Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Organised Treks
There are numerous tour operators and travel agencies in Addis Ababa ( Click here ) and
several more in Gonder ( Click here ) that can arrange transport, guides, equipment rental
and food. However, they charge you more for exactly the same services that you can eas-
ily arrange yourself at park headquarters. On the other hand, they probably have quality
camping gear.
Some of the park's top guides, such as Shiferaw Asrat (
0918-776499;
www.simientrek.com ) , Nurlign Hassen ( 0910-373904;
www.simienmountainstour.com ) and Birhan Asmamaw ( 0918-731724;
www.simientrekguide.com ) , also organise all-inclusive trips starting in Gonder or Addis,
which should be cheaper than going through one of the bigger agencies.
Trekking
The foot that is restless, will tread on a turd.
Ethiopian proverb
Once on the mountains you'll mostly be following centuries-old paths that crisscross the
slopes and connect villages with pasturelands, but sometimes you'll also use the main
park road. On some stretches the walking is fairly level, but there are long, steep climbs
and descents in many places.
Be sure to allow time for acclimatisation, particularly if you fly to Gonder right after ar-
riving in Ethiopia. Review the Safety Guidelines for Trekking and Responsible Trekking
boxed texts.
Choosing a Trekking Route
Most people trek for four or five days and begin in Debark. In four you can trek to Geech
and back; with an extra day you could get to Chenek, taking in Mt Bwahit. If time is of
the essence then in two days you could walk from Debark to Sankaber and back; add a
third day and you can get to Geech, which has the most spectacular scenery. With eight
days to play with, you could summit Ras Dashen.
Many people maximise their mountain experience by using vehicles to access Sankaber
and/or Chenek. A minibus can get you to Sankaber year-round, but you'll need 4WD to
reach Chenek during the rainy season. Arranging pick-up or drop-off at Chenek allows a
long but satisfying three-day trek to/from Debark.
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