Day 1. Fly Addis Ababa – Gondar
Fly to Gondar in the morning, then drive to the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia’s only UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. On the way, enjoy the scenery of northern Ethiopia.
When you arrive at the Simien Mountains, set up camp and visit a nearby area to see the Gelada baboons, also called the “bleeding heart baboon.”
These baboons are found all over Ethiopia, especially in the Simien Mountains. They mostly eat plants, grasses, and roots, but also insects like locusts.
Geladas live on the edge of the escarpment and steep slopes to hide from danger. Short walks in the area give you a chance to see more Geladas and enjoy the beautiful mountain views.
Day 2. Simien Mountains
After breakfast, trek along the escarpments to find large groups of Gelada baboons. The Sankaber Camp area is covered by Afro-montane forest made up of giant heather, juniper, Hagenia abyssinica, St. John’s wort, and similar plants.
Walk along an old volcanic ridge to reach the Jinbar waterfall, one of the highest waterfalls in the world. Enjoy a picnic lunch and rest by the waterfall while taking in the views.
Before returning to camp, spend more time watching the Geladas and take photos of the mountain views. You may also see red-billed choughs and the nests of lammergeiers and Rüppell’s vultures.
Day 3. Simien Mountains
After breakfast, travel to Chennek Camp (3,620 meters). You will see more Gelada monkeys here along with wide mountain views. The higher you go, the better the views become.
From Chennek, drive to Bwahit Pass, Ethiopia’s second highest point at 4,200 meters above sea level.
From here, you can see the striking Imet Gogo and Innatye rock formations. This area also offers chances to see the Ethiopian wolf, one of the rarest mammals, and the Walia ibex, a species found only here.
Day 4. Simien Mountains – Addis Ababa
After breakfast, drive back to Gondar. Take some time to explore the area and look for wildlife before catching an afternoon flight back to Addis Ababa.
