A troop of gelada monkeys grazes together across a vivid green highland meadow.

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Simien Mountains Trek: Gelada Country

A five-day trek across the Simien Mountains escarpment for gelada monkeys, walia ibex and views toward Ras Dashen.

Enquire about this trip See the day by day

Duration5 Days / 4 Nights

Group size2 – 8 travellers

Best monthsOctober – March (dry season, clearer views)

From$1,780 per person sharing

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The Trip in Short

The Simien Mountains look like nowhere else in Ethiopia – a jagged escarpment of pinnacles and gorges dropping away in sheer cliffs, grazed by troops of gelada that can run into the hundreds. This trek stays on the range’s high plateau trails, camping or using simple lodges between viewpoints, without pushing for the multi-day summit push to Ras Dashen, Ethiopia’s highest peak at 4,550m.

Walia ibex, an endangered wild goat found only here, are a realistic sighting on the higher trails, and the birdlife – lammergeiers working the thermals along the escarpment edge – holds its own even for non-birders.

Official visitor information for Ethiopia is published on Visit Ethiopia.

Highlights

Gelada monkey troops grazing at close range
Walia ibex, an endangered wild goat found only in the Simiens
Escarpment viewpoints above sheer 1,000m drops
Lammergeier and other raptors working the cliff thermals
Views toward Ras Dashen, Ethiopia's highest peak at 4,550m
UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape

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Where You Go, Stop by Stop

Day 1

Gondar – Debark, park entry

Day 2

Sankaber to Geech trek

Day 3

Geech to Chennek trek, gelada viewing

Day 4

Escarpment viewpoints, walia ibex

Day 5

Descend, return to Gondar

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Gondar to Debark

A drive of roughly three hours from Gondar to Debark, the the way in town for Simien Mountains National Park, where compulsory scouts and permits are arranged before heading up to the first camp at Sankaber.

Day 2: Sankaber to Geech

A full trekking day along the escarpment edge, roughly 14km, passing the first large gelada troops of the trip – they graze in the open and tolerate a close approach, unusual for a wild primate.

Day 3: Geech to Chennek

Another full day, around 17km, crossing higher ground with wider views over the gorges below and a good chance of walia ibex on the steeper slopes near Chennek camp.

Day 4: Escarpment viewpoints

A shorter day exploring the area around Chennek and Bwahit, with views toward Ras Dashen's summit ridge for those not continuing on to the multi-day climb, plus more time with gelada and raptors along the cliff edge.

Day 5: Descend and return

The descent back toward Debark and the drive to Gondar, arriving in the afternoon.

From

$1,780

Enquire about this trip

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What the Price Covers

Included

Simien Mountains National Park entry and scout fees
Camping equipment or lodge accommodation as itinerary allows, 4 nights
All meals while trekking
Mule support for baggage
English-speaking trekking guide
Ground transport Gondar – Debark – Gondar

Not included

International flights
Ethiopia entry visa
Personal trekking gear (boots, sleeping bag if camping)
Gratuities for guide, scouts and mule handlers
Travel insurance

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Before You Book

Do we camp or stay in lodges?

This itinerary uses a mix – simple community lodges where available and camping at higher camps where they're not; specify a preference when booking and we'll confirm what's realistic for the dates.

How fit do I need to be?

Reasonably fit. Days involve 4–7 hours of walking at altitudes above 3,000m, which affects stamina more than the distance alone suggests.

Are the armed scouts necessary?

Scouts are a compulsory park requirement, originally for wildlife protection rather than personal security, and they double as useful local guides on lesser-known trails.

Can this be extended to summit Ras Dashen?

Yes, reaching the summit adds roughly three more trekking days; ask about the extended itinerary if that's the goal.

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Where This Trip Goes

Simien Mountains National Park

Ethiopia · National Park

A UNESCO-listed escarpment landscape in northern Ethiopia, home to the gelada baboon and the endemic Walia ibex, with multi-day trekking toward Ras Dashen.

Ethiopia

Country

Rock-hewn churches at Lalibela, gelada baboons on the Simien escarpment and the Omo Valley's tribal cultures. A highland country that runs on its own calendar and…

Omo Valley

Ethiopia · National Park

A remote region of southern Ethiopia along the Omo River, home to a dozen distinct ethnic groups and some of the world's most significant early hominid…

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Simien Mountains Trek: Gelada Country