Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»Where there's no toilet, at lower elevations bury your faeces in a 15cm-deep hole (consider carrying a light-
weight trowel for this purpose). At higher altitudes soil lacks the organisms needed to digest your faeces, so leave
your waste in the open where UV rays will break it down - spreading it facilitates the process. Always carry out
your toilet paper (zip-lock bags are best). With either option make sure your faeces is at least 50m from any path,
100m from any watercourse and 200m from any building.
»Don't use detergents or toothpaste within 50m of watercourses, even if they're biodegradable.
»Stick to existing tracks and avoid shortcuts that bypass a switchback. If you blaze a new trail straight down a
slope, it will erode the hillside with the next heavy rainfall.
»Avoid removing any plant life as they keep topsoils in place.
»Try to cook on lightweight kerosene, alcohol or Shellite (white gas) stoves instead of burning dead erica wood or
eucalyptus. Never burn indigenous trees.
»Be aware of local laws, regulations and etiquette about wildlife and the environment.
»Never feed animals, as it messes with their digestive system and leads them to become dependent on hand-outs.
»If camping, try to camp on existing sites. Where none exist, set up away from streams on rock or bare ground,
never over vegetation.
CLIMBING RAS DASHEN
Ras Dashen, frankly, doesn't offer a great deal beyond the satisfaction of 'bagging it'. And
thanks to an odd perspective from its summit, nearby peaks actually look higher. This has
led disgruntled trekkers to drag their guides up the other peaks, repeatedly musing the
'one over there' is higher! It's not.
If you want to skip the initial trek, you can drive to Chenek and start the climb there.
But, even though this trek only takes three days the park will charge you for six!
CHENEK TO AMBIKWA (22KM, EIGHT TO NINE HOURS)
Heading on from Chenek, the first day takes you along a track leading eastward and then
southeastward up towards a good viewpoint on the eastern escarpment north of Mt
Bwahit. To the east, across the vast valley of the Mesheba River, you can see the bulk of
Ras Dashen.
AMBIKWA TO RAS DASHEN & RETURN (17KM, EIGHT TO 10 HOURS)
Most trekkers stay two nights at Ambikwa and go up to the summit of Ras Dashen on the
day in between. It's a good idea to start at first light. If you don't have a mule man, it's re-
commended that you hire another scout here to guard your tent for the day.
At Ras Dashen there are three distinct points, and much discussion about which is the
true summit. The total walk from Ambikwa to reach the highest summit is about five to
six hours. If you want to knock off the others, add two to three hours for each. Returning
