Exclusive Ethiopia was born from a fortuitous meeting between international travel specialist Tamara Britten and Ethiopian expert Mulugeta Ababu. Combining their expertise, Tamara and Mulie created a company offering the finest customer experience. Their company is grounded in research and they have visited every destination, site and hotel they offer. They discuss their specific wishes with every client and put together carefully crafted itineraries for each individual booking. Whether their client wants the budget or the boutique, whether their interests lie in historical sites or national parks, whether they enjoy relaxing on a boat or climbing up a cliff, Exclusive Ethiopia designs the holiday that suits them.
Ethiopia has a wealth of enticing sites that make it unique even in the diverse continent of Africa. The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, built in the twelfth century and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are familiarly known as the Eighth Wonder of the World. The castles of Gondar, built by a succession of emperors, are so striking they’re referred to as the Camelot of Africa. The monasteries of Lake Tana, on the islands and peninsulas of the lake, are vividly painted with Biblical stories. The stelae of Axum and the Queen of Sheba’s palace are ancient sites dating back to the expansive Axumite Empire. The astonishing cliffs of Tigrey have churches cut into their peaks; scaling the cliffs is exhilarating and the views from the peaks are spellbinding. Bale Mountains, Simien Mountains and Awash National Park all provide stimulating trekking and are home to rare species of birds and mammals. The Danakil Depression is a moonscape like nowhere else, with fluorescent bubbling sulphur, gleaming salt lakes and temperatures that can hit 50 degrees, while the live volcano Erta Ale, climbed at night, spurts a spectacular fountain of crimson lava.
Having worked around the world in places as far afield as Thailand, Hong Kong and Namibia, Tamara has a wealth of experience of the international tourism industry. She researched and wrote Karibu Kenya Accommodation Guide, a guidebook to Kenya endorsed by the Kenya Tourist Board, the Kenya Tourism Federation and the Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association. She currently writes for a number of local and international publications and specialises in features about Kenya and Ethiopia. Tamara established the Karibu Kenya bookings platform, offering tailormade holidays in Kenya then, with Mulie, established Exclusive Ethiopia.
Mulugeta Ababu was born in Lalibela and studied at Lion Ethiopia in Addis, Ethiopia’s premier higher education institute in the field of Tourism and Hotel Management. He graduated with two diplomas, one in Ethiopian History and the other in Tour Guiding and Tour Operation. Prior to that he was a deacon in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for ten years, making him an authority not only on the religion’s traditions, customs and beliefs, but on the many religious sites around the country. With likeminded tourism professionals, Mulie established the Addis Ababa Tour Guides Association with the aim of protecting the tourism industry and guaranteeing the professionalism of tour guides; he was the association’s first chairman and remains on the board to this day. Mulie’s immense knowledge, love for his country and quirky humour benefit all who travel with him.
Tamara and Mulie’s handpicked team of professional tour specialists, guides and drivers is second to none. Qualified and experienced, they all have that extra something, that care for the client, that devotion to their country, that makes for a very special experience.
Exclusive Ethiopia believes strongly in ecotourism. The company has a no plastic policy, minimises waste, promotes eco-lodges and offsets the carbon footprint of flights. Keen to nurture ecotourism in Ethiopia, Exclusive Ethiopia encourages other tour operators and holiday providers to adopt these policies and offers advice and suggestions for implementing them. The company believes that tourism should benefit the country and is committed to giving back to Ethiopia. Exclusive Ethiopia supports a number of schools in remote regions of the country and donates to literacy programmes and animal welfare projects.
Exclusive Ethiopia is dedicated to yoga and wellness. Tamara, a yoga teacher, believes strongly in the benefits of yoga and is committed to making it available to a wider audience. With sister company Karibu Kenya, Exclusive Ethiopia offers yoga and wellness retreats in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The companies work with a number of experienced yoga teachers to provide a selection of inspiring retreats including silent retreats, yoga holidays, yoga teacher training courses, and health and nutrition retreats. Some retreats are immersive, focusing on enhancing the participants’ yoga practice or giving them a complete break from talking or social media. Some offer a specific field of yoga: ashtanga, aerial, vinyasa, SUP or more. Others incorporate yoga into a holiday. Safaris, beach holidays, historical sites and adventure holidays can all be combined with yoga and wellness retreats.
Exclusive Ethiopia is committed to offering more innovative and exciting trips in the future. Some of the holidays they’re likely to offer in 2020 include a trip around the historic sites of northern Ethiopia with yoga sessions at scenic spots, a photographic safari to the tribes of the south led by a professional photographer who will teach the skills of photography during the trip, and a coffee tasting tour of Ethiopia’s famed coffee plantations and coffee processing houses. Watch this space to visit Ethiopia with the team that knows it best, and gain local insights into this fascinating country.
LUX Life, 28 March 2020
Published also in: LUX Life
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia, the country’s largest city, and site of the headquarters of the African Union. Highlights include Entoto Mountain on which stands the Palace of Menelik II, the National Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, Trinity Cathedral, St George Cathedral, Merkato and the Piazza.
Read more about Addis and SurroundingsThis remote and remarkable region includes the scalding and volcanically active Danakil Depression, with colourful bubbling sulphur, desiccated salt lakes and the live Erte Ale volcano. Also in the region is Awash National Park and the Islamic walled city of Harar.
Read more about EasternThe historic north is home to what are arguably Ethiopia’s most popular sites. The legendary historic route includes Bahir Dar, Gondar, Axum, Lalibela and Gheralta. The region also includes Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile, and the Simien Mountains, with Ethiopia’s highest peaks and most diverse wildlife.
Read more about NorthernEthiopia’s south is perhaps best known for the tribes who dwell here, particularly around the Omo Valley, who live according to their traditional customs. The region is also known for the Bale Mountains National Park, and for the chain of lakes that stud the Rift Valley.
Read more about Southern