SIMEN MOUNTAIN TREKKING
Highlights
- Unique wildlife and breath-taking views
- Isolated trees (Erica & bored) and the bizarre Giant Lobelia
- Encounter troops of the endemic gelada baboons
Overview
The Simien Mountains National Park in Northern Ethiopia is an exotic setting with unique wildlife and breath-taking views on a landscape shaped by nature and traditional agriculture. The natural beauties of this region have always filled visitors from Ethiopia and abroad with awe. Gentle highland ridges at altitudes above 3600 meters above sea level (m asl), covered with grasses, isolated trees (Erica & bored) and the bizarre Giant Lobelia (Lobelia rhynchopetalum) are found on the high plateau that ends abruptly at 1000- to 2000-m deep escarpments.
- Day 1 - From Gondar to the campsite
We will meet you in the morning at Gonder Airport or your hotel in Gonder. Drive to the first camp (Sankaber) via Debark (the small town) you will be rewarded with very impressive views of the low land areas to the north and west.
You will most certainly encounter troops of the endemic gelada baboons. The gelada baboon, only found in Ethiopia, is often referred to as the bleeding heart baboon or the lion monkey because their coat is shaggy resembling a lion, whilst their chest has a marked red heart or patch.
The gelada baboon can be found in good numbers is quite easy to approach. Sankaber camp is situated at an altitude of 3250 meters on an impressive viewpoint between the northern escarpment and the southern Wazla. Before you arrive at the camp you have about 2hrs.
DAY 2
- Day 2 - Trekking
Trekking from Sanakabar camp to Gich camp via Jinibar falls, which takes around six hours. Gich camp is at 3600 metres of altitude.
- Day 3 - Trekking
Walk from Geech to the three stunning places namely Imet Gogo, Saha, and Kedadit and then walk back to Geech camp, overnight here.
- Day 4 - Trekking
Walk from Geech to Chenek via Imet gogo. If you are lucky you might see the Ethiopian wolf. Time taken to complete this hike is about 7-8hrs and then overnight at Chenek.
- Day 5 - Trekking and return to Gondar
Walk from Chenek to Bwahit Ras which is 4200mas and back to the campsite. The car will then meet you in the morning and drive you to Gonder, which takes about five hours via Debark.