Simien highlands trek - Day 1

Included in our program was a three day trek in the Simien Mountains. We drove north from Gondar to the Simean Mountains National Park.

We had a brief stop at Felasha the original Jewish settlement outside Addis

Then through rural areas

To park headquarters in Debark

Then it was on to the park itself

We had arranged a 3 day trek, from Buit Ras to Cheneck, some 45 kilometres, and going from about 3000 m to a high point of 4075 m

It wasn't long before we had our first sighting of the endemic gelada or lion baboons

Of course wherever there is an attraction there are souvenir sellers

There were also some wattled ibis nearby

We started walking near Buit Ras

With a guide

And "ranger"

It wasn't long before we starting seeing the famous Simien views - if hazy

We also met some of the slower moving locals

We walked along the edge of an escarpment

Through forests of giant heather trees 

Seeing lots of lovely flowers

More views

And carpets of the ubiquitous meskel flowers

Til we reached our camp for the evening at Sankavar at 3250 metres

The boys had nibbles and coffee waiting for us

And the our "chef" prepared dinner

The ranger kept watch all night. When we queried his "lodgings" our guide simply replied - they are used to it