NATIONAL PARKS SAFARIS ETHIOPIA

HIGHLIGHTS, WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW TO VISIT

 

 

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA

ONLY SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA guided by a Wildlife Conservation Biologist and discover walia ibex, gelada baboon, Ethiopian wolves, endemic birds, etc.

 

Simien Mountains National Park Trekking & Tours, Ethiopia

The Park is located in the western Simien Mountains, 120 km north-east of Gondar. The park can be reached from the little town of Debarq, where it has its headquarters, following a bad dirt road into the park. Unlike most national parks of Ethiopia, there is a lodge, the Simien Mountains Lodge, at an elevation of 3200m. Many visitors however, spend the night in the town of Debarq, and depart from there early in the morning.

 

A picture is worth a thousand words. Most of our hundreds of pictures are favored in Google! Why? Because no other website has so many beautiful high resolution pictures, all taken by ourselves. Our pictures not only show you the beauty of Ethiopia, but they also show that we have been everywhere when we researched all parks for the Ethiopian Wildlife Autharity, photographing wildlife, plants, people and culture. Read our PDF report to the Government on Parks an Culture! So why consider booking our our Ethiopia Culture & National Parks modules? Because only we combine the culture of Ethiopia with its nature. We don't mislead you like many tour operators do. When the Blue Nile falls are dry.... we tell you. When fog clouds the lava lake of Erte Ale Volcano? We let you know. Just drop us a mail info@nationalparks-worldwide.com  and we will check it out for you.

Our tours take you to ALL famous cultural places of Ethiopia, and on top of that, you get to see up to 20 large parks accompanied by a conservation professional, not a mere guide. There is nothing similar on the market. Check out our tours in modules like: Historical Circuit; Danakil Depression; Eastern Route; Simien Mountains; Bale Mountains; Southern Parks Safari; Gambella; Addis Ababa. BUT WAIT: if you buy your international ticket with Ethiopia Airlines, they will sell the internal flights at a price that you can't even ride the bus for. But you MUST plan it all in one package and making changes may be very costly. So let us help you plan your entire trip and book your local flights for an incredibly low price after you booked your international flight with Ethiopian Airlines! Also: Ethiopia can be combined with other East African countries, we organize.

 

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK

ETHIOPIA SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TRIP on Africa's only mountain plateau, surrounded by fantastic wildlife, flowers and birds

One Day Trip Simien Mountains National Park out of Gondar

GONDAR - SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, ±95km

  1. Depart from Gondar early in the morning and drive to the Visitor Center in the town of Debarq for a brief orientation about the park;

  2. Spend day in the park;

  3. In the evening back to hotel in Gondar.

3 Days Simien Mountains Trekking

  1. Depart from Gondar early in the morning and drive to the Visitor Center in the town of Debarq for a brief orientation about the park;

  2. Spend 3 days trekking in Simien Mountains;

  3. In the evening back to hotel in Gondar.

One day excursion out of Gondar $129, including transportation and lunch;

Three days trekking and transfer Gondar - Park - Gondar $295

ALL ETHIOPIA MODULES

 

Situated at the limit of the Northwestern Ethiopian plateau, the park includes the highest mountain in Ethiopia, the 4,550 m Ras Dejen, the tenth highest mountain in Africa. This mountain and the neighboring 4,510 meters Mount Biuat, are often covered in snow during precipitation. Millions of years of erosion have created jagged mountain peaks, ragged cliffs and steep escarpments dropping some 1500 m into arid valleys and lowlands offering vast vistas over the rugged-canyon like valleys. The Simien mountains have been likened to Colorado’s Grand Canyon.

 

Its Afroalpine meadows provide beautiful landscapes with unique montane vegetations which are a mixture of afro-alpine meadows, heaths and forests, the latter including giant Jupiter groves, tree heath, giant lobelia, yellow primrose, while mosses and lichens drape the trees.

 

These habitats are home to several extremely rare endemic animals, most notibly the Walia ibex, Capra walie, a wild mountain goat which only lives in and near the Simien Mountains. The Ethiopian wolf, Canis simensis, the rarest wolf on Earth and the Gelada baboon, Theropithecus gelada, also are endemic species living in the Afroalpine highlands. Other large mammals are the Anubis baboon, Hamadryas baboon, klipspringer, and golden jackal. The park is also an Important Bird Area that forms part of the larger Endemic Bird Area of the Central Ethiopian Highlands. In total, over 20 large mammals and more than 130 species of bird live in the park, of which 16 bird species are regional endemics, while the park is famous for its lammergeyer, a large vulture.

 

Simien Mountains National Park Trek

Simien Mountains National Park is renowned for trekking and one of the most popular parks in Ethiopia.

 

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA:  Ragged canyon land of Simien Mountains, the Grand Canyon of Ethiopia

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Tourists on rocks in Simien Mountains National Park

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK: Ragged gorges of Simien Mountains National Park

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Thunderstorm at the Afroalpine plains of Simien Mountains National Park

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Birdwatching in Simien Mountains National Park

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Dramatic landscapes of the canyons of Simien Mountains National Park.

Dramatic landscapes of Cliffs and escarpments.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: The headquarters of Simien Mountains National Park with the visitor center are at Debarq.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Touring the Simien Mountains buy carl

The headquarters of Simien Mountains National Park with the visitor center are at Debarq.

The dirt road from Debarq into the park is in poor condition (above right).

   

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK: High mountain village in Simien Mountains National Park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: The Simien Mountains Lodge is one of the few high standard lodges in Ethiopia (right).

High mountain village in Simien Mountains National Park.

The Simien Mountains Trekking Lodge is one of the few high standard lodges in Ethiopia (right).

   

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK: Tree Heath is an erica species that can grow to 10 m high in Simien Mountains

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Tree Heath is an erica species that can grow to 10 m high in the Heath belt of Simien Mountains

The Tree Heath is an erica species that can grow to 10 m high at the lower part of is ranges, while it gets smaller and smaller as the elevation increases, forming regular heath vegetations in the Afro-alpine meadows.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Tree Heath grows as a shrub at higher elevations in the Simien Mountains

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Purple Afroalpine flowers at Simien Mountains National Park

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: high elevation thistle in Simien Mountains National Park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK: Purple iris in Simien Mountains National Park

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Deep valleys and canyons of Simien Mountains National Park

Some of the many beautiful flowers in the park.

   

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK:

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA:

Birdwatching is quite popular in Simien Mountains National Park.

 

Simien Mountains Animals

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: There is a great populations of Lammergeiers in Simien Mountains National Park.

Lammergeyers and Ruepell's vultures in the park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: There is a great populations of Ruepell's vultures in Simien Mountains National Park

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK: Hamadryas Baboon, Papio hamadryas, in Simien Mountains National Park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Gelada baboon, Theropithecus gelada, the endemic Baboon of Ethiopia in Simien Mountains National Park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK: Endemic Ethiopian Wolf, Canis simensis, in Simien Mountains National Park.

 

Simien Mountains animals include the following very unusual mammals:

Hamadryas Baboon, Papio hamadryas (top left);

Gelada baboon, Theropithecus gelada (top right);

Ethiopian Wolf, Canis simensis (left); and

Walia ibex, Capra walie (below).

 

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Endemic Walia ibex, Capra walie, only lives in Simien Mountains National Park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Walia ibex, Capra walie, Ram in Simien Mountains National Park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK: Giant Lobileas are landscape forming plants in the Afro-alpine meadows of Simien Mountains National Park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Giant Lobileas dominate the landscape of the Afro-alpine meadows of Simien Mountains National Park.

With tall torches for flowers, the Giant Lobileas are landscape forming plants in the Afro-alpine meadows.

 

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK: Yellow Forest Primroses, Hypericum revolutum, are common small trees and shrubs in Simien Mountains National Park

Yellow Forest Primroses, Hypericum revolutum, and white Abyssinian roses, Rosa abyssinica, are common small trees and shrubs in the park that mix with the Erica forests.

 

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Trekking is a very popular activity in Simien Mountains National Park.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA: Backpackers at Simien Mountains National Park

Trekking is a very popular activity, but our treks are small and focused on wildlife observation with our conservation biologist. Normal treks lack such professional guide.

 

Ethiopia modernizes and changes more rapidly than any other country in Africa. Many features may not be there anymore in the near future. If you want to see it the way it was for thousands of years, see it now before it has changed forever! Compose your own once-in-a-lifetime Ethiopia-Africa-Adventure from our affordable modules:

Famous Ethiopia Historical Circuit

Simien Mountains trek or car visit

Danakil Depression and Erte Ale Volcano Expedition

Awash Babile Harar Safari Tour

Ethiopia Central and Southern Parks & Tribes Safari Tour

Bale Mountains National Park and Sof Omar Caves Tour

Gambella National Park Safari

Addis Ababa City Tour & Airport Transfer

All Ethiopia modules and prices together

We designed our itineraries in such a way that you can compose a 1 to 4 weeks journey from different modules that can show you the entire country or just the parts that interest you, all depending on your personal preferences, available time and budget. Email us on your interests and we can discuss a custom program with you by phone (we have phone lines from the USA and Europe) or skype. So, weather you have a great ethnic affinity, are a birdwatcher or want to go on safari, contact us and we work out a customized program that focuses on YOUR interests.

Blue Nile Falls, EthiopiaSt. George Church, LalibelaStellas, Axum, EthiopiaTukuls, Lalibela, EthiopiaElephant bull, Babile, EthiopiaEthiopian Wolf, Bale National Park

Gelada, Simien Mountains National ParkFacilides Bathroom, Gondar, EtiopiaWabia Ibex, Simien MountainsChurch, Lake Tana, EthiopiaErica trees, Bale Mountains National Park.Facilides Castle, Gondar, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is home of Ethiopian Airlines, featuring Africa's youngest fleet of the latest intercontinental jet airplanes - including 2 Dreamliners - as well as short-distance Bombardier turboprops for affordable and reliable in-country flights servicing all major cities of Ethiopia. The best airline of Africa, will fly you non-stop from the USA and Europe to Addis Ababa. Take our 1-week Ethiopia Cultural Monuments Tour and then continue for your Kenya or Tanzania safari - or any other East African capital - thus completing your journey. IF YOU BUY YOUR INTERNATIONAL TICKET FROM ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES, YOU WILL GET MOST INTERNAL FLIGHTS FOR $40 - $70 PER LEG! BUT CHANGING AFTERWARDS IS EXPENSIVE, SO WORK OUT A SCHEDULE WITH US TO GET A FABULOUS DEAL FOR FLYING THROUGH THE COUNTRY IN STEAD OF SPENDING ENDLESS TIME ON THE ROAD!!!

 

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TREKKING & TOURS ETHIOPIA

What makes us different from so many other tour operators?

Just look at the quality of our high resolution pictures. We took them all ourselves. We have thousands of high resolution pictures on this website, that you can see enlarged by clicking on them. These pictures show that we have been everywhere in the country of your interest and really know the details. We are professional explorers and biologists with MSc and PhD.

 

National Parks Tours Worldwide, a social responsibility and conservation company, is a brand name of the World Institute for Conservation & Environment, registered in the Netherlands with headquarters in the USA.

 

Phone USA:

(++)(1) 304 - 901 - 0718

 

Phone Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

(++251) (0) 911 440 915

 

Email:

info@nationalparks-worldwide.com

 

Skype: ecotravelworldwide