Responsible Travel Tips
- Do not drop litter anywhere, especially in National Parks and conservation areas. Inform your guide if you see trash and ask them to pick it up and dispose of it appropriately.
- Do not feed wildlife as it changes their natural behavior and encourages interaction with humans.
- Begging is starting to become a problem in areas with increasing tourism. Children will ask for Birr, pens, or “Highland” – plastic water bottles. Sometimes they will dance in an attempt to get money. Do not encourage this practice by giving them bottles or cash – begging spoils the tourism experience for others, which deters tour operators from bringing future clients, affecting the whole community. It also encourages children to run into the road in front of cars, which is dangerous for both themselves and for drivers. If you wish to give something back, visit out Travelers Philanthropy page.
- Parts of Ethiopia suffer from water shortages, especially from October to May. Be aware of what you use: keep showers short, reuse sheets and towels, and wait until you have a full load before doing laundry.
- Dress respectably. Ethiopia is a conservative country and legs, shoulders, and midriffs should be covered when visiting communities. Muslim communities may be more conservative and appropriate dress should be worn when entering churches or mosques – women may need to cover their heads and legs.
- Show respect to the people you visit by learning a couple of words in the local language. A simple “selam” or “ishi” will be much appreciated by your hosts.
- Hire a certified local guide whenever possible. You will benefit the local economy, and the experience will be much more rewarding as you will gain a true local insight into the culture and surroundings. Be sure that the guide you hire is certified. Many children offer themselves as unofficial guides and supporting them will encourage them to skip school.
- Choose community tours where the local residents are active participants and not simply there to be looked at and photographed. Sustainable tourism should empower the communities and involve interaction and cultural exchanges. Sadly this is not always the case – but as a consumer you should find out as much as possible about a tour before booking.