GishAbay Ethiopia Tours Reviews

Danielle Radin 2026.05.04

     

This is a must-do tour. Henok is so knowledgeable and teaches you all the history of each place you visit. What really sets him apart is how deeply he understands the culture beyond just the landmarks. He shares fascinating insights into local plants and their traditional uses, explains religious history and practices in a way that’s easy to follow and respectful, and brings Ethiopian coffee culture to life from bean to cup. You also get a real appreciation for the food, with his explanations of ingredients, preparation, and the meaning behind different dishes. It feels less like a tour and more like being shown around by someone who truly loves and understands every aspect of where he lives.

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.05.04

Thank you so much for this wonderful feedback! It is clear that you had an incredible experience.
Henok is indeed one of the best guides GishAbay Tours has, and we are so proud of the passion he brings to his work. We are thrilled that you enjoyed his deep dives into everything from our traditional herbal medicine to the intricate art of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
It’s always our goal to make guests feel like they are exploring with a knowledgeable friend rather than just a guide. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another adventure!

Christoph G 2026.04.14

     

Verified

Afrika im Aufbruch Addis, eine pulsierende Stadt im Aufbruch. Überall wird gebaut. Die Menschen sind nett und wir fühlten uns meist sicher. Die Gegend um den Merkato haben wir allerdings mit einem Führer erkundet. Mit der Ride App kann man günstig ein Taxi buchen, ohne Angst haben zu müssen, übers Ohr gehauen zu werden. Ich bin sehr gespannt, wie sich die Stadt entwickelt!

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Mac Devereux 2026.04.12

     

Very good! I saw a lot and learned a lot! Would do again!

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.04.12

Thank you, Mac! We’re glad to hear you had such a rich experience with GishAbay Ethiopia Tours. It would be our pleasure to show you even more next time. Safe travels until then!

Nick D'Alfonso 2026.04.08

     

Excellent city tour during our layover! Henok was a lot of fun and a great guide, really knows his stuff, super passionate, and makes it fun and entertaining. I strongly recommend booking with him and the company. Next time we are back in Ethiopia I will certainly be reaching out!

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.04.08

Thanks for the wonderful reviews, Nick! Henok is our star guide, and we’re happy he made your short visit so entertaining. Safe travels, and we look forward to your return!
Yenew, Managing Director

Stephani du Toit 2026.03.29

     

Henok and our driver managed to show us all the sights, despite short notice for our tour and a very tight schedule before boarding our connecting flight. Henok is passionate about his country and heritage - and about Ethiopian coffee!

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.04.01

We truly appreciate your kind words, Stephani! Delivering a memorable tour on a tight schedule is what we do best. Hope to welcome you back soon!

youkendooit 2026.03.01

     

Verified

Quick and Fascinating Tour of Addis Ababa! We had a great time with Henock! He is very energetic and passionate about Ethiopian culture and history. He knows so much so hit him with all your questions! Henock and our fantastic driver (Masfen) were very flexible around our layover schedule and after picking us up from the airport, made sure we got to visit the museum, Mt Entoto, Merkato, and we even finished off the tour with Ethiopian coffee. It was a quick tour but very interesting and informative!

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.03.02

Dear Chauncy,Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We at GishAbay Ethiopia Tours are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your Addis Ababa City Tour with us.Thank you for choosing GishAbay. We hope to welcome you back to Ethiopia for a longer adventure someday!Best wishes,

Jessica D 2026.03.01

     

Verified

A great quick tour of the city! Our customized private tour was amazing. We have a very short time period to work with and our guide Henock was very accommodating. He did a wonderful job explaining the history of the country and the culture of the people. His explanations at the National Museum were very detailed and we learned so much. This was time well spent!

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.03.02

Dear Jessica,Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with GishAbay Ethiopia Tours!We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your customized private tour of Addis Ababa. It is wonderful to know that Henock could accommodate your short schedule while still providing a detailed and insightful experience—especially at the National Museum. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to him.We are so glad you felt your time was well spent, and we hope to welcome you back to Ethiopia for another adventure in the future!Warm regards,

Максим 2026.02.26

     

Verified

Аддис Абеба приятно удивила Очень понравился подход Хенока. Подробно рассказал о городе, много показал. В целом остались очень довольны.

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.02.26

Привет, Максим,Большое спасибо за тёплые слова! Мы рады, что вам понравился наш тур и что Аддис-Абеба произвела на вас такое замечательное впечатление. Надеемся увидеть вас снова!С наилучшими пожеланиями,GishAbay Ethiopia Tours

Navigate66256772611 2026.02.20

     

Verified

Culture, tradition and hospitality, a great experience thanks toHenok Fantastic tour with Henok as the guide and Mesfine driving. Henok is a wealth of knowledge and information on history and general culture. From the history museum and market to the Entoto mountain and the delicious show of Ethiopian cuisine and tradition. Thank you very much!

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.02.26

Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re delighted that Henok and Mesfine made your tour memorable. Sharing our culture and history is our passion, and we're happy you enjoyed every moment. Come back and visit us anytime!Warm regards,GishAbay Ethiopia Tours

Diana 2026.02.16

     

Verified

Great layover glimpse into Addis We were in Addis for a day on a layover and decided to do this tour for a view into local life. Henok was very friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. Willing to share everything about Ethiopia and Addis and answered all our questions. We enjoyed the glimpses into local life and food/coffee.

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.02.20

Thank you, Diana! We're glad you enjoyed the layover tour. It’s wonderful to hear you experienced the local life, food, and coffee. We look forward to welcoming you back for more discoveries in Ethiopia!

Ali 2026.02.12

     

Verified

Great if you have a few hours! Great time spent out of the airport! If you have a few hours, this is a great option to go around the city, try some amazing food, and cap it off with the best coffee! Our guide was helpful and moved at a great pace.

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Kateryna D 2026.02.06

     

Verified

Excellent one-day overview of Addis Ababa My husband and I had a fantastic time on this Addis Ababa layover tour with GishAbay Ethiopia Tours! Our guide was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive from the moment he picked us.Highly recommend.

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Esther Kwong 2026.02.04

     

Before we arrived in Ethiopia we were anxious about many things: necessary vaccination, hygiene, safety… etc. But our 9-day 3-persons private Ethiopian tour turned out to be so amazing that all these anxieties were well worth it. Ethiopia is exotic & super rich in history & culture. People are friendly and meeting them in markets, during the festival, at coffee ceremonies… has made our trip so memorable. Yenew at GishAbay planned everything for us & designed a great itinerary including visit to Gondar for the Timkat Festival that we enjoyed thoroughly. We knew we were in good hands. Abenezer, our guide, gave us good suggestions on the way including restaurants, delicious local dishes, where to buy gourmet coffee, & places to visit including a pre-visit to the festival venue before the crowds. All in all, we’re so grateful that we had the chance to visit Ethiopia, and with GishAbay.

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.05.04

Dear Esther!
Thank you so much for sharing such a glowing review of your 9-day journey with us.
We are thrilled that your initial anxieties were replaced by an amazing experience. It’s wonderful to hear that Yenew’s custom itinerary and Abenezer’s thoughtful local recommendations—from the gourmet coffee to that pre-visit to the Timkat Festival—made you feel so well-cared for.
The warmth of Ethiopian culture is truly special, and we are so glad you felt that connection in the markets and at the coffee ceremonies. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to the whole team.
Safe travels, and we hope to welcome you back to Ethiopia again one day!

Anthony M 2026.02.04

     

Verified

Day trip around Addis We had an excellent day trip with our guide and driver. The day started with a walk through the market, it gave us a real feel for the place. The visit to the Museum was very informative and the highlight of the day was lunch is an authentic restaurant finishing the day with coffee at La Gare. We would highly recommend this tour for anymore wishing to see the real Addis Ababa.

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Esther K 2026.02.04

     

Verified

Glad we went to Ethiopia! Before we arrived in Ethiopia we were anxious about many things: necessary vaccination, hygienic conditions, safety… etc. But our 9-day 3-persons private Ethiopian tour turned out to be so amazing trip that all these anxieties were well worth it. Ethiopia is exotic & super rich in history & culture. People are friendly and meeting them in markets, during the festival, at coffee ceremonies… has made our trip so memorable. Yenew at GishAbay planned everything for us & designed a great itinerary including visit to Gondar for the Timkat Festival that we enjoyed thoroughly. We knew we were in good hands. Abenezer, our guide, gave us good suggestions on the way including restaurants, delicious local dishes, where to buy gourmet coffee, & places to visit including a pre-visit to the festival venue before the crowds. All in all, we’re so grateful that we had the chance to visit Ethiopia, and with GishAbay.

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Chris Saunders 2026.02.02

     

12 months ago I contacted Yenew from Gishabay Tours. I wanted a private solo tour for 35 days covering the tribes in the South, the Danakil Depression, Churches of Lalibela, Tigre and Askum as well as the Simien Mountains. Yenew was amazing – adding extras as I discovered more about Ethiopia and ensuring that everything was covered. I set off last November and unfortunately came back 10 days before Xmas. The guides and drivers employed by him treated my like a VIP – assisting with an injured knee, making sure I achieved everything. Not to mention running through the bush to photograph the wildlife for me. It’s the first of my many travels over the years, where I was not ready to come home. And two weeks later still wish I was there. Everything was so easy – and fortunately there’s a plethora of great coffee – wild varietals the best – in particular the Gesha. The guides will help you secure that to souvenir home. I have travelled solo since 2009 and Gishabay Tours by far exceeded my experience with any other tour company in any of the other countries I’ve travelled in. I cannot recommend them enough – thinking about going? - give Yenew a call and start the journey

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.05.04

Dear Chris!
Thank you so much for sharing such a glowing review of your 35-day journey with us.
It was truly an honor to host you. We are thrilled to hear that Yenew and the team made you feel like a VIP, especially by going the extra mile to assist with your knee and capturing those wildlife shots in the bush! Knowing that this trip stood out among your years of solo travel—and that you weren't ready to leave—is the highest compliment we could receive.
We’re also glad you enjoyed the Gesha coffee; it’s a true Ethiopian treasure. We hope that whenever you brew some at home, it brings back fond memories of the Omo Valley and the Simien Mountains.
Safe travels until we see you again!

Happiness44431644596 2026.02.02

     

Verified

Solo Trip in Ethiopia 12 months ago I contacted Yenew from Gishabay Tours. I wanted a private solo tour for 35 days covering the tribes in the South, the Danakil Depression, Churches of Lalibela, Tigre and Askum as well as the Simien Mountains. Yenew was amazing – adding extras as I discovered more about Ethiopia and ensuring that everything was covered. I set off last November and unfortunately came back 10 days before Xmas. The guides and drivers employed by him treated my like a VIP – assisting with an injured knee, making sure I achieved everything. Not to mention running through the bush to photograph the wildlife for me. It’s the first of my many travels over the years, where I was not ready to come home. And two weeks later still wish I was there. Everything was so easy – and fortunately there’s a plethora of great coffee – wild varietals the best – in particular the Gesha. The guides will help you secure that to souvenir home. I have travelled solo since 2009 and Gishabay Tours by far exceeded my experience with any other tour company in any of the other countries I’ve travelled in. I cannot recommend them enough – thinking about going? - give Yenew a call and start the journey

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Keşfet Tur 2026.01.31

     

Verified

Great experience I had an amazing experience. It was important for my group members and myself to be safe on our trip. My sister yenew provided a good cooperation. Thank you 🙏🇪🇷

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Robert M 2026.01.25

     

Verified

Great layover tour Great layover tour. They were flexible with the timing as my flight was changed. Good communication. Biruk is a very good guide, he took me to special places, even helped to buy souvenirs. Good driver also. Overall recommended.

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Reply from GishAbay Ethiopia Tours 2026.01.26

Dear Robert,Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your layover tour. It was our pleasure to host you, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!Warm regards,

cedricellis 2026.01.13

     

Verified

Addis Ababa beyond the screen saver. Our guide, Henok was awesome. We appreciated his flexibility in showing us an authentic side of Addis Ababa. It was great. He is a wealth of information that gave us great insight into not just the sites but the culture of Ethiopia. It is most appreciated.

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