Tesfa Tours
Tesfa Tours was set up by Mark Chapman in 2010 to further expand the work of the NGO TESFA which he was instrumental in setting up in 2003.
To quote Mark:
We believe community tourism means holidays that support local communities, but we also believe that holidays must give our guests a wonderful time.
Tesfa Tours operates with this ethos in mind and if today Tesfa Tours also organizes trips to other areas of Ethiopia, besides their main areas of community tourism in Lalibela and Tigray, community tourism remains their main thrust. To again quote from Mark:
True community tourism is a partnership between philanthropic businesses and community run enterprises (…) The result is a dignified and well balanced relationship between the service giver: the community, and the service receiver: the guest – you!
At Equus we also believe that community tourism is something that deserves support and which, when well organized like it is by Tesfa, definitely has a large place in Ethiopia. Like Tesfa, we also believe that when people come to visit a country they would like to meaningfully interact with the land and its inhabitants.
Which is why Equus has chosen Tesfa to organize its non equestrian extensions. Tesfa’s sterling reputation, their attention to detail and focus on meaningful interaction with the country’s people are sure gages of a satisfying trip for our guests. We could also have chosen Mark Chapman’s Tesfa on his equestrian talents alone: Mark is a mainstay of the Addis Ababa Polo Club and is always, as they say, on the ball.
© 2012 Equus Ethiopia