Description

Day 1 Fly to Gonder, drive to Debark (100km) & 3hrs trek to Sankaber camp 3200m

This morning, you depart Addis Abeba very early and fly to Gonder (approx.1 hour). From here, you drive from Gonder to Debark (approx.2 hrs, 100km), where the Simien Mountains National Park headquarters are located. After picking up the rest of your trekking crew, your national park scouts, food supplies and your camping equipment in debark, you will drive on a rough road towards Sankaber camp. From Sankaber camp, we take a short acclimatisation trek to view the stunning escarpment and beyond.

Day 2 Trek to Geech campsite 3600m

The Simien Mountains consist of many high altitude plateau formed by volcanic activity and lava flows, the northern and western flanks of which were subsequently eroded by large rivers forming an incredible landscape of rugged peaks and valleys. Your experienced trek leader and national park scouts are very familiar with this area and will introduce you to some remote areas with in these Mountains. If you are lucky, you may find some gelada baboons playing on the slopes. Today we head along some spectacular trails past the Geech abyss and we continue for 2-3 hrs uphill to Geech camp.

Day 3 optional acclimatisation walks to summit of Imet Gogo 3926m approx. 5-6hrs

From Geech, we take a circuit with an optional ascent to the summit of Imet Gogo (3926m). This walk is a relatively easy one, geared to help the acclimatisation process while allowing us to enjoy some truly dramatic views. From Imet Gogo, the vast expanse of low lands is revealed below us, and we gain some perspective of this incredible mountain range. We continue on our circuit walk to Saha viewpoint which makes a perfect lunch spot, before returning to camp for a relaxing afternoon. There should be time to reach the escarpment at another view point at kedadit for sunset views. Black backed jackals and lammergeyers may also be seen in this area.

Day 4 to Chenek 3620m approx. 7hrs trek

Today you continue your trek through open grasslands and giant lobelias, along the edge of the escarpment to Chenek. This is a relatively gentle day walk with a few steep ups and downs. You stop for lunch at Inatiye (4070m) where again you have some magnificent views of the lowlands. Chenek itself is one of your most beautiful campsites, with your tents clustered among the giant lobelias and superb views of the escarpment. This is one of the best areas to see the endemic Walia ibex, a large mountain goat unique to Ethiopia, with distinctively patterned fore-legs and large, ridged horns. Gelada baboons are also common around Chenek. Like the walia, they are seldom found far from cliffs and are well adapted to living on nearly vertical faces. At the first site of danger they will plunge over the edge where danger cannot follow. The simian fox or Abyssinian wolf, though named after this area, is now rarely seen, though you may hear its high pitched call at night. These mountains are also noted for cliff-nesting birds of prey, in particular the large and powerful lammergeyer (bearded vulture). These birds have a wing span of almost 3meters and are frequently seen performing aerial acrobatics above us.

Day 5 to Ambiko 3170m 8-10 hrs

This morning, you leave for Ambiko at the foot of Ras Dashen (or Ras Dejen). After a steady but steep ascent to Bwahit pass (4200m), beneath Bwahit peak (4430m) the second highest mountain on our route, you rest and take in the incredible outlook of our camp site across the valley below. From here you will also get your first sighting of Ras Dejen 4543m, the highest point in a wall of cliffs and peaks on the skyline at the far side of the valley. You then follow a steep path down to the village of chiro leba, stopping for lunch nearby, before crossing the Meshah River. There is a final steep climb to the village of Ambiko, where you will camp for the next two nights.

Day 6 to summit Ras Dashen 4543m 10-12hrs

Today you continue your trek through open grasslands and giant lobelias, along the edge of the escarpment to Chenek. This is a relatively gentle day walk with a few steep ups and downs. You stop for lunch at Inatiye (4070m) where again you have some magnificent views of the lowlands. Chenek itself is one of your most beautiful campsites, with your tents clustered among the giant lobelias and superb views of the escarpment. This is one of the best areas to see the endemic Walia ibex, a large mountain goat unique to Ethiopia, with distinctively patterned fore-legs and large, ridged horns. Gelada baboons are also common around Chenek. Like the walia, they are seldom found far from cliffs and are well adapted to living on nearly vertical faces. At the first site of danger they will plunge over the edge where danger cannot follow. The simian fox or Abyssinian wolf, though named after this area, is now rarely seen, though you may hear its high pitched call at night. These mountains are also noted for cliff-nesting birds of prey, in particular the large and powerful lammergeyer (bearded vulture). These birds have a wing span of almost 3meters and are frequently seen performing aerial acrobatics above us. Day 5 to Ambiko 3170m 8-10 hrs This morning, you leave for Ambiko at the foot of Ras Dashen (or Ras Dejen). After a steady but steep ascent to Bwahit pass (4200m), beneath Bwahit peak (4430m) the second highest mountain on our route, you rest and take in the incredible outlook of our camp site across the valley below. From here you will also get your first sighting of Ras Dejen 4543m, the highest point in a wall of cliffs and peaks on the skyline at the far side of the valley. You then follow a steep path down to the village of chiro leba, stopping for lunch nearby, before crossing the Meshah River. There is a final steep climb to the village of Ambiko, where you will camp for the next two nights. Day 6 to summit Ras Dashen 4543m 10-12hrs Today’s climb to the highest point in Ethiopia, the summit of Ras Dejen at 4543m, requires a pre-dawn start. You climb slowly and steadily through farmland and giant lobelia forests for about 6-7hrs, before a steep scramble for 20 minutes to the summit. On the summit you will take a rest and absorb the spectacular panorama that awaits. In clear weather it is possible to see as far as Eritrea. From the top you do the same short scramble down then continue descending for about 4-5 hrs, back to your campsite at Ambiko. Today is a very long day but well worth the effort.

Day 7 Trek to Chiro leba 5hrs and drive to Gonder

After breakfast feeling elated at conquering Ras Dashen, we will retrace our steps back to chiro leba. This involves dropping down to the river before ascending for the final time to the village of chiro leba where we shall meet our vehicles for the drive along the escarpment, arriving back to gonder in the late afternoon for a welcome hot shower and rest.

Day 8 Fly back to Addis Abeba

This morning we fly back to Adis Abeba where we are transferred to the hotel and will be the end of our program