Why Trekking in the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia is worth it

Often referred to as the ceiling of Ethiopia, it’s hard to put into words the incredible experience that is trekking the Simien Mountains.

Simien Mountains of Ethiopia by Donald Macauley

For starters, there’s the uninterrupted views of endless high peaks amidst vast, green valleys that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Then there’s the huge proliferation of interesting wildlife, including the endemic gelada baboons and extremely rare walia ibex, not to mention that vast array of unique flowers, trees and plants. And who can forget the experience of trekking to Ethiopia’s highest peak, of being guided by local people and of disconnecting totally and utterly from the outside world, so that it really is just you and the mountains?

Simien Mountains undulating hills by Petr Meissner

If this all sounds delightfully appealing, then read on to learn more about why trekking the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia is a bucket list beauty you really can’t afford to miss.

Simien Mountains National Park

One of the things that certainly makes this part of Ethiopia special is just how pristine and untouched the natural environment is.

Simien Mountains, Ethiopia by Leonard A. Floyd

Designated as the first national park in the country in 1969, the Simien Mountains’ protected status has kept this special landscape wonderfully free of development and human intrusion for over 5 decades.

And because of its remote location in one of Africa’s least-trodden corners, tourist numbers have also remained low, meaning this enchanting destination still offers intrepid travellers a real sense of getting off the beaten track and into the wild.

Simien Mountains panorama by Jasmine Halki

The protection afforded to the park was reinforced further when UNESCO listed the Simien Mountains as a World Heritage Site back in 1978.

It was actually one of the first sites in the world to achieve UNESCO status and has since been joined by 8 other destinations across this country, making Ethiopia the African nation with the highest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

High Altitude Mountains

But it’s not just the national park and UNESCO status that has kept the Simien Mountains special.

The high altitude of this destination, its soaring craggy peaks and undulating terrain, have also worked to keep human interference at bay, meaning a palpable sense of untouched beauty can be felt here.

Simien Mountains, Kingdom Of Gondar by Rod Waddington

A mix of alpine forests and mountain savannahs, crisscrossed by epic ridgelines and deep canyons, right across the Simien Mountains National Park you’ll find open meadows scattered with wildflowers and sheer cliffs with cascading waterfalls.

32313879183 4ef0166c10 z by Leonard A. Floyd

Simiens waterfall by Chuck Moravec

And of course, this all makes for some seriously great trekking!

Trekking in Ethiopia

Indeed, there’s no question that hiking the Simien Mountains is often the highlight of many people’s travels in Ethiopia.

In a country already boasting so much diversity, this park (with its landscape, its flora and its wildlife) offers travellers the opportunity to see yet another dimension to Ethiopia.

Simiens flora by Leonard A. Floyd

Simiens butterfly by Leonard A. Floyd

After you’ve enjoyed the historic churches of Lalibela, the cultural vivacity of the Omo Valley and the lava desert of the Danakil Depression, trekking the Simien Mountains’ high altitude and green terrain is another dazzling scene in the spellbinding show that is Ethiopia.

Simien Mountains trekking

Depending on your level of fitness, you can enjoy anything from 1-8 days trekking the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, with longer treks taking you into far more remote and off-grid places in this seemingly eternal, undulating landscape.

Endless Simien Peaks by Donald Macauley

Using Local Guides and Scouts

Due to its National Park status, the Simien Mountains require all hikers to use accredited guides, as well as be accompanied by a local scout for safety.

Rangers and Guides, Simien Mountains by Leonard A. Floyd

Not only will your guide and scout help direct you through the park, ensuring your well-being and liaising with local people, but they will also be able to give you a lot of information about what you are seeing and experiencing.

If trekking in the Simien Mountains forms part of your first trip to Ethiopia, then this sort of local knowledge will prove invaluable as you encounter Ethiopia’s entirely unique culture, not to mention the different flora and fauna of this land too.

Simiens vegetation by Petr Meissner

Local scouts will help keep you safe around any park wildlife, while guides will tell you more about these animals, their habits, their habitats and the best way to behave in their presence.

Not only is trekking the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia without a guide against the rules of the park, but using local people for these roles also helps to create sustainable jobs, providing a valuable source of income in this otherwise remote part of the country.

Using local guides and scouts is also a great way of ensuring the Simien Mountains stay preserved and protected; not using accredited personnel is likely to severely impact the experience you have there.

Organising Your Trekking in Simien Mountains

Any multi-day trek in the Simien Mountains will require you to stay overnight in the park.

It will also require you to organise a trekking route, pre-book suitable accommodation at well-timed intervals along that trail, ensure you have transport to and from the park, as well as organise all food and water while you’re hiking.

Chennek, Simien Mountains National Park by Leonard A. Floyd

For this reason, booking a hike in the Simien Mountains with a reputable company, like African Budget Safaris, who know the landscape, terrain and different hiking trails intimately, will certainly help you get the best from your experience.

Bearing your level of fitness in mind, the sort of accommodation requirements you might have and the amount of time you can allow for a Simien Mountains adventure, African Budget Safaris can offer the best trekking solutions tailored to your needs.

Not only will this bring peace of mind, but you’ll also enjoy your trekking more when the navigation and organisation is taken care of.

Group tours for trekking the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia are the most cost-effective way to enjoy this landscape and can be a great way for solo travellers to connect with others and share their amazing experiences. Routes are usually pre-determined, suited to an average level of fitness, and aim to take in many of the parks’ highlights including waterfalls, popular viewpoints and wildlife spotting areas.

Private groups and families, however, may want to arrange private tours for hiking the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia.

Private tours can cater more readily to specific needs, with personalised itineraries drawn up to suit each specific group. Private tours assure travellers of their own designated team of local guides and scouts too.

Day Trek in the Simiens

But for those on a limited timeframe or with more limited fitness abilities, don’t fear, because 1-day treks in the Simien Mountains are totally possible and very pleasurable too.

Full day excursions give you a chance to sample a bit of everything the Simien Mountains have to offer in a short and accessible way, without the need to spend a night in the park.

From wildlife spotting to waterfall gazing, with plenty of great views to take in and some walking to enjoy too, this a great taster option that is both relaxing and memorable.

Simien Mountains view by Ian Swithinbank

The walking involved in a Simien Mountains day trek is rarely strenuous, and instead follows gentle paths that begin from near the edge of the park and follow one of the ridgelines to a designated pick-up spot.

As such, day trips are a great way for less experienced hikers to still enjoy a slice of the Simien, take in some stellar views, admire the high altitude landscape and even spot a gelada baboon or two!

Ras Dashen Mountain Peak

One of the highlights for many who trek the Simien Mountains is Ras Dashen.

Ethiopia’s highest peak, this soaring giant really is quite the spectacle at 4,550m high and is the tenth highest mountain in Africa.

Ras Dashen by Stuart Orford

With the option of seeing, or even trying to tackle this giant, only available as part of a longer multi-day trek, this huge mountain is the Simien’s biggest challenge, but one many people most certainly relish.

If you’re keen to tackle the highest mountain in the country, then you’ll first want to make sure you have a suitable level of fitness and equipment.

Next, you’ll want to make sure that your timeframe allows for it and that it is included in your trekking tour, as not all groups will follow the same route.

Indeed, it is usually only tours of 4 days+ in the Simien Mountains that make an ascent of Ras Dashen possible.

Gelada Baboons

Another top highlight for many who want to experience trekking the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia is to snap some of the utterly unique wildlife that calls this national park home.

Top of the list is the gelada baboon, which is endemic to this part of Ethiopia, meaning it can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Gelada baboons in Simiens, Ethiopia by Rod Waddington

Hanging out in large family groups, seeing these wonderful creatures is very common on any hiking trip in the Simien Mountains because they are incredibly sociable animals.

Also known as the bleeding-heart monkeys due to their distinctive markings, the gelada baboons can easily be spotted due to the bright, red heart-shaped pattern on their chests.

Gelada, bleeding heart baboon by Leonard A. Floyd

The large males, who head the troops, have the biggest markings and their enormous body mass, as well as their distinctive amount of hair, means they are easily discernible.

Generally, these males watch over the troop, as other members of the extended family play, feed and hang out together in the expansive, grassy plains of the Simien Mountains.

Gelada baboons in Simien Mountains by Rod Waddington

Spotting the gelada baboons is usually easy and your guide will be sure to help you find them, as well as advise you on the best way to behave in their presence.

Other Simien Mountains Wildlife

Other wildlife you may have the chance to spot in this World Heritage Site, especially if you’re taking part in a longer trekking experience, includes bearded vultures, colobus monkeys, caracals, hyenas, bushbucks, klipspringers, walia ibex and, if you’re especially lucky, Ethiopian wolfs.

Yet another species only found in this country, the Ethiopian wolf is extremely rare; in fact, it’s Africa’s most endangered carnivore.

Ethiopian Wolf by Laika ac

Apart from the Simien Mountains, these majestic, yet shy creatures, can generally only be seen in some of the other high altitude parks in Ethiopia, including the Bale Mountains in the east of the country.

The walia ibex is also rare, due to loss of its habitat and the threat of poaching - there are currently only thought to be around 500 in the wild.

Walia ibex by Leonard A. Floyd

The Simien Mountains definitely offer the best opportunity to one of these amazing animals - most often from a distance as they stand on the edge of a precipice surveying the view!

Things to Know Before Trekking

But with all this amazing landscape and wildlife around, it is worth pointing out a few things you should be aware of before you plan your time trekking in the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia.

The first thing to know is that this park is situated at a very high altitude, with most of the landscape here lying at an elevation of over 3,000m above sea level and some of its highest mountains rising up to over 4,000m above sea level.

Semien Mountains

As such, altitude sickness can be a real factor for those planning to hike the Simien Mountains and it’s a good idea to have had some prior experience of trekking at altitude before you head here.

While mild cases of altitude sickness can leave you feeling dizzy, disorientated, nauseous and faint, severe cases can be fatal and, as such it is always best to let your guide know immediately if you start to feel unwell.

Being situated at such a high altitude, it’s also worth knowing that temperatures in the Simien Mountains can be much lower than that of other destinations in Ethiopia.

Even during the dry, summer season, temperatures up at 3,000m+ can be pretty fresh, and it’s certainly worth bringing some suitable clothing for your trip, including thermal activewear, decent hiking boots and a warm hat.

At night, and on the higher slopes of the park, temperatures plummet so long trousers and thick sweaters are a necessity.

Sunscreen and insect repellent are also essential packing items for the Simien Mountains, along with a headlamp and a windproof jacket.

Finally, because of the remote nature of this national park, you’ll also want to be aware that the facilities here can be very basic.

Simiens camping by Leonard A. Floyd

Always confirm with African Budget Safaris the type of accommodation you will be staying at (much is camping-based unless otherwise specified) and pay attention to the need for a sleeping bag or any other equipment you may be required to pack.

Simien Mountains Location

Situated in the north of Ethiopia, trekking the Simien Mountains is usually a popular experience for those travellers undertaking the Northern Historical Circuit in this country.

Located between the towns of Gonder and Axum, the Simien Mountains sit in a remote and isolated area, with only one small town, known as Debark, in relative proximity.

Trekking Simien Mountains

Debark has a few basic guesthouses and small eateries, but outside of that, it’s essentially just a small local village, home only to the park headquarters.

Everything required during your time in the park should be brought with you as there are no real amenities and services available within its boundaries.

This includes phone signal and data, so do warn people you may be out of contact during your time in the park.

Getting to the Simien Mountains

Getting to Simiens by joepyrek

It’s best to access the Simien Mountains National Park from either Gonder or Axum.

The most common point of access is Gonder, which is situated just a 2-hour drive from the park. Almost all multi-day treks to the Simien Mountains, as well as day tours, include return transport to and from Gonder.

Gonder offers travellers lots of amenities, including a good range of restaurants and accommodation options. It also has several fascinating historical sites that are worth exploring, so spending a day or 2 discovering Gonder after your Simien Mountains hiking experience can be the perfect pairing. Gonder can be reached via an easy, 3-hour bus ride from the city of Bahar Dar or via a short, domestic flight from Addis Ababa with local carrier Ethiopian Airlines.

Simien Mountains Hiking

From Axum, you may also be able to fly to Gonder with Ethiopia Airlines (although check the flight schedule in advance because this route doesn’t operate every day). Otherwise catching a bus from Axum to the town of Debark, which sits at the entrance of the Simien Mountains National Park, is also possible, if not a little adventurous!

When to Visit the Simien Mountains National Park

There’s no question that the best time for trekking the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia is during this country’s dry, summer season, which runs roughly from October to February.

As I’ve mentioned before, even at this time of year, temperatures in this high altitude area can plummet, especially at night, and you also need to be prepared for some strong UV rays.

Outside of these months, which also form the high tourist season in Ethiopia, conditions in the Simien Mountains can be wet, windy and very cold. Views may be obscured and some hiking trails may be inaccessible.

Therefore, if you do wish to visit the Simien Mountains between the winter months of March through September, it is certainly worth checking conditions in the park before you book and ensuring you bring some suitable wet-weather gear with you.

Umbrella in Simiens by Ondrej Odchazel

And there you have it, the full guide to trekking the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia.

So, when are you booking your trip there?

Simien Mountains, Ethiopia Highlands by Leonard A. Floyd

Speak to one of our African travel experts about trekking in the Simien Mountains or travelling to Ethiopia. We also tailor-make private tours on a budget if you'd prefer a more exclusive, customised trip.