Travelers Code of
Conduct
By observing our code you can help protect the
environment, reduce pollution and preserve cultural and social
heritages for future generations.
Wild life and vegetation Destruction and
removal of trees; disturbing wildlife or doing anything that
can disturb or destroy their natural habitat (like catching,
chasing away, noise, and specific sporting activities) is to be
discouraged and forbidden.
We advise travelers to please collect all relevant
information from parks offices' and to obey the rules and
regulations.
- It is not allowed to enter the parks without Park
Scouts.
- It is highly recommended to have local trained and
experienced guide/s; licensed by the relevant offices.
- Entering parks with domestic animals is not
allowed.
- Pay entrance fee (proof of payment is required at the
park gates).
Camping and Fire
- Use established camp sites if you stay overnight in the
parks.
- It is strictly forbidden to light fires outside the
camp sites.
- Cutting of firewood is strictly forbidden; it may be
available from campsites, or you can bring your camp stove.
Note that the purchase and use of some trees like Erica
wood is unlawful.
- Be sensitive to wild life. Campfires can be a big harm
or disturbance to animals and nesting birds it could also
cause rapid deforestation.
- Cook on a light weight kerosene, alcohol or shellite
(white gas) stove and avoid those powered by disposable
butane gas canisters.
- If you are trekking with a guide and porters, share the
stoves with the whole team.
- Fires may be accepted below the tree line in more
remote areas, use an existing fireplace rather than
creating a new one.
- Don't surround fires with rocks as this creates a
visual scar.
- Use only dead, fallen wood.
- Use minimal wood, just what you need for cooking.
- In alpine areas, ensure that all members have enough
clothing so that fires are not necessity for warmth.
- Ensure that you fully extinguish a fire after use.
Spread the embers and douse them with water. A fire is only
truly safe to leave when you can comfortably place your
hand in it.
Water
- Try not to waste water in hotels by letting taps and
showers run unnecessarily as it is a scarce resource in
most parts of Ethiopia.
- Contamination of water by human faeces can lead to
transmission of hepatitis, typhoid and intestinal parasites
such as giardia, amoebas and roundworms. It can cause
severe health risks not only to members of your party but
also to local residents and wildlife.
- Where there is no toilet dig a small hole at least 15cm
deep and a minimum of 100m from any watercourse; bury your
waste and cover it with soil and a rock.
- Don't use detergents or toothpaste in or near
watercourses, even if they are biodegradable.
- For personal washing, use biodegradable soap and a
water container at least 50m away from the watercourse.
Disperse the waste water widely to allow the soil to filter
it fully before it finally makes it back to the
watercourse.
- Wash cooking utensils at least 50m from the
watercourses using a scourer or sand instead of
detergent.
Waste disposal
- Do not drop litter anywhere inside the park. Litter are
not only ugly but can be harmful to wildlife, livestock and
people.
- Do not bury litter in the soil as it may be dug by
animals. Burning of it is also illegal.
- You must carry out or use reusable containers or sacks
to minimize possible waste. Also be aware of the danger of
plastic bags to the environment and do not leave them on
the ground.
- Always carry out your rubbish, even cigarette stubs,
orange peel and particularly those tiny pieces of silver
foil.
- Never bury your rubbish; digging disturbs soil and
ground-cover and encourages erosion. Buried rubbish will
more than likely be dug up by animals, which may be injured
or poisoned by it. It may also take years to decompose,
especially at high altitudes.
Interacting with People
- Be considerate of other cultures, respect local
customs, traditions, beliefs, language and ceremonies.
- Always ask permissions before photographing and
visiting villages.
- Avoid interactions and dealings with people,
particularly with children, by the road sides, it may cause
car accidents.
- Trade with sensitivity; do not feel obliged to give
gifts to local residents. It may result in dependency
culture in the long run. Instead, pay them for handicrafts
and services obtained.
- Try not to encourage begging by giving
money. Encourage youngsters and mothers who beg on the
street to join the work force.
- If you want to give gifts, make your contributions to
existing social or community projects.
Religious and Cultural Sacred Sites
- Encourage the promotion and recognition of indigenous
knowledge and respect the local community and their
indigenous knowledge.
- Identify natural and cultural sacred sites and support
the community for further preservation.
- Always remove shoes before entering church.
- While entering a church, try to wear clothing that
covers all parts of the body particularly women.
- Never try to enter the inner holy of holies, which is
reserved strictly for the priests.
- Do not smoke, eat, or drink in a church or talk or
laugh loudly.
- Be sensitive when talking photos.
- Do not photograph old manuscripts in sun light, even if
the priests offer to move the manuscripts into the sun for
you as sun light can cause great damage also resist the
temptation to buy any genuinely old artifacts, such
as manuscripts, scroll and bibles, sold in shops and
by hawkers around the country.
- During prayer time, try not to stray into the areas
reserved for the opposite sex.
- A contribution for the church is greately appreciated
after a visit.
Please Report Your Complaints to Us We
provide our services in good faith and act responsibly for
ensuring the holiday supplied as described in our brochure and
to a reasonable standard.
If you have any problem or complaints during your holiday,
you will be advised to inform the relevant supplier and
our office as soon as possible.
If your problem cannot be resolved by the relevant supplier,
you will be advised to obtain proof of your complaint and
inform us in writing within 48 hours of your return so that we
may investigate and look for solutions.
We accept responsibility for some circumstances caused by
the negligent acts and/or emissions of our employees or
servants and facilities like vehicles whilst acting within the
scope of, or in the course of their employment in the provision
of your holiday.
Accordingly, we will take immediate action to resolve the
problem.
|
Eskinder Hailu |
Manager, Highway
Tours |
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