Dramatic landscapes
Ethiopian Highlands hold 80% of Africa tallest mountains. Most of them are in Simien national park.
Violent volcanic eruptions 40 million years ago created the Simien Mountains massif, which rises to over 4500m in northern Ethiopia. Over millennia, erosive forces have sculpted its jagged pinnacles, deep ravines and volcanic plugs. Treks of between five and ten days along high-altitude escarpments, across alpine meadows and through the fertile lowlands are the best way to fully appreciate the amazing diversity of the Simiens, much of what today is protected as part of Simien Mountains National Park.
Steep ascents lead to lush plateaus populated with giant lobelias – freaky fleshy-leaved plants growing to 3m in height, evoking images of dinosaurs and ancient days. Escarpment vistas are filled with sheer cliffs, plunging waterfalls, and rocky turrets spiking out from the forested valleys below. Ribbons of mist drift over the ground. Vultures and ravens cruise the skies. It is a strangely beautiful yet primal world.
Dropping off the escarpment, the landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation as it descends some 2000m into the lowlands – lowlands being a misnomer given these valleys are still over 2000m in altitude. Vibrantly coloured red hot poker plants cover the mountain slopes, and desert-style cactus trees and groves of aloe vera line the trail. Cultivated fields of yellow canola flowers and feathery green tef are peppered with tropical-style giant ficus and palm trees.
Endemic wildlife
Living in the highlands of Ethiopia is a rare and exotic cache of wildlife – the gelada (aka 'bleeding heart baboon'), the elusive Ethiopian wolf, the majestic Walia ibex and the giant Lammergeir (a bearded vulture with a 3m wingspan). There’s a good chance of spotting all of these creatures, and more, on a trek through the Simien Mountains.
With their expressive faces, playful antics and magnificent silver manes, the geladas are simply delightful. Once almost hunted to extinction, these monkeys (babaoons is a historical misnomer) are now a protected species. The gelada is found only in the Simiens. They live in groups of one hundred or more, and favour the escarpment where they clamber over and under the cliff edge like agile acrobats. Unlike most primates that advertise sexual receptivity with swollen red buttocks, the gelada has a scarlet patch of skin on its chest, which led to its ‘bleeding heart' moniker. It is easy to approach within a few metres of these wild animals, especially those found around Sankabar (3600m) and Chenek (3620m).
The Ethiopian wolf, or Simien fox, is extremely rare. In fact it is the planet’s rarest canid, with an estimated population of less than 50 in the Simien Mountains, and no more than 400 in the entire country (the majority reside in Bale Mountains National Park in southern Ethiopia). The main threat to the wolf’s survival stems from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion into the afro-alpine zone. Habitat depletion has also impacted the endangered Walia ibex, another species endemic to this region. Looking like a large deer with impressively long, ridged horns, it is actually a member of the goat family. Liking steep, rocky places, they might be found at Chenek grazing the vertical cliffs below the escarpment.
The roof of Africa - Simen Mountains National Park
Due to its scope and size, the mighty mountain massif of the Simien Mountains is poetically called the ‘roof of Africa’. Ras Dashen, at 4543m, is Ethiopia’s highest peak and its crowning glory.
We will trek in this wildest land of Africa including the chance to see the highest mountain peak in Ethiopia Ras-Dejen (4543m). When we reach our highest point at 4,070m we can see there are many outstanding views of the gorge and mountain range.
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Bale National Park
Ethiopia's most important biodiversity hotspot, Bale Mountains National Park supports a rich mosaic of high-altitude habitats including lush evergreen forest, stands of giant bamboo, pastel-shaded moorland, and sheltered river valleys swathed in fragrant juniper-hagenia woodland. Nominated as a tentative UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 2009, the park is the most important stronghold to three endemic large mammal species - the charismatic Ethiopian wolf, handsome mountain nyala and delightful Bale monkey - while its incredible avifauna is reflected by the African Birding Club having listed it as one of the continent’s top five birding hotspots.
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Bale’s high-altitude centrepiece is the Sanetti Plateau, a vast lava plateau interspersed with several 4,200-plus metre volcanic cones.
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Sanetti is the world’s most extensive Afro-Alpine moorland, comprising tussocks of heather interspersed with icy tarns and ethereal giant lobelias. The northern slopes below Sanetti support a mix of juniper-hagenia woodland and Afromontane grassland, while the southern slopes are layered with altitudinal bands of Erica, bamboo and Afromontane forest
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Bale's 1,300-plus plant species include 160 Ethiopian endemics and 23 unique to the park.
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Bale is the main global stronghold for the endangered Ethiopian wolf, a handsome red-and-white canid often seen trotting through the heather of the Sanetti Plateau, where it feeds on rodents such as the endemic giant mole-rat.
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Bale is the last main stronghold for the endangered mountain nyala, a large spiral-horned antelope most often seen on the short walking trail that runs through the juniper-hagenia forest around the park headquarters at Dinsho. Other mammals often encountered at Dinsho include warthog, Bohor reedbuck and Menelik’s bushbuck.
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Make it happen
The driest time of year for hiking is from December to March. If you can choose, always opt for September to November. After the summer rains, the landscape is vivid green, the paths are less dusty and the far-reaching views undisturbed by haze.
Land Package Includes
~ 4 – night hotel accommodation on a twin sharing basis;
~ 3 – night camping at designated camping sites with air mattress and sleeping bag provided for each hiker;
~ relevant camping equipment;
~ fullboard meals, or as illustrated in the itinerary;
~ cooking equipment required at camping sites;
~ Cook & camp kitchen assistant(s) at camping sites;
~ provision of water to clean up after hike;
~ provision of hot water every morning;
~ provision of mule(s) & mule handler(s);
~ provision of hiking scout(s), police, military as deemed necessary;
~ provision of emergency mule and vehicle standby at the designated locations for emergency evacuation;
~ required entrance fees according to the tour programme;
~ all necessary ground transportation by mini coach, coach or jeep transfers;
~ provision of English speaking hiking guide & scout assistant(s);
~ service of an English speaking guide.
Highly recommended for hygiene purposes to bring your own sleeping bag OR liner. If they do not wish to bring, this will be provided as part of the package (used but clean). Highly advise to bring thicker winter for the camping nights due to the high altitude.
3 days of Fully Supported Hiking & Camping
- During hiking - Each hiker can offload (max 10 kg) of personal items to the porter pool
- You only hike up with your daypack whatever items needed during the hike
- All 3 meals daily provided when trekking starts
- Tents will be carried by porter & setup at the 3 campsite
- Sleeping provided but good to bring at least liner for hygiene purposes
Examples of Meals served during Camping: ~
Breakfast : omelettes or scrambled eggs; pancakes; porridge; bread with jam peanuts and honey.
~ Lunch : (3) cooked lunch like, rice with mixed vegetables or pasta. Packed/picnic lunch with vegetable & tuna.
~ Dinner : 3-course dinner : starter soup, main dish and dessert;
e.g soup - vegetables, tomato, carrot or garlic soup
e.g main dish - grilled tibis or spaghetti with different vegetables
e.g dessert - fruit like bananas, pineapples.
~ Tea & coffee will be served every morning and evening.
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Land Package DOES NOT Include
~ air travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
~ visa arrangement
~ beverages and/or alcoholic drinks during inclusive meal times
~ video and/or camera fees if and where applicable
~ entrance fees to any special ceremonies that may encounter by chance
~ tipping for Guide, Driver and support assistants
~ personal travel insurance
~ personal expenditure
~ anything not specified in the itinerary.
