Two years ago, after my first visit of Ethiopia, I get idea to make a bike tour in this country. This trip was finally realized during JAN/FEB 2013 with a big help of Shif and his staff. Unlike the other Ethiopian agencies Shif had no problem to try something new and unknown like bike trip was. He became to be quickly my enthusiastic partner in time of preparation and also later during the tour. Thanks to him, me and all my clients were absolutely satisfied with organisation, provided equipment and all required services. Special thanks also to cooking boys for excellent food specialties!

SLAVEK SULDOVSKY
product manager, ADVENTURA Travel Agency 

slavek.suldovsky@adventura.cz

6 Day 5 Night Trek Sankaber - Chennek January 2013

We were four trekkers visiting the Simiens from Scotland with a keen interest in the wildlife, landscape, culture and food of Ethiopia.  Simien Trek surpassed our expectations in providing for all these aspects of our trip and this trek was the highlight  of our visit to Ethiopia.

Simien Trek is very well organised and responsive.  All our enquiries about food, clothing and prices were answered quickly and clearly.  Everything ran smoothly from start to finish and we felt that there wasn't enough our guide, scout and cooks could do for us to keep us happy.  Our  guide Yonas was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and had excellent English.  He was clearly passionate about his country and fully engaged in answering all our questions. Yonas had an amazing ability to spot wildlife almost invisible to our Scottish eyes.    

Our scout was a true Highlander and - we reckon - must have been made from girders (Iron Bru anyone?). He trekked with us through the heat of the day and guarded our tents through the cold of the night.  He was a willing and smiling guinea pig for our awful Amharic. 

The food was exceptional.  The best any of us have ever had on a camping trip. Not only was it delicious, abundant and ready exactly when they said it would be, but the presentation and attention to detail made us feel like we were in a top hotel and not the side of a mountain. 

Finally, Shif, who manages the company, will go the extra mile to make your stay as happy as possible.  He works indefatigably, and puts his customers needs first.  If you decide to book with Simien Treks, you're in safe hands. 

Alice, Emma, Larry and Linda. 

Hi Shif! Thanks again for a lovely trip to Ras Dashen. Simien Trek is a fabulous company and all staff, guides, cooks and scouts were true professionals. We did the 5 day trek to Ras Dashen and back, reaching the summit on New Years Day. I have done other trekking around the world in places where tourism has been established a lot longer, but this trip is among the best. Good work! I highly recommend Simien Trek to others looking to explore the Simien Mountains and play with the Gelada Baboons!

January 2013

Just wanted to say a massive thanks for all the arrangements you made for our trip back in November. Everything was organised perfectly and we couldn't have had a better 5 days with you and Jonas. We particularly appreciated your regular communications before our trip, providing advise on the best route based on our time available (and also helping with other travel arrangements for our arrival and departure from Gonder), the quality of all the equipment you provided and the friendliness and efficiency of the team who were with us for the trip. Special mention should go to Jonas who is a first class guide as well as a fun guy to be around - we greatly enjoyed his company throughout the trip!! It was also really great to go with someone who clearly had such an intimate knowledge of the area and the mountains and was so willing to share this with us.

Will & Alex, November 2012

And with Shiferaw (Shif) you picked the right guy to make that trip! I know him for 3 years now, and have made 6 trips with him through the Simien. I run a small company here in Holland taking Dutch people to Ethiopia as part of a personal leadership training, and Shif organizes my transport to and from the park, and the Trek through the park. Usually he picks us up from Awra Amba village (go there if you can!), and brings us to the airport in Gondar when we leave.
 
I have come to know him as a very reliable, responsible and knowlegable person, apart from being just a nice guy. I noticed he is well esteemed among other scouts and guides in the park and in among people in the Debark area, and rightfully so. He has a passion for nature, for flora and fauna as well as for human nature. So he knows a lot about wildlife, about the plants that grow there, the use people have for them, and the customs and habits of those people.
Also, Shif speaks excellent english.

Jeroen van der Meer, Discover Yourself, www.discoveryourself.nl

December 2012

10 days later

So many experiences, so many new sights, so many new faces.

The first one, a tall handsome young man with almond shaped black eyes and a big white smile, was the one to make our trip on of the most special ones we have ever been on.

Your gentle ways, your intelligence, your humor, your gift of planning and executing to perfection, your understanding of our needs and the needs of the people who works for you, your ability to make a bridge between our culture in the final party.

It all seemed so effortless for you, so natural; you have a deep understanding of human nature.

You are a dancer, starting and ending with the shoulder dance. Your dance in the past 10 days was perfectly choreographed moving from style to style, from moment to moment with a grace and flexibility that is not learned but it is a gift. A gift you have taken and developed to an outstanding level.

Shif our Chief

We want to thank you for this unforgettable trip, you and Ethiopia will be imprinted in our memories forever.

Good luck with materializing your dream lodge and continue to spread the importance of education in your area.

18 people from Israel from the 10-19^th of October 2011.

Sulzer Str. 60

72296 Schopfloch/Germany

Tel. ++49-7443-91163

info@toms-reisen.de