Introduction to the Simien Mountains

Simien Mountains National Park is the largest national park in Ethiopia. Located in the North
Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, its territory covers the highest parts of the Simien
Mountains and includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia. It is home to a number of
endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf and the walia ibex, a wild goat found nowhere
else in the world. The gelada baboon and the caracal, a cat, also occur within the Simien
Mountains. More than 50 species of birds inhabit the park, including the impressive bearded
vulture, or lammergeier, with its 3-metre (10 ft) wingspan. The park is crossed by an unpaved
road which runs from Debarq, where the administrative headquarters of the park is located, east
through a number of villages to the 4,430 metres (14,530 ft) Buahit Pass, where the road turns
south to end at Mekane Berhan, 10 kilometres (6 mi) beyond the park boundary. The Simien
Mountains are ancient structures that pre-date the Great Rift Valley. The mountains are part of
the Simien Massif, a high plateau of ancient volcanic rock from which dozens of peaks rise to
over 4,000m above sea level. Chief among them is the 4,533m Ras Dashen, the highest mountain
in Ethiopia and the tenth highest in Africa. 

Some 55 to 75 million years ago, volcanic activity pushed the basaltic rock of the Simiens
upward, creating a field of active volcanoes. A series of eruptions between 40 and 25 million
years ago, deep in the Oligocene period, covered the entire Simien range with thick
lava thousands of metres deep. As the volcanic activity calmed, what remained was a jagged and
cinematic landscape of cooled lava below which ancient, dormant volcanoes lie.

The Simien Mountains are one of Ethiopia’s most popular destinations. Sitting just north
of Gondar, it’s easily accessible along the northern circuit of Ethiopia. Comprising 220 square
kilometers of peaks, plateaus, vistas and valleys, the park offers stunning viewpoints and some of
the best trekking routes in Africa.

History

The park was established in 1969, having been set up by Clive Nicol, who wrote about his
experiences in From the Roof of Africa (1971, ISBN 0 340 14755 5)

The Simien region has been inhabited and cultivated for at least 2,000 years. Initially, erosion
began to reveal that the clearing began at the gentle slope of the highland valley but later
expanded to a steep slope. The national park was one of the first sites to be made a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO, inscribed in 1978 because of its outstanding biodiversity and
spectacular landscape. Due to serious population declines of some of its characteristic native
species, in 1996 it was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger. With the stabilization of
those species' populations, this listing was removed in 2017

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Trekking & Camping

The two lodges in the area, Simien Lodge and Limalimo Lodge, offer great alternatives to the
typical camping and trekking setup, meaning whatever your budget, fitness levels, or
accommodation preferences, you can visit the Simien Mountains and enjoy all the beauty the
park has to offer. 

The entire Simien range is characterized by exceptional scenery. As you advance further into the
park, the altitude increases and the viewpoints become increasingly spectacular. The first major
viewpoint you’ll encounter is Imet Gogo, sitting at 3,926m between the Gich and Chennek
campsites.

As you continue your journey, you’ll find Mount Bwahit at 4,430m, and for the adventurous, Ras
Dashen towers just east of Mount Bwahit at a staggering 4,550m, making it Ethiopia’s highest
peak and the tenth highest peak in Africa.

There are three main campsites set up in the park: Sankaber, Gich, and Chennek. A typical route
through the Simiens is a 4-day trek through the park. Most visitors add on a night at the
luxurious Limalimo Lodge at the end of the trek for some much deserved relaxation. 

You can explore the great hiking routes of the Simiens regardless of whether you stay at a lodge
or camp. If you're staying at Limalimo Lodge, you'll need to take a short drive into the park each
morning. 

For those looking to spend more time in the mountains, a number of lesser-visited campsites are
set up east of Chennek. These campsites are often used as base camps for treks up Ras Dashen,
and then out into the lowlands to the north or south

Lodges

Experiencing the Simien Mountains isn’t limited to those willing to camp. Simien

Lodge is Africa’s highest lodge and sits inside the national park, meaning it’s the perfect base for
exploring the range via day trips on foot. Troops of Gelada Monkeys play on the compound, and
you can take short self-treks around the lodge if you want to explore at a slower pace. 

Just outside the park is arguably Ethiopia’s finest lodge, Limalimo Lodge. Fast becoming the
default way to explore the Simiens, the lodge’s beautiful aesthetic is matched only by its
surrounding landscapes. The lodge is in high demand, and with only 12 rooms it is booked out
well in advance of peak season so you’ll want to make your arrangements early if you’re
planning to travel between October and March.

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Flora and Fauna

The altitudinal range, topography and remoteness of the Simien Mountains supports fascinating
range of natural habitats, and the park is home to an impressive number of endemic species and
plant life. 

The major endemics found in the park are the Walia Ibex, Gelada Monkeys, and the Ethiopian
Wolf. Gelada Monkeys roam in large troops in the Simien Mountains, and these monkeys are
quite used to humans so you can sit amongst them as they shout and play in the fields. 

Walia Ibex are best found near the Chennek campsite - if you are staying in a lodge you can
drive to this part of the park thanks to a road that runs through as far as Chennek. 

The Ethiopian Wolf is seldom spotted in the Simiens, so you have to be quite lucky to spot one
here. If spotting an Ethiopian Wolf is high on your Ethiopian adventure bucket list, head to
the Bale Mountains where they are found in larger numbers. 

The Simien Mountains National Park is situated on the northwestern side of the Simien
mountains massif in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, roughly 900km north of Addis
Ababa. The region overlooks the lowlands of the Tekeze River. The park itself lies in the
woredas (districts) of Debark, Adi Arkay and Janamora.

Wildlife in the Simien Mountains National Park

The Simien Mountains consists of a range of habitats, which represent four belts of vegetation

related to altitude. These are the: 

 Afromontane forest
 Hypericum woodland
 Afromontane grassland
 Afro-alpine moorland

In the latter two, at higher altitude, the species have adapted to extreme altitude. Unfortunately
much of the park has been overgrazed and the grassland has been affected. Improvements in
management and protection of the park have gone some way to protect the flora and fauna of the
Simiens. 

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Lobelia trees encompass the Chennek campsite.

The park is of global significance for its biodiversity and endemism. It is home to many species
and habitats that exist nowhere else. 80% of the areas over 3000m in Africa are in Ethiopia and
much of this is within the Simien Mountains. 

Although numbers vary depending on who you listen to, it’s believed that over 20 large
mammals and 130-200 bird species live in the park. As you trek across the Simiens, you'll
encounter the endangered Walia Ibex, the Ethiopian Wolf (or Simien Fox) which is the rarest
canid species in the world and the rather wonderful Gelada Monkey (often called the Gelada
Baboon, but not technically a baboon!). 

The Simiens was one of the first places to be given the title of a World Heritage Site in 1978. In
1996, it made it onto the less desirable World Heritage in Danger list, due to the decline in the
population of Walia Ibex as a result of human settlement, grazing, roads and other influences.

Gelada Monkeys

By far the most famous of all the wildlife in the Simiens, Gelada Monkeys are found in
abundance in the Simien Mountains. With numbers estimated at over 5000, you’re all but
guaranteed to bump into troops of these amazing animals on any Simien trip. They’re easy-going
and likely to be the most photographed creatures you’ll encounter as they are fairly tame and
peaceful.

They have a distinct, hourglass shaped patch over their chests, which has led to their common
name, the ‘bleeding heart monkey’. Gelada’s are endemic to the Simien Mountains and live at
elevations of 1800-4400m, sleeping in cliffs and the patrolling the grasslands for food - grasses,

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seeds, roots and insects (rarely). They are the only primates that are mainly graminivores (grazer)
with grasses constituting 90% of their diet.

They move in troops. At night, they often descend from grazing areas to caves - it’s a wonderful
site to watch hundreds of monkeys climbing (and sometimes tumbling) down steep slopes to
their night-time spots, which they rest in for safety against predation as well as for warmth.
Males, distinguishable by their ‘mane’ of hair, will have a harem of females and these harems
often live together, defending against single males.

Ethiopian Wolf

You’ll be very luck to spot an Ethiopian Wolf on your journey, also known as the Red or Simien
Fox. There are just 100 in the park (in 1977 there were only 20 left). If you’re desperate to spot
one, the Bale Mountains in southern Ethiopia offers a better chance of sightings. 

Living at 3500-4000m the wolf is a specialised feeder of rodents and has very specific habitat
requirements, which have contributed to its status as Africa’s most endangered carnivore and
one of the world’s rarest canids, with an estimate of 360-400 individuals in the world in 2011,
the majority living in the Bale Mountains National Park.

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like thehiopian Wolf. 

Walia Ibex

Another animal endemic to the park is the Walia Ibex (or Abyssinian Ibex). It is estimated that
there are just 500-900 of them left, and they have been credited with the parks Heritage status. It
was reduced to 250 animals at its lowest, but numbers have recovered slowly with an estimate of
~600 in 2006.

Surprisingly, it is the only goat endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The Ibex is a species of mountain
goat with fantastic horns that live on the giant cliff faces. Visitors might have to swallow feelings
of vertigo to spot them clinging to the edge of precipitous slopes.

Predated by hyenas, the Ibex went from endangered to critically endanger in the 1990s due to
poaching. The Walia Ibex live at 2500 to 4500m above sea level. Walia Ibex tend to live in herds
of 5 to 20 and have a striking coloration, with the males owning the better headpiece!

Walia Ibex are found only in the Simien Mountains

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Birds

Between 130 and 200 bird species exist in the Simiens, depending on whose numbers you
believe! 5 are endemic to Ethiopia and 12 ‘near-endemics’. The Simiens is an excellent place for
birding.

Species include the striking thick-billed raven, wattled ibis, white-collared pigeon, spot-breasted
plover, white-billed starling, white-backed black tit and many, many others. There are said to be
25 species of raptors in the park, 5 vultures and four eagle species.

Perhaps the most famous is The Lammergeyer, or bearded vulture, which isn’t endemic but is
fascinating. It is the only bird which eats almost exclusively bone marrow. It will carry bones up
to a height and then dropping them in order to break them apart and get at the marrow within.

Flora

As well as the birds and the beasts, the Simien Mountains are often as interesting underfoot with
over 250 types of plant existing in the park. Walks in these mountains are an olfactory delight,
with abundant thyme and other herbs, tussocks and grasses.

Above 3,700m is generally open grassland, punctuated by solitary trees as well as many Giant
Lobelia’s, which can measure up to 10m in height. A stonecrop Rosularia simiensis is endemic
to the Simiens, as are ten of the different grass species, including some grasses that are endemic
to the Geech plateau.

Between 3,700m and 3,000m, otherwise known as the Ericaceous belt due to the number
of Erica bushes, trees and bushes begin to flourish.

Beneath 3,000m much of the forest has been felled for firewood and the land turned into grazing
or arable land, and as a result much of the diversity has been lost, with little regeneration.
However, on more precipitous areas many of the original cover remains
including Acacia and Ethiopian Tid as well as other sclerophyllous trees.

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Reference

Brilliant Ethiopia https://www.brilliant-ethiopia.com/national-parks/simien-mountains/flora-

fauna

"Simien National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 13 April 2021 “part of the Simien mountain
massif, which is located on the northern limit of the main Ethiopian plateau and includes the
highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen. The undulating plateau of the Simien mountains has over
millions of years been eroded to form precipitous cliffs and deep gorges of exceptional natural
beauty.”

"Welcome to the official website of Simien Mountains National Park". Simien Mountains
National Park. Retrieved 13 April 2021. The Simien Mountains National Park in Northern
Ethiopia is an exotic setting with unique wildlife and breath-taking views on a landscape shaped
by nature and traditional agriculture. The natural beauties of this region have always filled
visitors from Ethiopia and abroad with awe.