Contacts:
+251 911 198543 (AM)
+251 921 602236 (EN)
ABOUT THE INITIATIVE
RIDE THE RIFT is a collaborative effort by four Ethiopian tour operators to re-energise Ethiopia’s tourism sector after the Covid-19 crisis and the conflict in Northern Ethiopia. In support of the call of PM Dr. Abiy for the Ethiopian Diaspora around the world to join the Great Ethiopian Home Coming, we have developed some special offers to give the diaspora some great options to get out and enjoy Ethiopia.
Besides showcasing new destinations and activities in this beautiful country, we want to raise funds to support tourism professionals like guides and cooks who have no income since Covid-19 stopped tourism in March 2020. We run some Charity Events fundraising events, and raise additional funds on on longer tours.
We are all passionate about Ethiopia and want to share this by showing you some parts of your home country that you maybe haven't seen yet. Check out our offers below!
ETHIOPIAN DIASPORA TOUR PACKAGES
Gurage Highland & Wonchi Crater
4/5 days
A special package for Diaspora Homecoming! This tour departing every Thursday takes you to one of the most underrated tourist destinations in Ethiopia, yet full of cultural treasures and delicious food: the ever green and peaceful Gurage area.
4 days
Gondar and Gorgora at Lake Tana
Visit the romantic imperial castles and churches of Gondar and Ethiopia’s biggest lake, Hayk Tana, on its northern shore, where the green and quiet oasis Gorgora lies. See some of Ethiopia’s endemic wildlife & beautiful birds.
4 days
Bale Mountains & Lake Langano
Spend 4 days exploring the Bale Mountains, with its plateaus, peaks & wolves, along with the mystical Harena forest. Stop in the Rift Valley at Lake Langano where you can swim and explore the nearby Abjatta Shalla National Park with it's important birdlife.
from 8,100/11,000 ETB
from 14,200 ETB
from 15,500 ETB
Sidama coffee and Lake Langano
4 days
Explore Ethiopia’s Rift Valley lakes until the Sidama coffee region where you can dive into local culture, visit coffee farms and enjoy authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremonies. The perfect ending is Lake Langano where you can bathe among hippos and water birds.
3 days
Ankober & Awash's Hot Springs
See Menelik’s historical palace on the edge of the Rift Valley escarpment, with the expansive Wof Washa forest along its slopes. Drive into the Rift Valley to relax at the hot spring oasis, and see some of Awash Park's wildlife and waterfalls.
3 days
Bahir Dar, Lake Tana & Abay River
Relax in Ethiopia’s lakeside city, and see some of the sacred monasteries found there. Visit the holy source of the Nile at Gish Abay and see the Blue Nile Falls. On this trip you will get to see some of Ethiopia’s holy places, but also impressive wildlife and birdlife.
from 11,800 ETB
from 9,700 ETB
from 12,800 ETB
Community Trek in Wof Washa
3 days
Two nights trekking in Wof Washa forest, staying in community run guesthouses. Set on the slopes of the Rift Valley north of Addis Ababa, this forest is home to Gelada baboons & Colobus monkeys among many other mammals and birds of any kind.
3 days
Relax in Sodere & at Langano
This tour is a mix of spotting some wildlife in Abjatta Shalla NP and a wildlife sanctuary and spending some time relaxing in the hot springs of Sodere and around Lake Langano. With the new expressway driving distances from and to Addis Ababa are really short.
3 days
Short Trip to Gondar & Kossoye
See the romantic castles, churches and other sites in Ethiopia's ancient capital Gondar and visit the steep cliffs around Kossoye just north of Gondar, where we will have a short guided walk along the dramatic escarpments with spectacular views.
from 6,100 ETB
from 8,600 ETB
from 13,600 ETB
Ankober Charity Bike Challenge
3 days
15 months after our 1st charity ride we are staging the 2nd edition of our charity event. Profits from this event are to support local guides & cooks who have had no income since Covid outbreak. We have a rich choice of accommodation and activities to offer.
3 days
Lalibela is Reopening for Genna
See Lalibela, one of the wonders of the world - a labyrinth of subterranean churches hewn excavated in the 12th century. After some difficult months now it's possible and safe to visit Lalibela, and while doing so we support the local people and tourism industry there.
from 11,100 ETB
from 13,400 ETB
DAYTRIPS IN AND AROUND ADDIS ABABA
1 day
Entoto Mountain trails & churches
Ride along the Entoto ridge with its green forests and see the colourful Entoto Raguel church and Entoto Mariam with its palace and museum. Have some refreshments in Entoto park before the enjoyable downhill run to the city. The trip is good for beginners.
1 day
Bike Daytrips around Addis Ababa
We will ride along largely unused gravel and dirt roads, with some easy uphill and great downhill runs. Good for intermediate riders. A lovely day out of the city. Hardtail MTBs available to rent. Picnic lunch and support vehicle provided. Pick up & return is Kebena.
from 1,950 ETB
from 1,950 ETB
USEFUL INFORMATION
HIGHLIGHTS IN JANUARY 2022
Gurage Highland & Wonchi Crater
Departing every Thursday in January 2022
A special package for Diaspora Homecoming! This tour departing every Thursday takes you to one of the most underrated tourist destinations in Ethiopia, yet full of cultural treasures and delicious food: the ever green and peaceful Gurage area. The Gurage culture, from the food to dance, language to handicrafts, kitfo to kojo, is present almost everywhere in Addis Ababa and beyond, yet few people have visited this region, despite being so close to the capital. This tour is not too strenuous; we take you on some easy walks to see the stunning landscape which includes neat villages, beautiful valleys, fresh rivers and green fields and forests. We also will be visiting the well-known monastery Mihur Eyesus Gedam, where on certain dates special celebrations are going on.
from 8,100 ETB
Ethiopian diaspora discount!
Ankober Charity Bike Challenge
28-30 January 2022
About one year after our inaugural charity bike ride which launched Ride The Rift we are staging the second edition of our charity bike ride in Ankober. All profits from this event will be given to support local guides and cooks who have had no income due to the impact of Covid-19. As for last year we have a choice of camping and lodge accommodation and a full weekend of activities culminating with the charity ride and a celebratory lunch at Ankober Palace Lodge. We will be using a different campsite to last year and our ride starts from here. With a smaller elevation gain the route is easier than last year and perfect for mountain biking. We encourage early booking as places are limited and we expect a lot of interest for this trip!
from 11,100 ETB
Ethiopian diaspora discount!
ABOUT US
Five individuals from four local companies have pioneered RIDE THE RIFT: Mark Chapman of Tesfa Tours; Marco Degasper and Christian Sefrin of SimienEcoTours; Bogale Abey of Dynasty Ethiopia Tours; and Richard Nerurkar of Ethio Cycling Holidays.
Between us we have many decades of experience of working in Ethiopia, organising classical, trekking, cycling and running tours and events, and developing community tourism where relationships from village to local government level are carefully managed.
In staging Ride the Rift tours we have brought together the full range of our skills and are committed to opening up more hidden places of Ethiopia to our growing client base and in particular to the Ethiopian Diaspora abroad.
"Ride the Rift events just keep getting better and better. Whisked away to remote Ethiopian wilderness and guided along beautiful cycling tracks, you get an authentic experience of rich Ethiopian culture."
- Will B -
WHY US?
PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Our tour participants have the support of an experienced and well-organised team of tour leaders supported by professional guides, drivers, cooks and camp managers. We pool our best resources to give clients the best possible experience.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Our tours enjoy the support of Tourism Ethiopia as we explore new destinations. We research our tours carefully, working closely with zonal and woreda offices and local communities, without whom our tours would not be possible.
QUALITY EQUIPMENT
We offer good-quality bikes for hire and our cycling guides are skilled mechanics. We have an extensive fleet of vehicles and provide an all-inclusive camping experience including tents and mattresses, seat toilets and camp showers.
PREVIOUS BIKING AND HIKING TRIPS
Ankober Charity Ride
The ‘Ride the Rift’ charity bike ride in November 2020 was the beginning of RIDE THE RIFT's collaborative effort and at the same time an initiative to support worst affected individuals and their families by the Corona pandemic.
Cycle the Grand Canyon of Ethiopia
Cycling, running and walking in the awe-inspiring Jamma Gorge, a land of canyons rivalling the Grand Canyon in Arizona and home to large troops of Gelada baboons and numerous raptors.
Cycling trip in the Gurage Highlands
The lush green highlands of the Gurage region was the setting for our Spring Break tour where some exhilerating cycling, running and walking was matched only by the warmth and hospitality of the local people.
FUNDRAISING
COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS
Our work started in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic started to hit Ethiopia’s tourism industry. Our first event was a charity bike ride in Ankober which raised over 500,000 Birr. These funds were distributed to over 60 cooks and guides across Ethiopia who had been deprived of an income since the start of the pandemic. We are continuing to fundraise for individual freelance providers with the support of generous corporate donations.
Our tours are governed by a detailed set of COVID-19 precautions which apply to tour participants as well as to tour organisers. Participants are not allowed to take part in our tours if they show any symptoms of the virus in the week leading up to the tour. Once on tour we all follow our COVID-19 guidelines for reducing the risk of virus transmission which are given on our event landing pages and in our event briefings.
CONTACT US
To contact us please email ridetherift2020@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can call or text us on +251 921 602236 (Mark - English), +251 920 732527 (Marco - Italian, German, English) or +251 911 198543 (Bogale - Amharic, English).
If you want to speak to us in person, our offices are in Kebena, Shalla Park and Arat Kilo.
Tesfa Tours Office in Kebena
SimienEcoTours Office in Atlas/Shalla Park
Dynasty Ethiopia Tours office in Arat Kilo
ORGANIZERS
SUPPORTERS
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