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Simien Mountain Trek
Trek through Ethiopia's local villages and incredible mountain landscapes
This adventurous trek takes you into the very heart of the highlands of Ethiopia. The Simien Mountains dominate and divide the country into distinctly contrasting highland and lowland regions. With over 20 peaks towering to heights above 4000 metres, this massif can rightfully lay claim to be the 'Roof Of Africa', even though at 4543 metres its highest point, Ras Dashen, is only the fourth highest peak on the African continent. The national park is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site and is characterised by gentle highland ridges that end abruptly with 1000 to 2000 metre drops down the ravine from the top of the escarpment. The precipitous cliffs and deep canyons provide a feast for the eyes and the natural lookout points enable us to enjoy views as far away as 100 kilometres over the lowland valleys.
Our trekking experience on this trip is unusual in many ways. We are fully supported by a team that includes guides, scouts, camp assistants and a cook, whilst mules and their handlers work as porters. Our trek takes place in a national park that provides a habitat for some of Ethiopia’s endemic wildlife. Whilst trekking it is not unusual to walk among troops of gelada baboons, see wyala ibexes on the rocky cliff face and hear or observe some of the country's many endemic birds. If we are very fortunate, we may even come across the highly endangered Ethiopian wolf. Combined with this is the chance of interacting with rural villages and gaining an insight into the daily lives of the villagers, as they struggle to survive in a harsh environment with few natural resources. As we follow the paths trodden on over the ages by the highland people we are often joined by young herdboys, as they tend to their cattle and sheep.
The trek requires a good level of fitness as it involves traversing mountainous paths that climb to peaks before dropping again down to river valleys. The up and down nature of our walk commonly results in gains and losses of hundreds of metres in altitude each day. However, this is a trekking adventure that leaves us with incredible memories of the outstanding beauty of Ethiopia and warmth of its people.
Gallery View map
Tour Highlights
- Addis Ababa's Art Deco architecture
- Ethiopia's old capital Gondar
- Trek in the Simien Mountains
- Summit Ras Dashen (4,543 metres)
Inclusions
An experienced English-speaking local leader, services of a mule porterage team, cooks and camp staff, arrival transfer, transport, accommodation, meals and entrance fees.
This trip spends 9 days in Simien Mountains National Park.
- 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners
Simien Mountain Trek
Day 1
Addis Ababa
Meals Privided:
On arrival in Addis Ababa, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Please note this is an arrival day, so you may arrive at any time. If you arrive early, an optional visit to the National Museum, Ethnographic Museum or Holy Trinity Church may be arranged. A pre-departure meeting is held at 6pm in the hotel.
Day 2
Gondar
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
This morning you are transferred to the airport for a flight to Gondar (it may go via Bahir Dar). Sensational views of Gondar can be seen from the outside terrace of your hotel. Here you will also receive your Trek Pack and you can leave any excess luggage for storage until after the trek. The Trek Pack includes a soft-sided kit bag for use for the duration of the trek and a high-quality down sleeping bag.
Whilst in Gondar we will take an excursion to visit the Castles of Gondar and Fasilladas Bath. In 1632 Emporer Fasiladas made Gondar his capital and it remained Ethiopia’s capital for over 200 years. With its many castles and churches, Gondar is often referred to as Ethiopia’s Camelot and has always been of major importance on the historical trading routes. We explore the Royal Enclosure – a 70,000 square metre compound containing palaces, banquet halls, a chancellery and library, stables, lion cages and even Turkish steam baths! The nearby Fasiladas Bath is a large sunken pool that is still used for important religious festivals today such as Timkat, where priests bless the masses in a re-enactment of Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan.
Day 3
Sankaber
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leaving Gondar we take a three-hour drive north to Debark, the base town for all excursions into the Simien Mountains. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Simien Mountains National Park is an exotic place with unique wildlife and breathtaking views. This park combines endemic wildlife species, superb scenery and traditional village life. After registering into the park we drive the short distance to Buyit Ras and the official park gates. We enter the national park and begin our trek as we make our way to our first campsite within the park - Sankaber. The path from Buyit Ras to the national park runs along the northern escarpment and covers approximately 6 kilometres (two to three hours). We will most certainly encounter troops of endemic gelada baboons in the mountains. These baboons, only found in Ethiopia, are often referred to as the 'bleeding heart baboon' or the 'lion monkey'. Their shaggy coat gives them a lion-like appearance, whilst their chest has a marking similar to a red heart or patch. The gelada baboon does not have natural enemies and hence can be found in good numbers and are also quite easy to approach. The highly endangered Ethiopian wolf (currently numbering only about 40 members) is the baboon's only predator. Sankaber Camp is situated at an altitude of 3240 metres on an impressive spur between the northern escarpment and the Southern Wazla ravine.
Day 4
Geech
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Sankaber Camp the path to Geech Camp stretches for approximately 10 kilometres (six to seven hours walking). The initial stages of this path lead through extensive areas of highland grasslands and heather forests. Along the way we enjoy impressive views of the escarpment with one of the best scenes being Jinbar Wenz Waterfall, which plummets down the Geech Abyss. After descending down to the Jinbar Wenz River, a short ascent takes us up to Geech village. In this area cultivation is done in a two-year cycle, so one side of the valley is planted whilst the other lies fallow. There is noticeable extensive soil erosion in this area as a result of a combination of certain factors as slope steepness, cultivation, overgrazing, erosive rainfall and limited land resources. Stopping in Geech village we are invited into one of the local houses for a coffee ceremony. Participating in this very important social tradition of Ethiopia gives us a good insight into one important social custom.
Just above Geech village is a campsite which serves as our base for two nights. This site has great views of the mountains and is surrounded by giant lobelia plants. These plants can grow up to 10 metres in height and may live for as long as 20 years, at which point they first flower before dying.
Day 5
Geech - Imet Gogo Viewpoint
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is an acclimatisation day as we spend time at Geech campsite. We join the guide on a morning walk from Geech to the viewpoint at Imet Gogo and the summits of Saha and Kedadit. On this walk we enjoy unforgettable views of the most impressive parts of the escarpment, as well as look out for various types of birds. The walia ibex can sometimes be seen on the slopes of the ravine, from vantage points near the peaks. The Imet Gogo summit (3926ms) is the best known observation point in the Simien Mountains, as it offers spectacular views in all directions. Kedadit summit (3760ms) and Saha summit (3785ms) also offer incredible views, with Saha offering a particularly good view of the deep gorge that leads down through the escarpment.
Day 6
Chenek
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The trek from Geech to Chenek covers approximately 12 kilometres (six to seven hours), following a path along the escarpment edge. Just before arriving into Chenek we encounter the Kurbet Metaya viewpoint at 4070 metres. This viewpoint is actually a gap in the precipitous cliff, which reveals impressive views of the steep mountain faces to the west and the lowlands areas on the left. The tightly clustered houses (tukuls) that form the village of Dihwara, tucked below a cliff, are also visible from this viewpoint. Chenek campsite is spectacularly located in a beautiful valley at the foot of Bwahit Peak. Strategically placed benches allow us to rest and take in the expansive views back toward Imet Gogo, which is most striking at dawn and at dusk. A large troop of gelada baboons are commonly seen here and walia ibex are also often spotted on the rocky edges of the escarpment edges.
Day 7
Bwahit Pass - Ambiko
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is the longest trekking day so far, taking up to about 10 hours. From Chenek at 3650 metres, the path to Ambiko campsite crosses over the Bwahit Pass. Leaving Chenek we are faced with a two-hour ascent to the top of the pass at 4200 metres, where we enjoy views that open up to the east over Mesheha Valley to the Dashen mountain range. Looking back we find ourselves under the cover of the impressive rock formations of Imet Gogo. From Bwahit Pass the path leads steeply down and across the Mesheha Valley. Here we notice an increase in temperature as we descend down to the Mesheha River at 2800 metres, before climbing slightly to reach Ambiko campsite at an altitude of 3100 metres.
Day 8
Ras Dashen Summit - Ambiko
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is a summit day involving a trek of 16 kilometres (ten to eleven hours)! The path winds its way over eight kilometres and ascends up 1400 metres to Ras Dashen. It begins by climbing steeply through barley fields and fallow land before clearing the vegetation zone and reaching mountain steppe, at around 3700 metres. From there it flattens out, as it traverses ridges in the shadow of Ras Dashen. Just below Dashen Pass at around 4250 metres, an impressive moraine can be seen.A moraine is an accumulation of glacial debris (soil and rock) which occurs in formerly glaciated regions. This moraine was formed 20,000 to 14,000 years ago in the last Ice Age, when the Simien Mountain tops had small ice caps. The final stretch to the summit involves an exciting climb and scramble up and over large boulders, before reaching the summit. From the top of Ras Dashen at an altitude of 4543 metres, we are sure to be mesmerised by the far ranging views which span more than 10,000 square kilometres. To the west the steep faces of peaks in the national park are visible, whilst the Tekeze Valley is visible to the north and the east. Returning from the summit we retrace our steps along the same path back to our camp at Ambiko. This campsite, situated on the banks of a stream and amidst a small village, is a project of the local church and donations for the facilities are gratefully accepted.
Day 9
Arkwasiye
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Ambiko the path takes us back down to the Mesheha River (2800 metres). Our destination tonight is Arkwasiye, which is situated at an altitude of 3600 metres and located on the northern reach of the Mesheha Wenz River. A great day to take in more incredible views of the Simien Mountains.
Day 10
Chenek
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A final trekking day in the sensational Simien Mountains. From Arkwasiye we return back to Chenek camp to overnight. We complete a loop by following the path until we reach its junction with the earlier main path at Bwahit Pass. Here we descend down to Chenek or take a detour and enjoy a summit circuit of Bwahit (4430m). The trekkers who summit Bwahit will be rewarded with spectacular views. The area surrounding Chenek is one of the best to see the walia ibex, one of Ethiopia's endemic species. It is actually a mountain goat that lives on the steep slopes and grassy ledges of the escarpment. It is one of the most endangered mammals in the world.
Day 11
Gondar
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we drive along the dirt road that runs from Chenek to Sankaber, leave Simien Mountains National Park continue back to Debark (two to three hours). We stop at Debark to finalise all trekking formalities before continuing 120 kilometres back to Gondar, where we check into our hotel and enjoy a welcome shower. The afternoon is at leisure to simply relax in the beautiful gardens of the hotel and absorb the view or head down into town for some optional sightseeing.
Day 12
Addis Ababa
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
A flight takes us back to Addis Ababa. Your tour ends on arrival at Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport in the afternoon. If departing from Ethiopia today, your flight out of Addis Ababa should not be booked to depart before 6pm. Additional post tour accommodation is also available in Addis Ababa (at additional cost).
IN A NUTSHELL
12 days
$2,075
15
TOUR INFORMATION
| Start | End | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 27/12/2011 | 07/01/2012 | $2,075 |
| 18/01/2012 | 29/01/2012 | $2,075 |
| 24/03/2012 | 04/04/2012 | $2,075 |
| 26/09/2012 | 07/10/2012 | $2,075 |
| 25/12/2012 | 05/01/2013 | $2,075 |
