally suggested that region be part of our itinerary, but we had wanted to cut out the longer drives. Hans quickly responded with a revised itinerary that made this possible, including an additional flight to cut back driving time, without changing the date of our stay in Lalibela so we would be there for Timkat.

Another change occurred during the trip when I was experiencing some mild altitude-related health issues and needed to cancel our 3-day trek in Lalibela. I sent an email to Mariamawit in the Addis office and she responded immediately with several viable options for alternatives. I selected our preference and the change occurred seamlessly.

Hans’ suggested hotels were wonderful – highlights being, Korkor Lodge, Limalimo, Eco Omo Lodge (basic but very comfortable and well run), and Bale Mountain Lodge.

Highlights of the trip: Tigray and Axum – stunning scenery and historical sights, like being back in time 1,000 years; Lalibela is a must and glad we were there for the Timkat festivities; Simeon Mountains and the gelada monkies; Omo Valley – so different from the north, visits to tribes, local markets and experiencing the bull jumping ceremony. Everywhere we travelled people were friendly and excited to welcome tourists.

My husband and I have travelled to over 50 countries on six continents. This was our first extended trip where we went through a tour company and had a private driver. We are glad we did and very glad we selected Boundless. If you are considering touring this amazing country I would encourage you not to wait too long. Like many places, it will not be the same 5-10 years from now. It is a country rich in history, culture and scenic beauty. It is also a country like no other as western influences are hardly seen.

Without reservation, I give Hans/Boundless Ethiopia my strongest recommendation. You can trust that he will make your trip to Ethiopia the trip of a lifetime!