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Simien Treks
Treak the Simien Mountain National Park
-Early morning we will drive along a good asphalt road from Gondar to the park headquarters in Debark, the 100 km journey will take around two hours.
-At the headquarters we will arrange our permits to the park and pick up our scout. Then keep driving for another 30-40 minutes until the Hike starts along mountain trails enjoying the endless vistas as your guide explains the unique flora of this elevated region.
-You will also cross paths with a troop of the Gelada baboon, a unique species indigenous to Ethiopia and the Simien Mountains.
-Return to Gondar for overnight. Services to be provided Transportation in and out Entrance fees for the park Guiding service Scout or Park ranger Lunch pack and water
5 DAYS - SANKABER TO BUAWIT
-We depart early from the historical town of Gondar and drive around 2.5 hours on a tarred, comfortable road to Debark where we get permission to enter Simien National Park at the park head office.
-We then drive 22km further to the Simien Lodge, within the national park. From here we walk about 2 or 3 hours, stopping often to admire the amazing views of the escarpment, take photos and see the friendly gelada baboons.
-We will also see a variety of plants and flowers. Overnight at Sankabar camp (3250m).
-The hike from Sankaber to Geech camp takes about 5 to 6 hours passing through ever more spectacular scenery and varying flowers and trees .
-There the possibility to see a klipspringer and minlikbushbuk as well as a leopard (if we are very lucky!).
-The entertaining gelada baboons are always around. Along the way we pass the 500m high Jinbar waterfall and stop for lunch on the banks of the Jinbar river.
-We pass through Geech village where we can have coffee with a local family in their traditional tukul hut which they share with their animals. This is a great way to glimpse the day to day life of the mountain people. Overnight at Geech camp (3600m).
-From Geech to Chennek camp takes about 7 to 8 hours it is the best trekking route in the Simien mountains. On the way we visit Imet Gogo, the single most spectacular spot in the whole of the Simien mountains. Imet Gogo, at 3926m, has incomparable 360 degree views of canyons, cliffs and valleys that look as if they go on forever.
-We leave Imet Gogo with beautiful images imprinted forever in our minds and head down to the valley of Meflekiaw. From the valley we climb again about 500 meters and to reach a point called Enatye at 4070m. This is the highest point of today’s trek and from here we descend to beautiful Chennek.
-The area around Chennek is home to many gelada baboons and they are often seen in large numbers in and around camp. It’s also possible to see walia ibex grazing, mock fighting or simply sitting on a rock soaking up some sun right next the camp. Overnight Chennek camp (3600m)
-Today we trek from Chennek camp to Ras Buwahit peak and return. The hike takes about 5 to 6 hours in total. At 4430m, Ras Buwahit is the second highest peak in the Simien mountains and we may see walia ibex along the way.
-There is also the chance of seeing the rare, endemic Simien wolf. After spending some time at the peak we descend back to camp
10 DAYS - SANKABER THROUGH RAS DASHEN TO ADI ARKAY
-You will be picked up either from Gondar Airport or your hotel. There is then a drive of about 102 km north to the small town of Debark, where the park headquarters are located.
-Here we will employ a scout, cook and pay for entry into the park. After a drive of 27 km, we will start the first day's trek of about 2-3 hours to Sankaber, the first camp site, arriving in time for a beautiful sunset and delicious evening meal around an open fire.
-After hiking for an hour and a half along the escarpment, we arrive at a stunning waterfall, cascading 500 metres through a hole in the rock into the bottom of an impressive gorge. It is particularly spectacular following the rainy season (September-November).
-Lunch will be by the Ginbar river, which is the source of the waterfall. From the lunch spot, we will ascend to the camp site and also possibly to Geech Village to experience a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, a key part of the culture and a good moment to observe how rural people live.
-The day's trek is about 6-7 hours.
-Offers some of the most spectacular sights of the whole trip. The views in all directions are dramatic and ever changing as the sun moves through the day. In the morning, we walk along the crest of a broad ridge to Imet Gogo.
-Here we should get our first glimpse of Ras Dashen, the highest peak in the country. There is also a good chance of seeing the indigenous Gelada baboon. After a morning of 3-4 hours trekking, we have a lunch break at the head of the Inatey Valley (4,070m) before continuing along the Belegez Valley to our final destination - Camp Chennek.
-From Chennek you can see over the escarpment edge and across the foothills. This is a good place to spot Walia ibex and more Gelada baboons. Total trekking time for the day is 8-9 hours.
-This is a challenging day's trekking of ascents and descents as we make our way from Chennek to Ambiko. We have a high chance of seeing the rare and endangered mountain goat (Walia ibex), unique to the Simien.
-From Chenek, we climb to a pass at 4,200m and from the pass we have a big drop down to Mesha River (2,850m), via the village of Chiro Leba.
-From the river, we then ascend 350m to the base camp of Mount Ras Dashen, Ambiko. Trekking time: 8-9 hours
Four day trek into Simien Mountains
-Trek from Gich to Chennek (3620m) via Imet Gogo. At Imet Gogo there are excellent views of the Simien escarpment and on the Gich plateau you will see the endemic plant Giant Lobelia in abundance .
-At Chennek there are again excellent views, and you should see more Gelada monkeys, Walia ibex and if you are lucky the Ethiopian wolf.
-Trekking time of around 9 hours.
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