Trekking the Simien Mountains
A first look at trekking the Simien Mountains — the gelada baboons, dramatic escarpments, and how to plan a trip.
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.
Most trips stage through Gondar before and after. Find places to stay in Gondar as a base before heading up to Debark.