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 Deshen 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 where you can learn more about local life on a community trek .

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 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 Dasehn  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. 

Rising over 4,000 metres, the Afro-Alpine plateau of the Bale Mountains is the highest mountainous area in southern Ethiopia. The north side of the park is home to the  Sanetti Plateau   – a high altitude region of glacial lakes surrounded by high volcanic ridges. In the south of the park you’ll find the Harenna Forest , a thick, jungle-esque region home to colobus monkeys, wild horses, forest hogs, warthogs, and even lions and leopards. The beautiful Bale Mountain Lodge  – nestled into the thickets of the Harenna Forest – is one Ethiopia’s best boutique lodges. It’s the perfect place to return for sun-downers by the roaring fire after a day’s exploring. In the surrounding villages, makeshift bars serve Tej (honey wine) round the clock and in the surrounding forests you can learn how that incredible Ethiopian coffee is produced. The Bale Mountains are a place of beauty, in both nature and community. If wildlife, scenery, and the great outdoors are high on your Ethiopia travel wish list – the Bale  Mountains should not be missed.  

Thanks to its altitudinal range, the Bale Mountains can support a huge variety of plant life.  There are around 1,300 species of flowering plants in the mountains, of which 12% are endemic to Ethiopia and 14% endemic to the Bale Mountains alone. The Helichrysum (‘everlasting’ flowers) is the most dominant flower in the park, their yellow flowers making for beautiful backdrops as you hike through the forests in search of wildlife. The southern part of the park is heavily forested with wild forest coffee (coffee arabica) and medicinal plants like the hagenia. The most striking of all are the seemingly misshapen Juniper Trees, whose branches bend and contort to create a scene straight out of a Harry Potter film!

The Bale Mountains are one of Ethiopia’s best wildlife destinations.
The endemic (and rather elusive) Ethiopian Wolf  is found in large numbers here. The wolf is the rarest canid in the world, and your best bet for spotting one is in the Sanetti Plateau of the Bale Mountains.  The conservation of the Ethiopian Wolf, as well as the endangered Mountain Nyala, was a leading reason for the establishment of the national park. It’s not just the Wolf and Nyala – the Bale Mountains are home to 20 endemic mammals, not to mention dozens of reptiles and amphibians, and hundreds of bird species. Other wildlife often spotted in the park includes the Menelik Bushbuck, grey duiker, warthog, African golden wolf, colobus monkey, and spotted hyena.
If you look to the trees, you’ll find countless bird species, monkeys, and chameleons