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About Simien Mountains

The Simien Mountains are situated in Ethiopia. This region is a highlight of any Ethiopian backpacking tour.

Simien Mountains Budget Travel

Below is a list of Simien Mountains's top activities, click on the link to view all details and tours.

Simien Mountains Mule Ride

View all activities in Simien Mountains

Airports

Simien Mountains airports include the following:
• Bole International Addis Ababa Airport

Birdlife

Over 50 species of birds have been reported in the Simien Mountains. Simien Mountains birdlife includes birds of prey such as the rare lammergeyer, a huge vulture, plus tawny eagle. The best season for birdwatching is from the beginning of September up to February. Between November and February, migrant birds increase the bird population and increase species diversity as well.

Conservation

With some of Africa's rarest and most endangered species found within this area, Simien Mountains conservation is vital to ensure that species such as Ethiopian wolf do not become extinct. Environment issues include hunting, habitat loss, desertification, deforestation and droughts.

Malaria

Simien Mountains malaria medication includes the following:
• Mefloquine (Lariam)
• Doxycycline
• Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)

Money

Simien Mountains money and banking info includes the following:
• Banks are situated within most of the towns near the park
• ATMs seldom work with foreign cards
• Exchange facilities can be found at airports and hotels, as well as banks
• Travellers cheques are easier to exchange from Euros, Pounds or Dollars

Plants

Simien Mountains plant life varies from alpine to plains. The lower slopes have been cultivated and grazed, while the alpine regions were once heavily forested, although much of it has now disappeared. The higher lands are made up of mountain grasslands with fescue grasses as well as heathers, splendid Red Hot Pokers and Giant Lobelia.

Safety Tips

• Areas near Somalia, such as the Fik, Degehabur, Gode, Korahe and Warder should be avoided
• Do not try and walk through the mountains without a guide
• Take lots of water and don't forget sunscreen
• Wildlife can be unpredictable and dangerous
• Indiscriminate terrorist attacks can occur, so be vigilant at all times

Travel Books

Simien Mountains recommended travel books include the following:
• Bradt Travel Guide: Ethiopia by Philip Briggs
• Ethiopia and Eritrea Lonely Planet Country Guide by Matt Phillips and Jean-Bernard Carillet
• Ethiopia, the Unknown Land: A Cultural and Historical Guide by Stuart Munro-Hay
• The Chains of Heaven: An Ethiopian Romance by Philip Marsden

Visa Requirements

Get more information on visas in Ethiopia

Wildlife

Ethiopia is home to some of the rarest wildlife in Africa, and Simien Mountains wildlife is interesting and diverse. Some of the most common game species seen within the Simien Mountains area include baboons, ibexes and the highly endangered rate Ethiopian wolf.

Dayne - Overlanding Africa.com24 Feb 2010: Hi Jake, I have sent you an email with some more information on Ethiopia and the tours we offer that include the Simien Mountains.Cheers
Jake Holm24 Feb 2010: Hey guys, I am going to be volunteering in Rwanda from May to mid-june, then spending the rest of june and july throughout Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. I really really want to head to Ethiopia's Simien Mountains, a landscape I have always wanted to see with my own eyes, but I am wondering what the weather is like there in July and what I would expect as far as temperature, vegetation and general weather (blue skies/ cloudy skies/ rain?) Are there typically any sunny/blue sky days in july in the Simien mountains? Thanks alot, hope to hear from you guys soon and maybe we can arrange something if it's worth the trip north. -jake

1 Overland tours through Simien Mountains recommended for you

Historic Ethiopia

10 days From ZAR 14350

Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa

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