Simien / Semien Mountains, Ethiopia

Anyone else read up on or seen the similarities between the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia and our very own Berg?

From Wikipedia:

Because of their geological origins the mountains are almost unique, with only South Africa's Drakensberg having been formed in the same manner and thus appearing similar.

I had never heard of these before, but looks interesting. I see its just over 1km higher than the Berg. Also a WHS.

And no mention of crazy cable car projects...

There are some interesting vege links between the Berg and the Ethiopian Highlands as well - one being the yellow wood (podocarpus latifolius) forests which are part of the Afromontane system of plants and animals that extend from Arabia, through Ethiopia, Kenya and down to the southern Cape - including the Berg. The band is discontinuous and known as the Afromontane Archipelago. It was once continuous but long-term climate change has broken the band up so that the trees don't grow where it is warmer and drier. The remnants are confined to the cooler, moister mountain regions like those patches of forest that are a real joy to hike through on a hot summer's day in the Berg.

And no mention of crazy cable car projects...

They need corrupt South African businessmen and politicians don't they?

If anyone is shooting to join a tour group to Ethiopia - Malcolm Pearce's Summit Ventures is running a trip up there in November. The itinerary looks really awesome. Details of what they do are at www.summitventures.co.za/ethopia.html

I seriously want to head off to the Simien Mountains some time, but want to do Kili first (hopefully later this year).

Just on a side note - I have been doing quite a bit of research on the various mountains around Africa. Some really epic ones seem to exist - sadly, many of the really awesome looking ones are in areas that are either unsafe or off limits without government permission. I think we often take the Drakensberg for granted - aside from the occasional theft, the area is really a low risk area and access is great.

A quote from Fullen's article about the highest point in Angola:

Even with continued peace trekking in Angola will never be as we know it in all the climbing, trekking and outdoor magazines that we read today. Not in my lifetime will the beautiful hills and countryside be made free of mines. There are unclimbed rock faces and rock pinnacles towering 300 to 500 metres high, climbing them may turn out to be relatively easy by today's modern standards, negotiating the minefields will be given to chance.

Hey peeps

Has anyone on the forum ever visited or hiked in the Semien Mountains of Ethiopia? Possibly been up Ras Dashen?

I would love to hear more about it from this forum as I am contemplating a visit sometime in 2016.


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I know Malcolm Pearse has been there. Looks awesome, I also have those mountains on my radar.