Meet Birhan
Meet Birhan
We'd love to take you around our favorite country, and we are the perfect team for it!
Birhan Tesfaw, the co-owner of Across Ethiopia was born and raised in Lalibela. A graduate of the rigorous tourism school at Addis Ababa University, Birhan has since been a tour guide in Ethiopia for over 15 years.
Michael was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia and has been managing construction projects and leading tours of Ethiopia for ten years. Fluent in Amharic and fully in love with East Africa, his favorite thing is watching people share his in his amazement and wonder at the world's best kept secret - Ethiopia.
Michael and Birhan met while working on building a digital library and school near Lalibela. They formed a fast friendship and enjoy traveling and working to improve communities, support education, develop partnerships and invest in sustainable tourism.
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
Brett Merkel
"I have no words to describe how amazing Birhan Tesfaw was. He has the innate ability to anticipate needs and tailor tours to accommodate our individual needs. He explained so much of the history and local customs of the people and was a wealth of knowledge on the best and most authentic places to go in and around town. I'd recommend everyone check out the Yimerehana Kristos church - which requires a second day in Lalibela but is well worth the trip!
David Clark
"Birhan is the best! I love everything he did for me during my stay in Ethiopia. He is strongly committed to his family, the town, and the orphaned children of Lalibela. He took care of everything for us and immediately put us at ease. I consider him one of my brothers and hope to see him again some day."
Adam Winder
"Birhan became a family member. We will be back and book with him on our next trip - hopefully with my whole family. What he does for the whole community is so inspiring. I can't imagine there is another tour guide like him out there in the world. Also - definitely visit the Hudad lodge while you are in Lalibela"