OUR OBJECTIVE To Inspire Connections & Challange Perceptions
At Menelik Trails, we believe immersive and sustainable travel can be a powerful force for life; vanishing myths, breaking down barriers and bringing people from different communities and cultures together.
Through first-hand knowledge and expertise of our destinations, we aim to create carefully crafted and thoughtful itineraries, which will leave a lasting positive impact on both the people who travel with us and the people and places we have the privilege to visit.
Menelik Trails is not hesitant to venture beyond the headlines and explore areas that may not have been explored by others.
“For me, challenging perceptions entails introducing a different aspect of a destination, gaining insight into the daily lives of individuals, observing natural landscapes and sights that are often overlooked, and fostering connections through community tourism, which is a goal we strive to achieve on all of our expeditions, whether it be tailor-made tours or group expeditions. This approach provides the opportunity to interact with fellow travellers and gain knowledge from the local community, thereby benefiting both visitors and locals alike. Living different experiences from our own way of life not only makes us wealthier, but also shows the people we visit that we carry a sincere interest in their lives and culture”.
Our Story
In 2007, Raquel, a Spaniard, embarked on a journey from the UK with her husband, an Ethiopian- British, to traverse the Horn of Africa and its surrounding nations by land. Their journey, which involved driving off-road for thousands of kilometres, proved to be a strenuous and perilous undertaking. They were captivated by the land’s breathtaking natural splendour, political intrigues, and charming and diverse nations.
Upon their return to Ethiopia from all the journeyed countries, they were so taken by these warm and hospitable people that they put down their bags and stayed for over 12 years.
What they were also astonished by was the utter absence of tourism in some of these regions, which were relatively accessible. After departing from their previous existence in London, they embarked on a new journey in Ethiopia.
They created the first of their itineraries, and in 2008, they led their first group, which was born Menelik Trails.
The distinctiveness of our expeditions and journeys is attributable to these factors
Tailored-made tours and expeditions
We offer two distinct types of tours: Firstly, our yearly expeditions, which feature predetermined departure dates. Secondly, we arrange private and tailored-made tours, giving you the flexibility to decide when you want to travel and the size of your group, plus the locations you wish to visit.
Spending money wisely
The best value-for-money option is what our tours and expeditions have to offer, with some of the lowest rates in the market.
This is one of the reasons we always see a high number of people returning to undertake new tours expeditions with us.
Our group sizes
We limit the size of our group expeditions to a manageable size to minimize any adverse impact on local communities, facilitate more effective interactions with the individuals we encounter, and enable us to stay in the most distinctive accommodations. Due to this reason, our maximum group size is typically twelve individuals.
Responsible travel is essential
As a significant number of the destinations and cultures we visit are largely undiscovered and unexplored by mainstream tourism, we hold the belief that travelling is a privilege. We hope that future travellers will have the same authentic experience and encounter with the local communities. We are aware that the majority of our clients share our values and comprehend the significance of travelling with sensitivity and respect, much like us. Our expeditions place a strong emphasis on the people and their culture, whether it be participating in a football match with the local children, spending time in a field with the farmers, or arranging a meal at someone’s home. We never overlook the human touch, as it is the most significant aspect of travelling.
Transport
For convenience and flexibility, we use private transport for our tours. This allows us to make impromptu stops. Slow travel is something we believe in.
Our off-road African adventures have taught us that to get the most out of your travel experience, you need to travel slowly, not rushing from place to place, taking time to soak up a place and talking to the locals. Going to fewer places but enjoying them fully without feeling rushed.
Accommodation
Due to the fact that a significant number of our tours explore less developed regions of Africa, accommodation options may be limited. As a result, our tours are ideally suited for adventurous travellers. If the quality of accommodation holds significant significance to you or if you are accustomed to staying in higher-end international chain hotels, we kindly request that you contact our experienced team, as we hold a strong belief that it is imperative that we effectively manage the expectations of our guests. We will always provide you with a fair and honest assessment, and we may suggest an alternative tour or destination when appropriate.
Tour and expeditions Guides
We have selected our guides based on their in-depth knowledge of the local area and their genuine affection for the places they work in. They have been born and raised here, and are not simply passing through. All of our guides were meticulously selected during our visits to the country. We strongly believe that it is advantageous to accompany our groups and return to the communities where we have established a strong bond. Therefore, our highly skilled tour and expedition leaders will accompany the groups on both annual expeditions and some of the customized small group tours.
