Responsible Travel in Ethiopia
Minimize Your Carbon Footprint on an Ethiopian Trekking Holiday
Jun 15, 2009
Ethiopia is little known as a fantastic trekking destination, partly due to its media image as a famine and drought-ridden country plagued by war. Whilst any trekking holiday requires participants to “rough it", the fragility of the arid natural landscape in Ethiopia puts an even greater onus on visitors to preserve the ecology of the hauntingly beautiful landscape.
Follow these tips when hiking in the Simien Mountains, the best trekking destination in Ethiopia.
Human Waste Management on Trekking Holidays
- Water is a precious commodity in Ethiopia and must not be contaminated by human waste which can lead to transmission of all sorts of nasty diseases including typhoid, hepatitis and can also attract parasites like Giardia.
- Toilet tents are not a standard feature on trekking holidays to Ethiopia but do not despair, all that is required is a small shovel!
- Dig a small hole at least 100 m from any watercourse, bury the waste and cover it with soil and a rock.
Garbage Disposal Whilst Trekking
- Anything brought in should be carried out, down to the last cigarette stub or tiny piece of plastic.
- Do not bury rubbish as it takes years to decompose and may be dug up by local wildlife causing poisoning or injury.
- Pack essential items in reusable containers to save space.
Cooking and Fires on Adventure Holidays
- Open fires should never be used for cooking as it causes further deforestation of already depleted areas. Cooking should be done with kerosene or stoves powered by butane gas.
- If not trekking with a reputable responsible travel company, ask the guide which type of cooking method will be employed beforehand.
- If an open fire has to be lit due to severe cold or lack of any other power for cooking, only use tiny small amounts of dead, fallen wood and ensure that the fire is properly extinguished after use.
- Douse the embers with water and only leave it once a hand can be placed on it without burning.
- Ensure that all members of the trekking party have adequate clothing for cold weather at altitude to eliminate the need for any fires.
Washing on a Trekking Holiday
- Only biodegradable detergent and soap should be used for clothes washing and personal use.
- Fill a container with water and wash a good distance from any stream or river taking care not to throw the dirty water back into the stream but simply disperse it into the soil.
- Cooking pots should be cleaned away from the water supply in the same way.
- Take a tin mug on a trekking holiday for teeth cleaning as well as drinking coffee.
- Preserve water as much as possible including pre- and post-trek by minimizing the amount used. Turn any taps off instead of letting them run!
Green Tourism Helps Protect Fragile Environments
Follow the basic principles of preserving water, not using open fires and disposing of all rubbish including human waste to act as a responsible tourist. These small but significant steps help to preserve the ecology and beauty of Ethiopia, a land which offers much to those lucky enough to visit.
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Read our article about Climbing Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa or go an an Adventure Holiday to Ethiopia.
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