Frequently Asked Questions

Ethiopia, the ‘Horn of Africa’, is situated just north of the equator, in north-eastern Africa. Formally known as Abyssinia, it sits between the cultures of the Mediterranean and the tribal people of eastern Africa. Ethiopia is also well known for being the site where 'Lucy' was discovered. Lucy is the one of the oldest human fossils that has been found. You'll get to see Lucy on the Hamlin Ethiopian Adventure!    

Ethiopia is a big country! It's one of the largest countries in Africa and is around the size of New South Wales and Victoria combined. Most of Ethiopia's population live in the fertile central highlands.

Ethiopia has been able to keep its own strong independent character, it is this uniqueness that gives Ethiopia such a magnetic appeal.

Ethiopians are people with incredible resilience who show true pride in their culture and civilisation, which is apparent in their many colourful celebrations. Most Ethiopians make a living by farming and cattle-raising and live in the countryside.

Firstly, be ready to fundraise for a worthy cause!

Secondly, as there is a fair amount of walking in the trip, we suggest you get a pair of comfy shoes and do a few walks to make sure your shoes are comfortable and you have a reasonable amount of fitness for the adventure.

You will be staying in three-star shared accommodation (single rooms may be available at an extra cost). Our accompanying leader and staff will take care of your day-to-day needs. Travel is in comfortable air-conditioned private vehicles.

To capture the essence of your journey we have, wherever possible, selected accommodation with local character. In the cities our hotel rooms are on a twin-share basis with private facilities. In remote localities you can expect simple, clean but more basic facilities. You can pay a single supplement. You can indicate your intention to do so when you register.

We are fully aware of the healthy appetites that build up when touring and provide tasty and varied meals with plenty of fresh ingredients. Our guides will be taking the group to a combination of local and European restaurants. Your good health is our highest priority. We also cater for vegetarians. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements at time of booking.

Provided we are advised before your departure, we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically-recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with your Huma travel consultant well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip).

Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food.

We are unable to guarantee a peanut-free or allergen-free trip. We strongly encourage travellers with life-threatening or severe allergies to take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self-administering these medications.

Ethiopia has a very pleasant climate and is hot in summer and cool in winter. Evenings can be cool but prepare for hot African weather during the day. Our vehicles have air-conditioning.

Being relatively close to the equator, Ethiopia has almost twelve hours of constant daylight, no matter what time of year you visit. With the sun rising at 6:30am and setting at 6:45pm, most of our days start early so as to be at our hotel by sunset. The program for each day will vary, according to whether we are travelling or visiting local villages, or both.

The Adventure requires a minimum of 10 participants. If this amount is not reached, Huma Charity Challenge will consult with the charity and decide either to postpone the trip or to charge a small group surcharge if need be. The maximum group size is 16.

No. You must fundraise or donate the $4,000 target. Team Hamlin will support you to reach this goal.

We recognise that many of our participants have not been on a ‘group trip’ before. You can rest assured that our trips are flexible and allow you to do your thing within the framework of the itinerary. We fully recognise your needs as an individual and you will be travelling with like-minded people who have also fundraised for a very worthy cause.

Your wellbeing is our first priority. Our staff constantly review every aspect of your adventure and our expert guides are fully conversant with the demands of travelling in remote regions.

We believe that adventure travel revolves around establishing a sound working relationship with the people and environments in which we operate. We believe that you can also make a positive contribution and we urge you to familiarise yourself with our Responsible Tourism Guide before you depart. Every participant receives a copy of this booklet upon registering.

Huma Charity Challenge is our travel partner, and is a division of the global travel company, World Expeditions Travel Group. Since the late 1990’s, Huma has provided unique, life changing adventures while supporting hundreds of charities across the globe.

Huma Charity Challenge owns most of the operations, which allows us to include all land transport, most meals, accommodation and much of the equipment you will need for your challenge. Consult your detailed trip notes for flight information and contact Huma Charity Challenge for more information. Please note that generally the following items are not included - visas, passport, vaccinations, personal travel insurance, airport and departure taxes, tips and personal expenses.

Our trips are available to anyone over the age of 18. Medical checks may be required as directed by Huma Charity Challenge.

We’re so glad to hear that! It is truly a trip of a lifetime. To confirm your spot, you need to register. Once you have registered and paid the deposit to secure your spot, you will be sent a comprehensive confirmation kit that contains all the relevant information. Of course please feel free to contact our staff by phone or email.

Yes! Ethiopia has plenty of unique animals and we will see several of them on the trip. Look out for a hippo or two on Lake Hawassa, Colobus monkeys, baboons and plenty of native birds to name a few.

There are plenty of shopping opportunities! Our tour guide will also take you on a dedicated shopping morning on your last day in Addis Ababa and each of the tribes sells homemade trinkets.

Ethiopia is renowned for its coffee and for good reason! You will experience traditional coffee ceremonies as well as visit a famous cafe in Addis Ababa which some say is the best coffee in the world.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim a personal tax deduction for parts of your trip on professional or healthcare study tours. We recommend speaking to your accountant for specific details.

Our travel partner, Huma, will be able to provide you with the appropriate paperwork if you request it.