Simien / Semien Mountains, Ethiopia

There is a VE thread on 'Simien Mountains', it doesn't say if anyone has been there, but mentions some similarities to the berg.

Not sure which spelling is right, Semien or Simien.

Simien Mountains

Both names are accepted and widely used but it seems like Simien is used most often as mentioned by Christine. The original name is actually Səmen.


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Indeed many similarities with the Drakensberg and if you have the right angle photo you'll probably not tell the difference. In general it is basalt (probably even worse rock quality than the Drakensberg) and due to the altitude (3000 to 4500m) from far the vegetation looks very similar (but has some aspects of the Mt. Kenya / Kili vegetation). It is to some extent an escarpment and with a plateau with a similar geological history. Like the 'Berg it has Bearded Vultures but then also but then the the grass eating Gelada baboon (easy to see), Walia Ibex (less common) and the Simien Wolve (rare).

The hiking is nice (but it is sadly not as wild as the 'Berg as there is a road though the park and much over grazing on the plateau) and you would typically not go there just to hike and combine it with going to Gondor, Lalibela and Axum with a bit of time in Addis.

If you into peak bagging you'll have to add Ras Dashen (4550m) which is a bit of extra hiking but it is easy to do a 4 000m peak e.g. Bwhahit in a short period of time if you are limited. BTW the standard 5 day hiking trip from Debark can be shortened if you speak to the right guide and have $$$ to hire a private 4x4 etc.

This is all very interesting, thanks guys!
But i would run horribly fast when i see one of these...

susanalkema wrote: This is all very interesting, thanks guys!
But i would run horribly fast when i see one of these...

Hahaha luckily I speak baboon. In fact, my better half reckons I may actually be one.
Had a pretty interesting situation with a baboon at Injisuthi last week.

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susanalkema wrote:

This is all very interesting, thanks guys!
But i would run horribly fast when i see one of these...

Although they are baboon sized and move in large troops they are quite docile (and are specialist grass eaters). I did experience any local baboon (kbresler excluded type antics when close to them.