"I can only say that we have no complaints; it was an absorbing trip to a fascinating country. Ethiopia has history, sights and scenery. We had all that along with the massive Mescal festival and a couple of cultural events thrown in as well.

The guide was knowledgeable about all the sites and events, and also smoothed our passage through airports, hotels, coffee stops, etc. The tour manager likewise was a calm presence who ensured all went well. The expert was in effect part of the tour party, freely offering valuable insights informally as the tour progressed as well as providing the formal lectures.

I would recommend the trip to anyone (as long as they are prepared to live out of a suitcase – we spent no more than 2 nights in any one place - and can cope with the contradictions of a developing country).

The first TV programme we watched on our return featured Brian Cox in the Ethiopian Highlands with the gelada baboons… possibly the same ones we saw – good memories."

Ancient Ethiopia, 2014, Temple World