Package ID: 1016
Duration: 14 Days
Season: January- December
Activities: Mountain hiking, Trekking
Customize: This package can be customized
Accommodation: Mixed (Hotel and camping)
Ethiopia's many national parks enable the visitor to enjoy the
country's scenery and its wildlife, conserved in natural habitats,
and offer opportunities for travel adventure unparalleled in Africa.
Day 1: Meet you in Addis Ababa
Arrive in Addis Ababa; meet your guide holding Addis Tours sticker
and transfer to hotel. An overview of the program and itineraries
will be given. You will make an orientation tour of the city
visiting the National Museum and the church of the Holy Trinity, and
take a drive up Entoto Hill to take in a panoramic view of Addis
Ababa.
Overnight Standard Hotel
Day 2: Fly to Gondar
Today we take a short, but scenic flight to Gondar, located on the
high plateau just north of Lake Tana. Gondar’s most famous heritages
are its exceptionally well preserved 17th century castles. The
bigest and best is that of King Fasilidas palace. It is a
stone-built construction with round turrets and wooden balconies.
This whole complex of buildings is unique in Ethiopia and unlike
anything found elsewhere in Africa. On arrival, as well as visiting
the castle ruins and King Fasilidas baths, you will also make a
visit to the Debre Berhan Selassie Church famed for its ceiling
frescoes of many faces.Overnight Standard Hotel
Day 3: Drive to Simien Mountains N.P. via Debark; PM trek to
Sankaber
Today, you drive to Debark, the village base for hiking in the
Simien Mountains.The range lies north of Gondar and many of the
peaks rise above 4,000m with the highest being Mount Ras Dashen at
4,543m, the fifth highest in Africa. The mountains are crisscross
with tracks made by the local people travelling from village to
village or moving their animals to fresh pastures. The combination
of these tracks and the spectacular scenery make for excellent
walking. You start the trek with a 2-3 hour walk to the first camp
Sankaber. During the trek you may spend each night in a different
place. The circuits walked will vary depending on local conditions
and on the group’s ability.
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 4: Trek to Geech Camp
Trek to Geech camp via Sankaber (approx. 6-7 hours), with the
possibility of seeing gelada baboons and red-hot poker plants en
route. The gelada baboon is endemic to Ethiopia and has adapted to
living on the nearly vertical cliff faces. You may also see the
Jinbar river waterfalls today that plummet into Geech Abyss. The
Abyss is a vast canyon cut into the main wall of the escarpment.
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 5: Hike to Imet Gogo from Geech Camp
A flexible day with a morning option to hike to the viewpoint of
Imet Gogo (3926m). From the viewpoint there are spectacular views of
the lowlands and across the Simien range with rock spires and mesas
prominent (approx. 5 hours return). Keep a close look out for the
mysterious Simien fox. It misnamed as it is not really a fox but a
member of the dog family restricted to Ethiopia.
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 6: Trek to Chenek Camp
This day you trek to Chenek camp via Inatye (4070m) and along the
escarpment (approx. 6-7 hours). This exciting walk traverses the
Jinbar River and provides us with fantastic views. You may like to
take the opportunity to freshen-up in the nearby stream south of
camp.
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 7: Trek to Ambikwa
Today you trek to Ambikwa (approx. 9-10 hours) and plan to stop at a
spectacular viewpoint (4200m) north of Bwahit where, on clear days,
you can see across the Mesheha River to Ras Dashen peak. Then
descend steeply and pass through the village of Chiro Leba to follow
a stream bed until we reach the large Mesheha River. Cross the river
and follow a path across the east side of the valley to our camp
(3200m) in a little meadow. Ambikwa village is tiny and has a small
church.
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 8: Ascent of Ras Dashen; trek to Ambikwa
Starting before sunrise and follow the main valley up and climb
steeply via Mizma huts to reach a ridge crest and open grassy slopes
(3700m) on your energizing climb of Ethiopia’s highest mountain.
Next you traverse around ridges and climb more steeply to 4250m.
Keep an eye open for giant lobelia, by far the most spectacular
plant of this region with flower stalks up to 8m high! Eventually
you enter a huge semicircular basin of rocky peaks and buttresses –
Ras Dashen. The last section involves an easy rock scramble to a
fine viewpoint at 4543m. You will spend the rest of the day hiking
back to our camp (total walking today approx. 11-12 hours).
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 9: Trek to Sona
Today you will trek from Ambikwa to the superbly positioned camp at
Sona. You will experience great mountain views of Imet Gogo and
other peaks and pass through local villages. You will re-cross the
River Mesheha (2800m) before climbing up through cultivated fields
and villages to 3700m. After passing the newly moved village of
Arkwasiye slowly descend to the camp situated on a cliff just below
Sona village at 3000m. (Approx 8-10 hrs walking)
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 10: Trek to Mekarebia
Today you make the way to Mekarebia. You will descend steeply for
the first 3 hours to the Ansiye River at an altitude of 1900 m. Here
you can have some time to relax for a well earned wash or swim
before continuing on our trek to our overnight stop at 1868m. The
route you take today will provide good opportunities for bird
watching and will also give us great views of the route have taken
so far. The campsite will be close to an elementary school which you
may have the option of visiting in the afternoon. (Approx 4-6 hrs
walking)
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 11: Trek to Mulit
This morning descend another 350m to rejoin the Ansiye River. As you
walk along the river, crisscrossing in places the birdlife is
breathtaking, with Vervet monkeys to be seen too. After leaving the
Ansiye Valley we will have time to relax beside a lagoon formed by a
waterfall. Will will then have a more challending ascent for the
last couple of hours enjoying the views of the Awuzu peaks before
reaching our campsite at Mulit at 1955m asl. (Approx 6hrs walking)
Overnight Basic Camping
Day 12: Trek to Adi Arkay, drive to Gondar
This morning we will tale our final 2 hr trek to Adi Arkay where we
meet our vehicle that will transport us back to Gondar (approx. 4-5
hours drive). As we drive out of the Simien Mountains we’ll have
time to take in a final look at some of the most spectacular views.
There may be time this afternoon to further explore Gondar. You may
choose to visit the local market or the nearby ruined palace of
Kusquam.
Overnight Standard Hotel
Day 13: Fly to Addis; PM free. Tour ends
We fly back to the capital this morning and the afternoon is left
free.
Overnight Standard Hotel