Simien Mountains National Park

Simien Mountains National Park is a must for all those interested in Ethiopia wildlife safaris and picturesque landscape. The park has a dramatic topography dominated by Ras Dashen, the fourth highest mountain in Africa at 4,622m and several peaks in Ethiopia above 4,000m. It has a rocky massif, which rolls gently to grasslands and cut by streams and gorges.

Created principally to protect the over 1,000 Walia Ibexes, a type of wild goat that habit here, Simien Mountain national park constitutes three pronounced botanical expanses; the alpine regions (up to 3600m) which are forested; the lower slopes that have been cultivated and grazed; and the higher lands are mountain grasslands with fescue grasses as well as heathers, splendid Red Hot Pokers and Giant Lobelia. The Park has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

Wildlife

The national Park offers spectacular wildlife safari views and a large variety of mammals. Importantly it is home to Ethiopia’s three larger endemic mammals namely the Walia Ibex, the more appealing Gelada Baboons, and the rarely spotted Ethiopian wolves. Baboons are popularly spotted in groups, on cliffs and ridges. Also in the park are several other mammals including the rarely seen Simien even though named after the mountains

Birds

Aside the spectacular scenic beauty and wildlife, Simien Mountains boasts numerous species of birds. Over 50 bird species have been recorded in the Park for instance hundreds birds of prey such as the rare lammergeyer a vast vulture.

Safaris

To fully enjoy the dramatic landscape, wildlife and birds of Simien Mountains, it is more recommended to organize guided tours. There are guided trekking tours, mountain climbing and horse riding tours. For mountain climbing, there are narrow paths circle around the mountain ridges, through grasslands.

Access

Access to the Simien Mountains National Park is principally from Debareq which is about 100 km from Gondar, from where tourists can hire riding and pack animals.