Ethiopia – Trekking in the Simien Mountains
There is no better place for an Ethiopia trekking holiday than the Simien Mountains, located in the north of the country. These rugged, wild mountains offer beautiful landscapes, unique flora and fauna, challenging climbs – including Ethiopia’s highest peak, Ras Dashen (4,533m) – and a chance to meet the local people and learn about their traditional rural lifestyles. An Ethiopia trekking holiday in the Simien Mountains is bound to be truly unforgettable.
Flora and Fauna
The Simien Mountains are home to an array of flora and fauna which can be enjoyed on an Ethiopia trekking holiday. The giant lobelia will become a common sight on trek, sometimes with buzzards perched atop them. Other flora include the endemic Abyssinian rose, the endemic globe thistle, jasmine, wild lavender and thyme, fennel, solanon, and non-fruiting olive trees. As far as fauna is concerned, the most famous is the endemic Abyssinian fox (also known as an Ethiopian wolf), a highly endangered canid that is very rarely sighted. Also elusive is the walia ibex. However, many other animals are more visible, from the buzzards and falcons soaring above (among many bird species seen in the mountains), to the gelada baboons with the distinctive red patch on their chest, that has led them to be called bleeding heart baboons.
Challenging Climbs
With the highest peaks in Ethiopia, trekking in the Simien Mountains involves ascending over 3,000m and, on several occasions, over 4,000m. This makes an Ethiopia trekking holiday a worthwhile challenge for the enthusiastic trekker. The highlight is summiting Ras Dashen (4,533m), with other peaks including Immetgogo (3,926m), Saha (3,785m/) and Kedadit (3,760m). Take care on the higher ascents, although any reputable trekking company should include time in the itinerary to acclimatise.
Coffee Ceremony
One highlight of Ethiopia trekking is enjoying a traditional coffee ceremony at the end of a long day’s trek. The coffee beans are first washed and then roasted over a small charcoal stove. Next, they are ground with a pestle and mortar before being poured into a kettle, where they are boiled on the stove. The coffee is served black with sugar in small cups. The ceremony is complete when three cups have been drunk – often accompanied by burning incense and even some traditional music, such as the one-stringed masenko, a kind of lute made from wood, horse hair and goat skin. If you are fortunate enough to enjoy one of these ceremonies, please consider offering some money to your hosts, as this may represent a major source of income for the family.
Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run several Ethiopia trekking itineraries. Operating in Asia for over 20 years, they now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!
This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.
