Choke Hights

05/12/2022

Choke Hights Tour and Travel plc is a private company based in Addis Ababa Ethiopia specializes in exploring historic, cultural and natural destinations in Ethiopia. We are welcome interested companies and individuals who have planned to visit Ethiopia.

03/08/2021

Where will you travel to?
Experience Ethiopia, get closer to the places you visit and experience local life. Our tailor-made tours give you the freedom to do, and experience whatever you want.
Our experienced team will be delighted to design the perfect itinerary specifically for you, unique and flexible, truly inspiring. Our expert guides will take care of everything, leaving you free to concentrate on all the good stuff.
Travelling with Choke Hights offer:
• Safety and reliability
• Small group size
• Local expert guides
• Independence & flexibility
• Off the beaten tourist trail

19/07/2021

10/02/2021

www.chokehights.com

Our speciality is Ethiopia, a country with a vast cultural diversity and incredible natural beauty, more heritage sites than any other African country, and the continents largest continuous mountain range - perfect for the adventurous traveller. We offer group adventureand tailor-made tours and trek...

18/08/2020

01/07/2020

With countries starting to open for travel and international flights resuming operations, where are you planning to travel to? Ethiopia may not be top of everyone’s bucket list; it can often be overlooked by Kenya and Tanzania. However, there are plenty of reasons to consider Ethiopia when you choose your next holiday destination, this varied country offers an African experience like no other.
For those who love culture you'll have no shortage of sites to visit, from the famous Lalibela, with13 churches, the oldest was dated to the 12th century, and historical sites of Gondar or Axum, to the remote tribes in the Omo Valley.
Nature lovers can enjoy spectacular scenery, from the unique landscapes of the Simien Mountains and its endemic wildlife to Lake Tana, the primary source of the Blue Nile, through the dramatic Blue Nile Gorge to the active volcanoes of the Danakil with its bizarre lava lakes. Nowhere else in the world can you walk amongst the Gelada monkeys, an unforgettable experience, or watch a hyena feeding show in the city of Harar. You might even be lucky enough to spot the Ethiopian wolf, considered to be the rarest dog in the world. Ethiopia is also a bird lovers paradise, with a national checklist of 860 bird species including 18 found nowhere else in the world.

Hope to see you soon in Ethiopia

20/06/2020

Ethiopia is an excellent destination for birdwatchers, one of Africa’s leading birding destinations. It boasts more than 800 known species, some endemic to Ethiopia. Choke Hights can design a birding itinerary for you which focuses on areas south of Addis Ababa where most of the localised endemics are to be found.

October to December is the best months to come. With a skilled local guide, you should be able to see up to 400 species in two weeks, with about 20 of the Ethiopia endemics all but certain. We’d recommend spending two or three nights in the Rift Valley visiting Lakes Ziway, Abijatta-Shalla, Hawassa and Wondo Genet, before heading to the Bales National Park, the Sanetti Plateau and Sof Omar Caves in search of Salvadori’s serin. Lake Langano and Nechisar National Park are also excellent birding sites with kingfishers, storks, pelicans, flamingos and fish eagles commonly seen. The Awash National Park is one of the best general bird sites in Ethiopia, and the Awash Gorge considered the easiest place to see the Ethiopian cliff swallow.

19/06/2020

18/06/2020

We understand that vegetarian and vegan travellers can often find it difficult to maintain their lifestyle when they are away from home. However you can be reassured that vegans and vegetarians are well catered for in Ethiopia, it is a very vegetarian and vegan friendly destination. You will have no problem finding something to eat and certainly won’t go hungry.
Much of this is because most Ethiopians follow a particular strand of Orthodox Christianity that prohibits the eating of meat or other animal products on Wednesdays and Fridays. On these days, non-meat fasting food can be found easily in restaurants. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church recognises around 200 fasting days when the consumption of meat or other animal products is forbidden. Every Wednesday and Friday are fasting days, as are the 40 days of Ethiopian Lent. With a culture based around fasting and being meat and dairy free for large parts of the year Ethiopia offers a delicious range of vegan and vegetarian dishes.

15/06/2020

Why not time your next trip to join one of Ethiopia’s vibrant and colourful festivals. Ethiopia has several unique festival days, the best known being Genna (Ethiopian Christmas), Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany), Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) and Meskel (Finding of the True Cross).

Timkat is an impressive three-day festival, one of the biggest events in the Ethiopian social calendar, commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. A replica of the Ark of the Covenant is paraded in the streets. It culminates on the 19th of January (20th in leap years) in a colourful procession with song and dance. It is a great time to visit Gondar where hundreds of eager participants leap into Fasilidas’s Pool to re-enact the original baptism.

Genna is celebrated on the 7th of January (8th in leap years), commemorating the birth of Jesus. Join the thousands of Ethiopian pilgrims who flock to the 13th century rock-hewn churches in Lalibela.

Enkutatash or “Gift of Jewels” alludes to a centuries-old tale of Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon. It is celebrated on the 11th September, the first day of the New Year based on the Ethiopian calendar, and is its most important secular holiday. It has a similar party atmosphere to New Year festivities elsewhere.

Meskel is celebrated on the 27th of September and is associated with a legend dating back to the 4th century AD which claims that Emperor Constantine’s mother discovered the cross on which Jesus was crucified. The show piece of this colourful festival is the burning of a massive pyre at sites such as Meskel Square in Addis Ababa or the park in the front of the main stelae field in Axum.

13/06/2020

Did you know that Ethiopia has 9 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela: 11 medieval churches carved out of rock. These are attributed to King Lalibela who set out to construct a New Jerusalem in the 12th century.

Simien National Park: Home to globally threatened species including the Walia Ibex, a mountain goat found nowhere else in the world, the Gelada baboon and the Ethiopian Wolf.

Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar: The fortress city was the residence of the Ethiopian emperor Fasilides and his successors in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Aksum: Massive ruins, including monolithic obelisks, royal tombs and the ruins of ancient castles, dating from between the 1st and 13th century AD.

Lower Valley of the Awash: Famous for the discovery of Lucy in1974. Contains one of the most important groupings of palaeontological sites on the African continent.

Lower Valley of Omo: World renowned for the discovery of many hominid fossils.

Tiya: Remains of an ancient Ethiopian culture, 36 monuments, including 32 carved stelae covered with symbols.

Harar Jugol: Fortified historic town, said to be the fourth holiest city of Islam, with 82 mosques 3 of which date from the 10th century.

Konso: Stone walled terraces and fortified settlements.

10/06/2020

Did you know that Lalibela is twinned with Glastonbury in the UK. Glastonbury is a small Somerset town in England, 23 miles south of Bristol and situated at a dry point on the low-lying Somerset Levels. The town is surrounded by myths and legends
One legend is that Joseph brought the Holy Grail to Britain and was granted land by its local ruler. He is said to have established England's first church at Glastonbury, thus founding the town. Some believe that the Holy Grail is still buried beneath Glastonbury Tor, in what is known today as the Chalice Well
The second legend, is that King Arthur and his knights of the round table, visited Glastonbury Tor. Legend has it that King Arthur was buried on the Tor, which was then the Isle of Avalon and surrounded by the flooded Somerset Levels. Glastonbury Tor has been a site of religious significance for over 1000 years
Glastonbury is also famous for the legendary Glastonbury Festival which has attracted millions of music fans and performers to the Somerset countryside since 1970.

10/06/2020

Our Danakil Depression itinerary explores one of the lowest and hottest places on earth, to soak up the beautiful landscape from the hot water, acids and minerals spurting up from the ground.

We visit Lake Asale, the salt lake from which the Afar nomads extract salt and discover the alien salt landscapes of Dallol. We may cross paths with camel caravans carting blocks of salt across the desert.

We undertake a memorable trek to the top of the active volcano Erta Ale, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava overnight on top of the mountain. We trek back to Dodom at first light and drive to Lake Afrera where you will have the opportunity to explore the hot springs.

08/06/2020

Good news for travellers who have had to cancel their trip to Ethiopia due to COVID-19. Travellers who got their e-visa before March 26, 2020 and who couldn't travel on the planned date of entry due to COVID-19 outbreak can postpone validity of their visa for one year from the date of issue. https://www.evisa.gov.et26,

07/06/2020

Thank you to everyone who has liked the Choke Hights page. Our comprehensive range of tours capture the very essence of the destination from the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to the tribes of the Omo Valley. The unparalleled knowledge of our local guides are an integral part of this. For us, your journey begins with that very first call or enquiry. We offer two types of tours: small group tours, or tailor-made tours, where we design an itinerary for an individual, couple or a group - whichever destination you choose; you'll be in safe hands. Our itineraries have all been carefully created to show you the best that Ethiopia has to offer. Sightseeing and treks are undertaken by expert local guides and escorts. To enhance your experience, we arrange memorable special events such as a special ceremony, performance, meal or drinks at characteristic and spectacular locations.

07/06/2020

01/06/2020