Simien Mountains National Park is in Ethiopia. It was one of the first sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978.
Getting there
Buses travelling between Shire/Aksum and Gonder pass through Debark, the National Park's main town. Ask to be let off here. From Shire, Debark is 5-7 hours; from Gonder about 3 hours.
Traveling around
Within the National Park, there is a road which can access some of the campsites and villages. 4WDs and lorries go through Sankaber, Geech and Chenek, although most visitors use mountain hiking paths to get around.
See
The Simien National Park contains Ethiopia's biggest and most spectacular mountain range, the Simien Mountains. Ras Dashen at 4553m is the country's highest peak, although the views from the Northern Escarpment are arguably a bigger draw, with rock faces falling away thousands of feet from summits like Inatye (4070m) and Imet Gogo (3960m). Wildlife is also an attraction of the Park. The Simien Wolf is the world's rarest canid and can be found in the mountains. The Gelada Baboon is indigenous and is a common site on hikes. The rare Walia Ibex can be found in higher parts of the range.
Things to do
Nearly all visitors to the Simien National Park come to hike through the spectacular mountain scenery. Hikes can be arranged at the park headquarters in Debark. On top of a basic park entry fee, guides, scouts, mules, equipment and food can be arranged (though for greater culinary variety, most people stock up in Gonder/Aksum).
Eat
In Debark, The Simien Park Hotel, situated on the main road, offers reliable Ethiopian food. Once on the mountain, the only alternative to one's own supplies is the Simien Lodge, located at Buyit Ras, a few hours hike from Debark.
Drink
Both hotels mentioned will happily serve you a St. George beer or a delicious cup of Ethiopian coffee, even if you are not staying.
Sleep
Visitors usually spend the first and last nights of their stay in Debark. The main hotel is the Simien Park Hotel, situated on the main road. As of 2008, single rooms started at 35 birr, while doubles cost around 80 birr. On the mountain, the Simien Lodge - the self-proclaimed 'Highest Hotel in Africa' - offers upmarket accomodation in tukels, or huts. A dorm bunk costs $31,a two-person tukel $135, and a four-person tukel $183.
Buy
It is the essentials that are usually bought in Debark, the National Park's main town. A woven gabi (a kind of thick shawl) is useful for the cold mountain nights, and can be purchased at the local market. A few stores sell tinned food and bread; once on the mountain, (live) chickens and eggs can be bought from villagers. Maps are available at the park headquarters.
Get out
As with entering, bus services between Gonder and Shire provide the only public means of getting out of the National Park.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Simien Mountains National Park is in Ethiopia. It was one of the first sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978.
Getting there
Buses travelling between Shire/Aksum and Gonder pass through Debark, the National Park's main town. Ask to be let off here. From Shire, Debark is 5-7 hours; from Gonder about 3 hours.
Traveling around
Within the National Park, there is a road which can access some of the campsites and villages. 4WDs and lorries go through Sankaber, Geech and Chenek, although most visitors use mountain hiking paths to get around.
See
The Simien National Park contains Ethiopia's biggest and most spectacular mountain range, the Simien Mountains. Ras Dashen at 4553m is the country's highest peak, although the views from the Northern Escarpment are arguably a bigger draw, with rock faces falling away thousands of feet from summits like Inatye (4070m) and Imet Gogo (3960m). Wildlife is also an attraction of the Park. The Simien Wolf is the world's rarest canid and can be found in the mountains. The Gelada Baboon is indigenous and is a common site on hikes. The rare Walia Ibex can be found in higher parts of the range.
Things to do
Nearly all visitors to the Simien National Park come to hike through the spectacular mountain scenery. Hikes can be arranged at the park headquarters in Debark. On top of a basic park entry fee, guides, scouts, mules, equipment and food can be arranged (though for greater culinary variety, most people stock up in Gonder/Aksum).
Eat
In Debark, The Simien Park Hotel, situated on the main road, offers reliable Ethiopian food. Once on the mountain, the only alternative to one's own supplies is the Simien Lodge, located at Buyit Ras, a few hours hike from Debark.
Drink
Both hotels mentioned will happily serve you a St. George beer or a delicious cup of Ethiopian coffee, even if you are not staying.
Sleep
Visitors usually spend the first and last nights of their stay in Debark. The main hotel is the Simien Park Hotel, situated on the main road. As of 2008, single rooms started at 35 birr, while doubles cost around 80 birr. On the mountain, the Simien Lodge - the self-proclaimed 'Highest Hotel in Africa' - offers upmarket accomodation in tukels, or huts. A dorm bunk costs $31,a two-person tukel $135, and a four-person tukel $183.
Buy
It is the essentials that are usually bought in Debark, the National Park's main town. A woven gabi (a kind of thick shawl) is useful for the cold mountain nights, and can be purchased at the local market. A few stores sell tinned food and bread; once on the mountain, (live) chickens and eggs can be bought from villagers. Maps are available at the park headquarters.
Get out
As with entering, bus services between Gonder and Shire provide the only public means of getting out of the National Park.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Damien HR, Hulivili
Some photos courtesy of:
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This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
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Nick Roux, Todd VerBeek and Didi Fetch, AHeneen and Amsalo
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits