Is semi-independent trekking an option in the Simiens?

As far as I know, you cannot hire a 4x4 in Debark. However, it is often possible to hitch a ride on a truck into the park as you intend. This should be reasonably inexpensive.

You can hike with just a scout, but then you are carrying everything. Fine if you have your own lightweight backpacking gear, not so great if you are hiring equipment. I have heard of people staying in local villages. This could eliminate the need to bring cooking gear. I would still want my own tent though. (Fleas are a good possibility in local residences.)

I have trekked in mid Feb. Good weather for hiking in the mornings, but rained some in the afternoons and evening. Nights were cold. Bring long underwear. Bring seam sealant in case you get a leaky tent.

Hope this helps,

BB

Hi Anne
Don’t arrange your Simien Trip in Gonder, it’s ridiculous expensive there. Just go to Debark, walk into the tourist office and they arrange everything for you within 30 min and charge fixed prices.
You can catch a bus from Gonder to Debark, the first one leaves at 6 am, be at the bus station at 5.30 unless you manage to buy a bus ticket in advance.
You do indeed have go with a scout. A mule and a mule man will be sort of necessary if you have a tent and cooking equipment and food (officially the scout /mule men are supposed to bring their one food, but actually the eat your leftovers so if you’re the nice kind of person you bring enough food for everybody). A 4X4 drop off/pick-up from Debark can be arranged at the tourist office (where you get your scout as well), there are probably not hundreds of cars but normally they should be able to arrange that for you (though it’s expensive, count on 100-120 $ per day). Travelling with a truck is officially forbidden for tourist. Therefore you cannot pass the gates on a truck. We came back on a truck (what was arranged by our cook) but we had to get off the truck before passing the park entry gate, walk back and the cook hired a wagon for our luggage. Our scout was terribly upset about the truck thing (guess he can loose his job because of that), so I promised him I’d go to the tourist office and take all responsibilities for the truck-journey telling them a guy in our group got terribly ill. The guy at the tourist office was quite angry with me because of the truck journey (Debark is a village, everybody knows everything going on so not worth trying to hide something).
Imet Gogo is a great place.
I Trekked in mid January, dry weather and terribly cold as soon as the sun is away (minus centigrade degrees in the tent), bring good equipment/cloths, I met quite some people who got ill during or after the trek….
Feel free to ask if you need some more infos…