Simien Mountains National Park

For adventurers, the Unesco World Heritage–listed Simien Mountains National Park offers one of Africa’s most beautiful ranges. This massive plateau, riven with gullies and pinnacles, offers tough but immensely rewarding trekking along the ridge that falls sheer to the plains far below. With an average altitude over 3.000m, visitors will walk on the edge of spectacular cliffs meanwhile share lunch with a group of gelada monkeys or a magnificent walia ibex on rock ledges.

Visitors can book a trekking through a local tour operator in Gondar. The package will include transfers to/ from Gondar. A cooker and porters are available to hire. They will bring food, water and your staffs.

Clothing: Light and breathable clothing during the day, and a couple of warmer layers for the night, including a warm hat. Due to the high altitude, the climate here may be wet and cold depends of the season. Make sure you bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for the day.

3 Days Simien Mountains

Sankaber 3.250m - Geech Camp 3.600m 13 km 5-6 hours.

Geech 3.600m - Chenek Camp 3.620m 15 km 7-8 hours via Imet Gogo 3.926m and Inatye 4.070m.

Chenek Camp 3.620m - Bwahit 4.430m - Chenek Camp 3.620m 12 km 5-6 hours.

Visitors can skip the first day or add extra days to reach Ambikwa, Sona, Mekarebya and Mulit, They must arrange the pick up day in advance.

Packages Price

2 Days Simien Mountains Geech 3.600m - Bwahit 4.430m 150 USD

3 Days Simien Mountains 180-200 USD

Do it yourself (130 USD)

From Gondar to Debark (2-3 hours) by bus at 6.00 am and 10.30 am (40 birr).and frequent minibuses.

From Debark Bus station tourist must go to the Park Offices (20 minutes walking). There tourist can buy tickets, hire the mandatory explorer and optional cooker and porters.

Schedule Park offices: 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday – Friday and 8:30 am to 12 pm on Saturday.

Transport

Visitors also can book a private car for pick ups at the park for 2400 birr.

From Debark, there are some buses heading to Sankaber (2 hours) 200 birr. Schedule: 6.00 am and 9.00 am

Last buses from Debark to Gondar at 6.00 pm (40 birr).

Accommodation & meals

Visitor must pay for sleep in each camp. Some of them provides lunch and dinner. Ask in advance. Cooks will charge you 20 birr per liter to boil water.

Tips

Cooker 700 birr

Cooker assitant 500 birr

Scout 400 birr

Guide 1.000 birr

Porter 200 birr

Expenses for one day in Simien Mountains

A day-ticket 90 birr

Explorer 150 birr + Meals 50 birr (each dish)+Tips 400 birr

Camp 120 birr + Meals 150 birr

Camps have basic facilities but no power. Visitor must bring torches, drinking water although some locals sell beers and sodas.

What to visit