Roof of Africa: Simien Sunrise to Sunset: 5-Day Simien Trek｜Ethiopia

Day 1: Gondar – Debark – Sankaber Camp (3,200m)

Begin with a pickup from your hotel in Gondar around 7:30 AM. Drive to Debark in a 4x4, a journey that offers a glimpse into rural Ethiopian life. At Debark, sign in at the park headquarters, pick up your guide and scout, and head into the mountains.

The road continues to the first camp at Sankaber, but you’ll be dropped off on the way for a leisurely 3-hour acclimatization hike. Enjoy stunning views as you walk along the ridge. Stop for a picnic lunch, then continue to Sankaber, where you’ll be met with a tray of fresh coffee, tea, and snacks.

Day 2: Sankaber (3,200m) – Geech Camp (3,600m)

After breakfast, set off trekking along the ridge with stunning views over the foothills 800m below. Pass through low bush of Giant Heather, soda apple, Abyssinian rose, St John’s Wort, and Globe thistle.

The highlight of the trek roof of Africa, a 500m sheer drop. Watch falcons, augur buzzards, and lammergeier bearded vultures soar on the thermals below. Continue through drier, dustier land, broken by lunch at a peaceful waterfall.

Spot Klipspringer and bush buck in the steep rocky and wooded slopes, and see troops of Gelada Baboons roaming the fields. Before reaching Geech camp, visit a traditional village house for home-roasted coffee and injera. Geech Camp is set on a grassy plateau with stunning sunset views.

Day 3: Geech (3,600m) – Imet Gogo (3,926m) – Innatye (4,070m) – Chennek (3,600m)

After breakfast, trek for 2 hours along the grass plateau past countless bizarre outsized Giant Lobelia plants. The destination is Imet Gogo, an incredible rocky promontory that grants 360-degree views over the Simien Range.

At an altitude of 3,926m, see West back along the ridge towards Sankaber and Geech and South East across a deep gully towards the next day’s ridge walk to Inatye and Cheneck Camp. The views here are arguably the best in the Simien Mountains.

From Imet Gogo, detour SE towards Inatye. The path drops into a forest of Giant Hazel before following the ridge on open grassland. The climb to Inatye (4,070m) rewards with stunning views. After a picnic lunch, the path follows mostly downhill through open grassland and giant lobelia towards Chenek with a number of stunning viewpoints along the way. Chenek camp is superb for wildlife with both Gelada Baboons and Wallia Ibex common here.

Day 4: Chennek (3,600m) – Buahit Climb – Chennek

After breakfast, hike up to the Buwahit peak, standing on the second highest peak in the Simien Mountains (4,430m). This is where many visitors are able to see the endemic animals like the Walia Ibex and Ethiopian Red Fox. After spending time at the peak, hike back down to Chennek for overnight.

Day 5: Day Walk Surrounding Chennek Camp and Drive Back to Gondar

After breakfast, walk surrounding Chennek Camp where you will see a lot of wildlife. Wallia Ibex are most frequently seen in this area of the Park and the views are outstanding. Drive to Gondar in the afternoon.