Ethiopia – The Simien Mountains Trail –
Ethiopia is one of Africa’s oldest civilizations, known for its highlands, ancient Christian heritage, and rapidly growing economy. It is a land of natural contrasts, with its vast fertile jungles in the west, the world’s hottest settlement of Dallol in the north, and Africa’s largest continuous mountain range. Ethiopia has the most UNESCO world heritage sites in Africa.
With over 130 million inhabitants, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world, as well as the second-most populated nation on the African continent. Ethiopia has close historical ties with all three of the world’s major Abrahamic religions, dating back to the biblical queen of Sheba. In the 4th century, the region was one of the first in the world to officially adopt Christianity as the state religion.
Ethiopia’s terrain is extremely diverse, shaped by the Great Rift Valley. It contains the rugged mountains of the Western & Eastern Highlands, the lakes, volcanoes, and fertile basins of the rift valley and the hotter, drier regions of the lowlands towards Somalia and Sudan. Key features in the Ethiopian landscape are the Simien Mountains, the Blue Nile River and the Awash and Omo River drainage systems. Ethiopia is one of the very few African countries that remained independent for almost all of its recorded history, with only one brief interruption during the Italian occupation from 1936-1941. Ethiopia still uses both its own calendar and its own writing system today.
The Simien Mountains in northern Ethiopia form one of Africa’s most dramatic high‑altitude landscapes, home to deep escarpments, 4,000 m peaks, and rare wildlife such as the gelada baboon, Walia ibex, and Ethiopian wolf.
Highlights.
The trek’s location is the Simien Mountains; an area many would say offer the most dramatic mountain scenery on the continent. Great trekking, stunning vistas, inspiring camping locations as well as visiting isolated local communities and encountering Gelada baboons, Walia Ibex and Ethiopian wolfs are all ingredients of this amazing trek. Altitude acclimatisation is combined with cultural visits in Addis (market and cathedral), Gondar (historical castles and churches) and Lalibela (ancient capital with its famous rock-hewn churches).
Trail History
January 2016, a German group in cooperation with Wuestenwanderer.de
January 2018, a UK Tt group.
Itinerary
A 12-day itinerary which includes sight-seeing and acclimatisation in Addis Ababa and Gondar, a 6-day trek in the Simien Mountains and a visit to the famous rock-hewn churches in Lalibela.
Future Trails
We will remain interested in Ethiopian Trails and hope to be back there in the future. It is an amazing country!
Ethiopia – The Simien Mountains Trail –
Ethiopia is one of Africa’s oldest civilizations, known for its highlands, ancient Christian heritage, and rapidly growing economy. It is a land of natural contrasts, with its vast fertile jungles in the west, the world’s hottest settlement of Dallol in the north, and Africa’s largest continuous mountain range. Ethiopia has the most UNESCO world heritage sites in Africa.
With over 130 million inhabitants, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world, as well as the second-most populated nation on the African continent. Ethiopia has close historical ties with all three of the world’s major Abrahamic religions, dating back to the biblical queen of Sheba. In the 4th century, the region was one of the first in the world to officially adopt Christianity as the state religion.
Ethiopia’s terrain is extremely diverse, shaped by the Great Rift Valley. It contains the rugged mountains of the Western & Eastern Highlands, the lakes, volcanoes, and fertile basins of the rift valley and the hotter, drier regions of the lowlands towards Somalia and Sudan. Key features in the Ethiopian landscape are the Simien Mountains, the Blue Nile River and the Awash and Omo River drainage systems. Ethiopia is one of the very few African countries that remained independent for almost all of its recorded history, with only one brief interruption during the Italian occupation from 1936-1941. Ethiopia still uses both its own calendar and its own writing system today.
The Simien Mountains in northern Ethiopia form one of Africa’s most dramatic high‑altitude landscapes, home to deep escarpments, 4,000 m peaks, and rare wildlife such as the gelada baboon, Walia ibex, and Ethiopian wolf.
Highlights.
The trek’s location is the Simien Mountains; an area many would say offer the most dramatic mountain scenery on the continent. Great trekking, stunning vistas, inspiring camping locations as well as visiting isolated local communities and encountering Gelada baboons, Walia Ibex and Ethiopian wolfs are all ingredients of this amazing trek. Altitude acclimatisation is combined with cultural visits in Addis (market and cathedral), Gondar (historical castles and churches) and Lalibela (ancient capital with its famous rock-hewn churches).
Trail History
January 2016, a German group in cooperation with Wuestenwanderer.de
January 2018, a UK Tt group.
Itinerary
A 12-day itinerary which includes sight-seeing and acclimatisation in Addis Ababa and Gondar, a 6-day trek in the Simien Mountains and a visit to the famous rock-hewn churches in Lalibela.
Future Trails
We will remain interested in Ethiopian Trails and hope to be back there in the future. It is an amazing country!
