The son of a shepherd, Abel was raised in the Simien Mountains before going to university to study biology. Today he is a fully-trained and accredited tour guide who can take you on a journey through his country like no one else.

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Tours

Many people enjoy the affordability of well-established tours, where they can share their experiences with other travellers. However Abel can also work with you to plan a bespoke trip to get your group away from the established routes, to places where few other people go.

2 Day Trek

3 Day Trek

4-5 Day Trek

7 Day Trek

8 Day Trek

10 Day Trek

Southern Ethiopia Circuit

About

The son of a shepherd, Abel was raised in the Simien Mountains before going to university to study biology. Today he is a fully-trained and accredited tour guide who can take you on a journey through his country like no one else. Many people enjoy the affordability of well-established tours, where they can share their experiences with other travellers. However Abel can also work with you to plan a bespoke trip to get your group away from the established routes, to places where few other people go.

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Trekking Tours

2 Day Tour

Drive from Gondar city centre or airport to the park head office in the town of Debark. Here we’ll register before entering the mountain park and we’ll also pick up our scout, guide and cook. From here we travel into the Simiens to our first camp at Sankabar (3250 metres). Upon arrival we will trek for 3 - 4 hours before watching the sunset. We stay at Sankabar overnight.

In the morning we trek for 2.5 hours to the 500-metre Jinbar Waterfall, taking in the splendid landscape and wildlife. There are leopards in this area but they are rarely seen, however maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones! More likely, your highlight will be the delightful and giant troupe of gelada baboons, stars of the BBC Series, Human Planet. After lunch by the waterfall the cars will pick you up and return you to Gondar.

3 Day Tour

Drive from Gondar city centre or airport to the park head office in the town of Debark. Here we’ll register before entering the mountain park and we’ll also pick up our scout, guide and cook. From here we travel into the Simiens to our first camp at Sankabar (3250 metres). Upon arrival we will trek for 3 - 4 hours before watching the sunset. We stay at Sankabar overnight. You will depart early morning from Gondar to Debark. After picking up your scout, cook and permit we will drive to Sankaber. You can either drive all the way in to Sankaber or have the car drop you off near Buyit Ras for a short hike. Hiking will take reveal beautiful views over the seemingly-endless mountain ridges - and you will likely see the famous gelada baboons. When you arrive in Sankaber you will be met with your supplies, have dinner and overnight.

In the morning we will follow the ridge of the mountains and marvel at the landscape 800 metres beneath us. After the ridge we will descend down into the valley and see the beautiful Jinbar River. After a couple of pleasant hours at the waterfall we continue onto our campsite in the village of Geech.

Today's hike will take 6 to 7 hours and will take in the breathtaking scenery the Simiens has to offer. We will lunch on the peak of Imet Gogo (3926 metres) and a fantastic 360-degree panorama of the beautiful countryside and seemingly never-ending valleys below. From there we will hike to Ambaras village where you will be met by a car to bring you back to Debark or Gondar.

4-5 Day Tour

Drive from Gondar city centre or airport to the park head office in the town of Debark. Here we’ll register before entering the mountain park and we’ll also pick up our scout, guide and cook. From here we travel into the Simiens to our first camp at Sankabar (3250 metres). Upon arrival we will trek for 3 - 4 hours before watching the sunset. We stay at Sankabar overnight.

In the morning we will follow the ridge of the mountains and marvel at the landscape 800 metres beneath us. After the ridge we will descend down into the valley and see the beautiful Jinbar River. After a couple of pleasant hours at the waterfall we continue onto our campsite in the village of Geech.

As above, we hike to the summit of Imet Gogo for lunch before heading down into the valley of Meflekiaw. From the valley we climb 500 meters to reach the Enatye peak (4070m). From here we descend to the beautiful campsite of Chennek (3600m)., which is home to the huge troupe of Gelada Baboons, as seen in the BBC series, Human Planet. We will see them run vertically down the cliffs at sunset.

The hike to Ras Buwahit (4430m) the second-highest peak in the Simien Mountains takes about 6 hours. This area is the best place to see the Ibex and the Simien wolf. Afterwards we return to camp for lunch and then drive back to Gondar.

Please note: it is possible to make this a 5 day trek by spending two nights at Geech and hiking for one day in the area around that camp (including Imet Gogo) then continuing with the above itinerary. It is also possible to omit Ras Buwahit peak on the last day if you do not wish to hike to 4430m.

7 Day Tour

Drive from Gondar city centre or airport to the park head office in the town of Debark. Here we’ll register before entering the mountain park and we’ll also pick up our scout, guide and cook. From here we travel into the Simiens to our first camp at Sankabar (3250 metres). Upon arrival we will trek for 3 - 4 hours before watching the sunset. We stay at Sankabar overnight.

In the morning we will follow the ridge of the mountains and marvel at the landscape 800 metres beneath us. After the ridge we will descend down into the valley and see the beautiful Jinbar River. After a couple of pleasant hours at the waterfall we continue onto our campsite in the village of Geech.

As above, we hike to the summit of Imet Gogo for lunch before heading down into the valley of Meflekiaw. From the valley we climb 500 meters to reach the Enatye peak (4070m). From here we descend to the beautiful campsite of Chennek (3600m)., which is home to the huge troupe of Gelada Baboons, as seen in the BBC series, Human Planet. We will see them run vertically down the cliffs at sunset.

From Chennek, we trek to Sona via Buwhit pass (4200m). This is a good opportunity to spot the magnificent Walia Ibex as well as the endemic, but rare, Simien Fox. There are wonderful views along the way before we descend to Sona, which is renowned for its fantastic sunsets. Overnight Sona camp (3450m)

From Sona we hike to Mekarebya. This trek takes around 5 hours and it’s downhill almost all of the way - you’ll notice the temperature rises considerably as lose altitude and the vegetation will change drastically too. Overnight at Mekarebya camp (2000m)

From Mekarebya we hike for 5 to 6 hours to Mulit. This is an interesting hike where you will likely see monkeys. We cross the Insya River a couple of times before a final steep hike to the campsite. Overnight at Mulit camp (2100m).

From Mulit we make our way, mostly downhill, for 2.5 hours to Adiarkay. Once we reach the main road we’ll then drive to Gondar.

8 Day Tour

Drive from Gondar city centre or airport to the park head office in the town of Debark. Here we’ll register before entering the mountain park and we’ll also pick up our scout, guide and cook. From here we travel into the Simiens to our first camp at Sankabar (3250 metres). Upon arrival we will trek for 3 - 4 hours before watching the sunset. We stay at Sankabar overnight.

In the morning we will follow the ridge of the mountains and marvel at the landscape 800 metres beneath us. After the ridge we will descend down into the valley and see the beautiful Jinbar River. After a couple of pleasant hours at the waterfall we continue onto our campsite in the village of Geech.

Walk from Geech to the three stunning places namely Imet Gogo, Saha, and Kedadit and then walk back to Geech camp, where we will spend the night.

Today is the longest and arguably most spectacular passing close to the ridge most of its length. After breakfast you will head back on the path towards Imet Gogo before detouring SE towards Inatye. The path drops into a forest of Giant Hazel before following the ridge on open grassland. The climb to Inatye (4,070m) rewards with stunning views. Inatye roughly translates as “mamma mia” and the terrifying vertical drop here justly warrants the name! After a picnic lunch the path follows mostly downhill through open grassland and gian lobelia towards Chenek with a number of stunning viewpoints along the way. Chenek camp is superb for wildlife with both Gelada Baboons and Wallia Ibex common here. (B,L,D)

Today is the longest day of trekking (10 hours). From Chenek camp (3650 metres) the path to Ambiko campsite crosses through the 4200m high Bwahit Ras. From the top of the pass views open up to the east over Mesheha Valley to the Dashen Mountains.

From Bwahit Pass the path leads steeply down and across the Mesheha Valley. Here you will notice an increase in temperature as you descend down to the Mesheha River at 2800 metres before climbing slightly to reach Ambiko campsite at an altitude of 3100 metres.

The path of today is around 16 kilometres long and will wind its way ascending over 1400 metres to Ras Dashen. To begin the path climbs steeply through barley fields and fallow land before clearing the vegetation zone and reaching mountain steppe at around 3700 metres.

From there the path flattens out as it traverses ridges in the shadow of Ras Dashen. Just below Dashen Pass, at around 4250 meters, an impressive moraine can be distinguished. A moraine is material transported by a glacier and then deposited.

The final stretch to the summit involves an exciting climb over large boulders. From atop the summit of Ras Dashen, 4543 meters, you will be mesmerized by the far-ranging view which span more than 10,000 square kilometres.

On the west the steep faces of peaks in the National Park are visible whilst to the north and east the Tekeze Valley is visible. From the top you will need to return along the same path to come to your camp at Ambiko.

Walk from Ambiko to Chenek (7 to 8 hours). Stay the night at Chenek camp site.

Drive from Chenek to Gonder via Debark (4 hours).

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