About New Ethiopia Tours

Local experience, personal service and meaningful journeys across Ethiopia.

Built in Ethiopia

Personal service backed by local experience.

New Ethiopia Tours began with local friends sharing Addis Ababa and Ethiopia with visitors. Today, we create private and customized journeys while keeping the personal service that shaped our beginning.

Our aim is simple: clear communication, thoughtful planning and journeys that connect guests with Ethiopia respectfully and comfortably.

Because we live and work in Ethiopia, our recommendations come from direct experience and trusted local relationships.

What we help organize

Private guides and vehicles
Hotels and local lodges
Domestic flights
Cultural, historical and nature experiences
Custom itineraries and extensions
On-trip local support

Meet the founder

Birhanu Mesele

Founder & Ethiopia Travel Specialist

Selam!
My name is Birhanu, though most people call me Bre. I grew up in the historic city of Gondar, surrounded by castles, churches, and beautiful landscapes. Living there sparked my interest in Ethiopia’s history, culture, and nature.

I studied Animal and Wildlife Sciences at university and later moved to Addis Ababa in 2009 to study tourism. Since then, I have been working as a tour guide for more than 14 years, traveling across almost all parts of Ethiopia and sharing my country with visitors from around the world.

Some of my favorite places are the Simien Mountains and the Bale Mountains. I love being in nature and spotting wildlife. I also enjoy Ethiopian food, especially Shiro.

I look forward to traveling with you and sharing the beauty of Ethiopia.

Bre

Plan Your Trip With Us

Traveller reviews

What our travellers say

Tripadvisor ★★★★★

“Took a 12-day trip with three friends all around Ethiopia with New Ethiopia Tours and would highly recommend them. Bre was professional, communicative, and easy-going. He was willing to work with us to fulfill all our requests, to pivot when unexpected issues popped up, and was just a generally great person to have on our trip with us. He went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing trip even when the weather and health issues had other plans for us. Throughout the trip, I felt safe and respected. This was my first time in Ethiopia and I am glad I went with Bre and New Ethiopia Tours. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to book a tour in Ethiopia.”

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Google ★★★★★

“Great car, great guide, and customised the trip for me. Thank you very much.”

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“Recently spent 9 days visiting Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gonder, Simien Mountains and Lalibela, all organised by New Ethiopia Tours.

Birhanu and the team took care of every detail, were able to answer any questions and attentive to any special requests eg. vegetarian meals! Accommodation was all a high standard, transport all felt very safe and was impressed by how smooth everything went.

A special mention to our guide for the whole trip Henok, who was exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of this unique and fascinating country!

A reliable and professional tour operator and would highly recommend!”

“The guid Ebraham was very helpful and tried his best to make my trip wonderful. I would recommend him for everyone.”

“I recently spent almost two weeks in Ethiopia (Addis, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, and the Danakil Depression). Everyone from accommodation, currency exchange, local guides/transportation, and domestic flights was organised by Birhanu and his team. I was very impressed at how smoothly everything went, and Birhanu was always extremely helpful and communicative. Would absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to visit Ethiopia.”

“Title: Birhanu and Solomon - The Perfect Guides to Ethiopia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re planning a trip to Ethiopia, Birhanu and Solomon from New Ethiopia Tours are exactly who you want leading the way. They’re incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and generous, making every moment of the journey memorable.

From the start, they made us feel welcome, like we were exploring with friends rather than guides. Their deep understanding of Ethiopia’s culture and history, paired with their warm sense of humor, kept the trip both educational and fun.

Whether it was helping us navigate bustling markets, sharing fascinating stories, or going out of their way to ensure everything ran smoothly, they truly went above and beyond. Each stop felt thoughtfully planned, yet they still managed to keep things flexible and relaxed.

If you want a seamless and enriching experience, Birhanu and Solomon are the perfect choice. Highly recommended!”

“Very good experience with this local tour operator. Very reattive to my messages and professional during and after the booking Process i did the city tour and dankil depression. Happy for the services and timing. I reccomend this company as reliable and organised. Thanks”

“Thanks to Mule and Birhanu, we had an amazing experience in Addis and the surrounding areas. They helped us truly connect with the people, landscapes, and local customs in a way we could never have done on our own. They’re super professional, friendly, and know every little corner. If you’re thinking of exploring Ethiopia for real, don’t hesitate—reach out to them. Booking their services was the best decision of our trip. Highly recommend!”

“It was such a wonderful experience! The tour guides are very elaborate and patient with the different questions. They were also recommended very nice restaurants for us 👌🏾”

“We were honored to have had an amazing and hospitable tour guide experience during SHAPE Africa event. Birhanu is amazing. He takes good care of you, ensuring that everything goes smoothly and eloquently.”