Safari to the Simien Mountains

the best nature location in the north of Ethiopia

The Simien Mountains are located in the north of Ethiopia, about two hours by road to the northeast of the historic city of Gondar.

These dramatic mountains are extremely scenic and are home to some rare and precious wildlife, headlined by the amusing gelada ‘baboons’, as well as Simien wolves, walia ibex (horned mountain goats) and elusive caracals.

Activities are centred on scenic drives and hikes, taking in the awesome scenery, visiting remote waterfalls and seeking out the various wildlife.

Although the core areas can get a little busy and touristy, the experience with the gelada ‘baboons’ is genuinely a real highlight.

A visit to the Simien Mountains tends to feature in most of the more active and adventurous trips to the north of Ethiopia, almost always as part of more extensive exploration of the region.

The north of Ethiopia is usually reached by means of regular daily flights from the capital Addis Ababa.

Some of the interconnecting journeys within the region are best done by air, others have to be done by road.

The Simien Mountains are usually reached by road from the airport at the historic town of Gondar, which lies about 2-3 hours to the southwest.

Seasonality

The best time to visit the Simien Mountains is generally considered to be during the Oct-Mar dry season period.

The area has a subtropical highland climate, with an Apr-Sep rainy season, which reaches a peak during Jun-Aug.

Peak daytime temperatures are usually very comfortable, at around 24C/75F, but drop rapidly at higher altitudes, with the potential for frosts and even snow at higher altitudes.

Where to stay

Historically this area has only been geared up for budget travellers, with a selection of simple guest-houses and hostels in the village of Debark.

Thankfully there is now also a higher quality option, namely Limalimo Lodge, which is scenically positioned to the north of the village and is pleasantly conservation-minded, although it is a 30 minute drive to get into the national park.

A rather simpler property, Simien Lodge, is definitely more convenient for the reserve.

drive up from the historic town of Gondar