Five days simien mountains trekking with discover simien tour

DAY 1

We depart early from the historical town of Gondar and drive around 2.5 hours on a tarred, comfortable road to Debark where we get permission to enter Simien National Park at the park head office.

We then drive 22km further to the Simien Lodge, within the national park. From here we walk about 2 or 3 hours, stopping often to admire the amazing views of the escarpment, take photos and see the friendly gelada baboons.

We will also see a variety of plants and flowers. Overnight at Sankabar camp (3250m).

DAY 2

The hike from Sankaber to Geech camp takes about 5 to 6 hours passing through ever more spectacular scenery and varying flowers and trees . There the possibility to see a klipspringer and minlikbushbuk as well as a leopard (if we are very lucky!).

The entertaining gelada baboons are always around. Along the way we pass the 500m high Jinbar waterfall and stop for lunch on the banks of the Jinbar river. We pass through Geech village where we can have coffee with a local family in their traditional tukul hut which they share with their animals.

This is a great way to glimpse the day to day life of the mountain people. Overnight at Geech camp (3600m).

DAY 3

From Geech to Chennek camp takes about 7 to 8 hours it is the best trekking route in the Simien mountains. On the way we visit Imet Gogo, the single most spectacular spot in the whole of the Simien mountains.

Imet Gogo, at 3926m, has incomparable 360 degree views of canyons, cliffs and valleys that look as if they go on forever.

We leave Imet Gogo with beautiful images imprinted forever in our minds and head down to the valley of Meflekiaw. From the valley we climb again about 500 meters and to reach a point called Enatye at 4070m.

This is the highest point of today’s trek and from here we descend to beautiful Chennek. The area around Chennek is home to many gelada baboons and they are often seen in large numbers in and around camp.

It’s also possible to see walia ibex grazing, mock fighting or simply sitting on a rock soaking up some sun right next the camp. Overnight Chennek camp (3600m).

DAY 4

Today we trek from Chennek camp to Ras Buwahit peak and return. The hike takes about 5 to 6 hours in total. At 4430m, Ras Buwahit is the second highest peak in the Simien mountains and we may see walia ibex along the way.

There is also the chance of seeing the rare, endemic Simien wolf.

After spending some time at the peak we descend back to camp

DAY 5

Drive back to Gondar