4-Day Simien Mountains Fixed Departure Group Trek

• A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

From Gondar to Debark and into the Simien Mountains NP

7-8 km, 2-3 hours walking.

In the morning at about 7:30, the bus picks us up at the hotel in Gondar and takes us 100 km north on the Ethiopian highland to Debark, a small town of about 35,000 inhabitants at the border to the famous Simien National Park.
After a quick stop for the formalities at the headquarter offices of the national park and for collecting cook and scouts, we drive out on a rough road to the Sankaber area at about 3,100 m sea level from where we take a short walk of 2-3 hours to assist the acclimatization process.
We get a first impressive view over the dramatic mountain range and see some typical plants of that area such as big Heather Trees (Erica Arborea), St. John swort, or the Abyssinian Wild Rose. This is also the area in which the largest number of Gelada Baboons can be found. First night in the tents at the Sankaber camp at 3,250m sea level.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit September to December (Beautiful scenery)

High Season October to April (Lodges are busy)

Best Weather October to April

Wildlife in Simien Mountains NP

Gelada monkey Abundant

Walia ibex Occasional

Ethiopian wolf Rare

Klipspringer Rare

Bushbuck Rare

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Golden jackal Rare

Hyena Rare

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Trek from Sankaber to the Jinbar Waterfall and reach Gich camp

13 km, 6-7 hours walking including breaks.

At Sankaber we organize and arrange mule men and mules who carry our heavy camping and cooking equipment for the next few days. So the hikers need to carry only a light daypack with some water, a photo camera, a light jacket, and a few personal things that they might need for the hike during the day.
After breakfast, we leave the camp and we traverse along the escarpment before dropping down to get impressive views, for example of the beautiful Jinbar Waterfall. In the large gorge of the waterfall, there are many birds like the Griffon, Lappet-faced or Nubian Vulture and Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, and other smaller birds as buzzards and ibises. Among the mammals, Klipspringers and Meneliks Bushbucks can be found.
After crossing the Jinbar river, we ascend through terraced farmland to our camp at 3,600m. In the evening we can walk up (30 min) to the mountain Kedadit (3,760m) and assist to an unforgettable sunset.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Climb the viewpoint Imet Gogo and 4000m peak Inatye

15 km, 7-8 hours walking including breaks.

After breakfast, we walk for about 2 hours to the summit of Imet Gogo (3,926m), which is one of the most spectacular viewpoints with 360 degrees and from where we can see Ras Dashen, the highest peak of the country.
After a break we trek along the whole escarpment, cross a small valley and climb the peak Inatye (4,070m) where we will take our lunch stop and have a rest. From there we will have a nice view more than 1,000m down to the green fields of the local mountain villages. During the whole day, we walk through vast fields of Giant Lobelia and sometimes Heather Trees or Red Hot Poker.
After the break, we descend and reach our camp Chenek in the afternoon (3,620m). Chenek sometimes called a wildlife corridor, is the best place to see the Gelada Baboons, the Walia Ibex, and the Ethiopian Wolf. These animals are best observed around Chenek camp. At the campsite, we can wash in the river or pipe water.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Excursion around Chenek and return to Gondar

12 km, 5-6 hours walking including breaks.

In the early morning we leave from our last camp Chenek, where we meet again Walia Ibexes, and first, climb up about 600m to the Pass Bwahit (about 4,200m). This is the pass that hikers have to traverse if they want to climb Ras Dashen, but reaching this summit takes at least 2 days more.
If the physical condition allows it we continue from the past our climb up to the peak of Ras Bwahit (4,430m), one of the highest in the whole area. Then we descend to Chenek and the car brings us back first to Debark on a 58 km long rough road and from there on the new asphalt road to Gondar, where we will arrive in the afternoon at about 5:00 PM.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.