Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
by the same route takes about three to four hours. Although there's some scrambling at the
very end, overall the trek isn't very difficult.
RETURN ROUTES
Most trekkers return from Ambikwa to Debark (77km; three days) along the same route to
Chenek and then follow the road to Sankaber.
One alternative is to trek from Ambikwa to Arkwasiye , northeast of Chenek, taking in
the nearby peaks of Beroch Wuha (4272m) and Silki (4420m). From Arkwasiye to Adi
Arkay will take two to three days of strenuous walking. The total route from Ambikwa to
Adi Arkay is about 65km (three to five days). Note that facilities down here are very basic
and you may end up sleeping in villages. From the last campsite it's two hours to Adi
Arkay, which lies 75km north of Debark. From there you can continue to Aksum in stages
using minibuses or hitchhiking.
DAY TRIPS
It's only a two-hour dry-season drive to Chenek, which leaves lots of time for strolling,
taking photos, and lounging with gelada monkeys at various spots along the way. During
the rainy season the narrow Jinbar Waterfall , estimated to drop 500m, is an almost man-
datory stop. It's unsigned 4km after Sankaber down a short (15-minute) muddy trail.
The six- or seven-hour roundtrip walk from the road near Ambaras to the amazing Imet
Gogo viewpoint would be a popular day trip if the park authorities didn't insist on char-
ging tourists the price of a two-day trip. (Park guides, knowing this policy is taking away
business from them, have protested and it could change.)
Although there'll be precious little time actually in the park, you can drive there and
back from Gonder in a day.
Sleeping & Eating
DEBARK
Hotels in Debark tend to overcharge faranji; always request a discount.
Simien Park Hotel $
( 0581-170005; s/d without bathroom Birr80/100, s/d/tw Birr200/250/300; ) About
1km north of park headquarters, this is the most popular hotel and it's often booked solid.
It's not the rooms that inspire the loyalty, it's the fact that it has the most reliable hot water
(and just plain water) supply. Service is friendly and the food (mains Birr35 to Birr55) is
fine too. Debark's only internet cafe is next door.
HOTEL
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