Simien Mountains charity trek, Ethiopia
| country: | Ethiopia |
| departures: | 2010: 13 Oct 2011: 16 Feb, 26 Oct |
| price: | From £575 deposit + £3250 fundraised (55% to charity) (12 days) inc UK flights |
| more info: | Self funders from £575 deposit + £1563 (inc £100 donation). Other payment options available |
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introduction to Simien Mountains charity trek, Ethiopia
Trek in the Simien Mountains and raise money for your favourite charity at the same time as taking part in an amazing adventure!
Highlight include:
Summit Ethiopia's highest peak; Ras Dejen Rugged mountainous landscape Largely unexplored route Visit unchanged Amhar villages
The Simien Mountains are one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to their highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen (4,620m), the fourth highest peak in the African continent.
Your trekking route is far from the regular tourist trails. It will take you to beautiful lowland valleys and high escarpments, where Amhara villages can be found. The summit is tough but rewarding, and is followed by a challenging ridge route, topping several 4,000m peaks en route.
The trek from Arkwasyie will offer one of the toughest days on the challenge as you leave the higher plateau, cross several substantial ridges and valleys and climb down the near vertical Devil's Staircase with a 900m descent to reach Lamo, one of the most beautiful locations in the Simiens.
With time in Addis Ababa, the capital, and also in historic Gondar, you will see a little of the sensational ancient culture of this unique and fascinating African country.
Please note: This trip can also be booked without flights. Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details.
Highlight include:
The Simien Mountains are one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to their highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen (4,620m), the fourth highest peak in the African continent.
Your trekking route is far from the regular tourist trails. It will take you to beautiful lowland valleys and high escarpments, where Amhara villages can be found. The summit is tough but rewarding, and is followed by a challenging ridge route, topping several 4,000m peaks en route.
The trek from Arkwasyie will offer one of the toughest days on the challenge as you leave the higher plateau, cross several substantial ridges and valleys and climb down the near vertical Devil's Staircase with a 900m descent to reach Lamo, one of the most beautiful locations in the Simiens.
With time in Addis Ababa, the capital, and also in historic Gondar, you will see a little of the sensational ancient culture of this unique and fascinating African country.
what this trip includes
12 days including: international flights to and from Addis Ababa, and local flights between Addis Ababa and Gondar, all meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary, entry into National Parks on the itinerary, all transfers in Ethiopia, all accommodation whether in tents or hotel, group first aid supplies, an English speaking expedition leader, full local support team, backup, a T-Shirt, US$20 to the local community project, and discount from Nomad Travellers Stores for personal equipment. We also make a contribution through Climate Care to offset the equivalent CO2 emissions of your international flight. Please note: This trip can also be booked without flights. Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | International departure. You will leave London Heathrow for the night flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Your representative will be there to assist you with the check-in and any last minute questions. |
| Day 2: | Arrive Addis Ababa, free day to visit projects. The flight arrives in Addis Ababa, you will be met at the airport by a representative who will take you to your hotel to freshen up before you are transferred to your chosen charity projects (if applicable). |
| Day 3: | Flight to Gondar, drive to Debark, trek to Sankaber (3,230m) 10kms. After breakfast you will get an early morning flight from Addis Ababa to Gondar. You will then drive about 3 hours (110kms) north to the gateway and market town of Debark, passing through beautiful mountain scenery en route. At Debark, approximate altitude 2,600m, the HQ of the Simien Mountains National Park, stop for a short drink before continuing for 1 hour into the park to rendezvous with muleteers and armed scout. Check provisions, load mules and trek on the trail to the first camp – Sankaber. We follow an undulating path up and down spurs, across the Lamma Wenz (river), and past welcoming villages. We round Aman Amba and keep close to the edge of the escarpment looking down on Adarmaz Camp in the valley below, before seeing the spectacular views from Sankaber, altitude 3,230m. Trek time approx 3 hours. Overnight & dinner at Sankaber Camp. |
| Day 4: | Sankaber to Chenek – (3,600m) approx 22kms. Trek from Sankaber to Chenek Camp. The terrain is varied, fertile in parts, and harsh elsewhere, at first descending to the escarpment, near the head of the Wazla Wenz, where there is a dramatic view of the Jinbar Wenz waterfall cascading down the Geech Abyss. Up again onto the main path before catching the support bus to Ambaras where there may be a chance to meet the Villagers. After the visit you will be transferred to the rock split and walk the final 30 minutes your camp at Chenek. The camp itself has caves, sometimes the unusual rock hyrax, and offers great views over the escarpment, notably from the outcrop above. However it is notoriously damp and misty. Chenek altitude 3,600m. Sankaber altitude 3,230m. Overall altitude gain 370m. Trek time 4 hours. |
| Day 5: | Chenek to Ambiko (4,300m) 25kms. A long but interesting walk from Chenek at 11,800ft/3,600m to Ambiko at 3,100m. This is primarily a wildlife sanctuary, formed in 1969 to protect endangered species such as the Walia Ibex, the Simien Wolf, and the Gelada Baboon. You may also see some of Ethiopia’s 30 endemic bird species, about 9 of which can be seen in the Simiens. Unfortunately, the Simien Wolf has disappeared from this area, and the other species are continually being pushed away from their usual habitat. This is a sensitive area, and on environmental grounds we are conscious that vehicle support should be reserved for emergencies. Camp at Ambiko at low altitude 3,100m before summit day. Undulating alt +600m -1,400m +200m. Overall loss 500m. Trek time approx 9/10 hours. |
| Day 6: | Ambiko to Ras Deshen & return (4,620m) 22kms. Early start from Ambiko to Ras Deshen summit and then return to Ambiko. At first, ascend in a loop to the south-east, through the gully, then north to the summit. Scrambling up, you will notice that there are 2 distinct hog-back rock summits, the first being the highest. Ras Deshen 15,157ft/4,543m. This is Africa’s fourth highest mountain and the highest in Ethiopia. This is it! This was your challenge! But don’t stop now! Now is the long descent back to camp following the route you took on the way up. A tough day. Alt +1,343m –1,343m. Trek time approx 11/12 hours. |
| Day 7: | Ambiko to Sona (3,100m) 24kms. A steep descent to the valley floor for 1 hour followed by a 2/3 hour steep ascent will bring you to the top of the main ascent. After this the terrain becomes easier rounding several bends still trending upwards before dropping to a beautiful valley with lots of giant lobelias and a river running through it. As we approach the lunch spot, the summit of Ras Dashen comes into view behind us and stays with us, reminding us of the heights we achieved yesterday. After lunch, there are spectacular views of several 4,000m mountains on the ridge line to our right. The route then heads up to the village of Arkwasiye at 3600m before heading downhill for 500m (2 hours) to Sona, perched right on the edge of the Devil’s staircase with amazing views. Altitude gain 500m. Trek time 9/10 hours. |
| Day 8: | Sona to Lamo (2,000m) 18kms. We leave the higher plateau of Sona(3,100m), climbing directly down the near vertical Devil's staircase with a 3,300ft/1000m descent. We will lunch at the bottom with the chance to take a swim in the river before heading on a slightly undulating path to Lamo. The reward for this long descent is Lamo itself, one of the most beautiful locations in the Simiens. Our overall height loss will be around 1100m. Alt at Lamo approx 2,000m. Trek time 5 hours. |
| Day 9: | Lamo to Mulet (2,000m) 17kms. Lamo is also known as Mekarebya. Look north-east across the valley to the circle of mountains around Amba Ton and you will see the view illustrated on Ethiopian Airlines tickets. Today you should allow around eight hours for a day of ridge and valley treks through some spectacularly beautiful scenery to Mulet, where we camp at much the same altitude as Lamo. Tonight you wil celebrate your achievement of walking through the Simien Mountains and have time to spend with the muleteers, guides and scouts as this is your last night together. Trekking time about 7 hours. Altitude undulating approx 1,900m. |
| Day 10: | Mulet to Axum (1,700m) 13 kms. Today, you will have your final walk out of the National park. The route heads downhill for 2 – 3 hours to reach the village of Adi Arkay. Altitude dropping to Adi Arkay 1600m from 2000m. After a celebratory drink in a cafe, say goodbye to your muleteers and camp staff, and meet the vehicles for the five hour drive to Axum, for welcome showers. You will overnight at the Yeha Hotel. |
| Day 11: | Axum to Addis Ababa. An early start today for a tour of the celebrated historic sites at Axum. A chance to see the amazing stellae of Axum, learn about the region’s pre-Christian culture, and the Axumite Empire. Axum dates back some 2,000 years to when it was the hub of the Axumite Empire. The Queen of Sheba made it her capital 1,000 years before the time of Christ. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was founded here in the fourth century and Axum remains the holiest city of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This capital city was the first place in Ethiopia to adopt a new religion - Christianity. According to the Old Testament, The Queen of Sheba was born in Axum, but travelled to Israel to meet King Solomon. They had a son named Menelik, who later became the first emperor of Ethiopia. Menelik brought the original Arc of the Covenant back to Ethiopia from Israel. Today, the Arc, which once housed the Ten Commandments, remains well hidden in Axum. It is guarded by a select group of monks, whose sole commitment is to protect the sacred vessel. Axum is also known for its massive, towering sculptures that are more than two thousand years old. Their significance is still under investigation by archaeologists. In the afternoon you will fly to Addis Ababa and transfer to the Ghion Hotel for celebration dinner & to freshen up before your journey home. |
| Day 12: | International departure. Your early morning flight to the UK arrives at London Heathrow at 0710hrs. |
traveller reviews for Simien Mountains charity trek, Ethiopia
Challenging to the extreme but rewarding - as I also visited a sponsored child so the trek as well as the visit made an excellent combination.
(more)
Highly Commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
 Our responsible commitment extends to helping the local communities we visit. We employ local guides, porters and other essential support staff, and use locally owned accommodation. We donate approximately US $400 per trek to the Arkwasyie Project (through Community Projects Africa), which provides important medical support in the remote Simien Mountains. The Amhar people of the remote Simiens are friendly, humorous, and extremely tough. They love their impoverished and savagely beautiful mountain terrain. Our Simien Mountains trek travels through the village of Arkwasyie. By trekking with them and the long cavalcade of mules you will have an experience never to be forgotten. Frequently you enter villages and huts; and see close at hand the need for medical supplies and personnel. There is an obvious need of assistance from the outside world both to deal with immediate medical needs - wound dressing, treatment of infections, a simple programme of immunisations etc. But also to develop sustainable methods of health care. The village elders at Arkawasyie village protest that the aid agencies never reach their village, which is a good few days from the nearest hospital. In this remote area are found children and adults, suffering with infected wounds, broken bones causing terrible pain, and a variety of chest and gut problems. Hence we are helping Community Projects Africa to put together a programe to deliver sustainable aid. Ethiopian Health Officers are startingg their work in the region in November 2006, thanks to the support of our trekkers. Looking to the future, we are planning to support the establishment of permanent Health Posts in the Simiens. Once they are set up the Ethiopian government will take over and fund the Health Officers and medical supplies As a company we have also drastically reduced the carbon footprint of our UK operations, and are making a huge effort to do so in their destination countries too. We are also investing to offset the emissions from the international flights required to take part in our challenges. We also provide travellers with a responsible tourism policy detailing ways in which you can be an ethical traveller. From packing conscientiously to advice on local customs & environmental awareness overseas to maintaining contact with your new international friends upon your return – our policy is a comprehensive document providing all the info you need to trek, climb of cycle responsibly. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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