Trekking the Simien Mountains

The Simien Mountains National Park is Ethiopia’s premier trekking destination — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of jagged peaks, deep valleys and sheer escarpments that drop away for hundreds of metres. It is high, dramatic, and full of wildlife found nowhere else.

The wildlife

• Gelada baboons — grazing in large, relaxed troops you can often approach closely.
• Walia ibex — the rare mountain goat found only here, picked out along the cliff edges.
• Lammergeier (bearded vultures) riding the thermals over the escarpment.

Planning a trek

• Treks range from a day hike to a week or more; the park is entered from the town of Debark, reached from Gondar.
• The dry season (October to March) is the usual window; nights are cold at altitude year-round, and the highest ground reaches over 4,000 metres.
• Guides and scouts are arranged through the park — go prepared for cold, sun and thin air.

Popular routes and how long

• A day trip from Debark to the escarpment near Sankaber is enough for gelada troops and huge views if time is short.
• The classic three-to-four-day trek links the camps at Sankaber, Geech and Chennek, taking in viewpoints like Imet Gogo.
• Summiting Ras Dashen (4,550 m), Ethiopia’s highest peak, adds several harder days from Chennek.

Altitude and what to bring

The park starts high and climbs higher, so give yourself time to acclimatise and take the first day gently. Pack for real cold at night, strong sun by day and sudden weather: warm layers, a windproof, a hat and gloves, sturdy boots and sun protection. Mules and porters can carry the heavy loads, and camping gear can be hired locally.

Most trips stage through Gondar and Debark before and after. Find places to stay in Gondar, or around the Simien Mountains near Debark, as a base for the trek.