Activities in Ethiopia
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Geech Camp to Chenek via Imet Gogo
Geech to Chenek takes about five to six hours, but you'd be crazy not to take in Imet Gogo, around 5km northeast of Geech. It takes 1½ to two hours one way.
The promontory, at 3926m, affords some of the most spectacular views of the Simien Mountains. To make a day of it, you could continue to the viewpoint known as Saha. From Saha, you can head for the viewpoint at Kadavit (2.5km, 30 to 40 minutes), then return to camp.
You can also trek to Chenek via Imet Gogo using Saha as a starting point (eight to nine hours). Saha lies around 3km from Geech.
From Imet Gogo you have two choices: the first is to return to Geech by your outward route, then head directly south, back…
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Trekking, Classic Route
Most trekking is fairly gentle and undemanding, following good, well-trodden paths or sheep tracks. But don't forget that altitude makes easy-looking terrain quite heavy going.
The trekking routes cover a relatively small area, and most treks last six days, or four days with a vehicle. The following routes and approximate trekking times have been devised in consultation with local guides.
Day One: Work your way southwest up the Web Valley towards the Finch' Abera Waterfall (two or three hours from the park headquarters), before continuing on to Mararo, where there's a pleasant campsite.
Day Two: Keep an eye out for giant molerats while trekking through the Wasema Valley.…
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Wildlife Spotting
If you've limited time, or can't walk far, you can still see a great deal of wildlife, particularly in the forest around park headquarters where mountain nyala, warthogs and other species reside.
With your own vehicle, the top of Tullu Deemtu can also be reached by 4WD, via Goba and the Sanetti Plateau. If you reach the plateau by 07:00, you're almost guaranteed a sighting of the Ethiopian wolf; they spend this time intently searching for food. Failing an early start, the late afternoon is your next best bet.
If you approach the wolves from downwind, you can get very close indeed. If you're lucky, you may spot a klipspringer here too.
A pleasant, short stroll from the…
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Trekking, Alternative Routes
One-day excursions include walks up the Web Valley to Gasuray Peak (3325m) and Adelay Ridge. The Web Gorge takes around 1½ hours to reach, and is good for seeing colobus monkeys. Go early in the morning.
For a very pretty walk that includes birds and a good chance of seeing the Ethiopian wolf (and the slightest chance of spotting a leopard), go to the Finch' Abera Waterfall (two to three hours' walk one way). You could also spend the night at the nearby campsite. Another good overnight excursion is to the Kotera Plain, where Ethiopian wolves are often seen. The walk takes five hours one way.
For those who want to spend longer periods in the mountains, the almost totally…
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Chenek to Mt Bwahit & Return
The summit of Mt Bwahit (4430m) lies to the southeast of the camp. From the top, you can see a tiny piece of Ras Dashen.
Around 20 minutes from the camp towards Mt Bwahit, there's a spot that affords one of the best opportunities for glimpsing, at long range (around 300m to 400m), the walia ibex. This animal, a member of the wild goat family, lives on the crags of the steep escarpment above 3000m. Come very early in the morning or late in the afternoon (after 16:00) with binoculars. On our last trip we were lucky enough to see two males going head to head on a precarious slope, with the crashes of their collisions echoing through the crisp air.
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Ambikwa to Ras Dashen & Return
Most trekkers stay two nights at Ambikwa and go up to the summit of Ras Dashen on the day in between. It's a good idea to start at first light.
At Ras Dashen there are three distinct points, and much debate about which is the true summit. Whichever peak you go for, the total walk from Ambikwa to reach one summit is about five to six hours. If you want to knock off the others, add two to three hours for each one. Returning by the same route takes about three to four hours.
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Ambikwa to Adi Arkay
One interesting alternative return route is to trek from Ambikwa to Arkwasiye, to the northeast of Chenek, taking in the nearby peaks of Beroch Wuha (4272m) and Silki (4420m).
From Arkwasiye to Adi Arkay will take another two to three days of strenuous walking, via Sona (three hours from Arkwasiye).
From Adi Arkay, which lies 75km north of Debark, you can continue northward to Aksum.
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Debark to Buyit Ras
Sankaber can be reached in a single day, but many trekkers prefer to break at Buyit Ras, where there's an abundance of gelada baboons. There's also a camping spot with beautiful views, though you'll have to share the area with a new resort that opened in 2006. If you push on to Sankaber, it's another 13km (around three to four hours).
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Buyit Ras to Geech Camp via Sankaber
The dirt road will take you straight to Sankaber, but the scenic route along the escarpment isn't to be missed. There are particularly good views between Michibi and Sankaber. Look out for gelada baboons.
From Sankaber to Geech it's between four and five hours' walk.
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Chenek to Ambikwa
From Chenek, a track leads eastward then southeastward up towards a good viewpoint on the eastern escarpment, to the north of Mt Bwahit. To the east, across the vast valley of the Mesheba River, you can see the bulk of Ras Dashen.
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Ambikwa to Debark
Most trekkers return from Ambikwa to Debark along the same route via Chenek and Sankaber. If you're tired or have had enough, you may be able to hitch a lift with the odd truck that plies the route.
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