Ethiopia Trekking and Walking Holidays

Introduction to Trekking in Ethiopia

Ethiopia's highlands offer a superb climate for trekking. For keen walkers, we recommend the awe-inspiring Simien Mountains, one of the major highlands of Africa. Our itineraries will take you deep into the heart of this stunning mountain range, through its beautiful lowland valleys and high escarpments. For naturalists, the Rift Valley Lakes and the Bale Mountains also offer endemics and riches of flora and fauna, while the Omo Valley and remote regions of Ethiopia are home to a mix of tribes and cultures.

Ethiopia is a country rich in history and culture. The fabled land of the Queen of Sheba, and a former trading post on the major spice routes from the earliest times, Ethiopia's unique past is made visible in its surviving age-old religious traditions and pre-Christian relics. Among its most famous attractions are the rock churches of Lalibela, the castles of Gondar, and the city of Axum.

The Amhara people act as our mountain guides and mule drovers. They are welcoming, humorous and incredibly hardy. With the charity Community Projects Africa we have set up a regular medical aid programme to Keyit Village and the surrounding areas.

When to visit the Simien Mountains

May to September is the rainy season, when conditions are generally less favourable in the mountain areas, though trekking is still quite possible. Whenever you go, remember that the nights can be very cold, whereas the days are often warm with magnificent blue skies.

Ethiopia Itineraries

Ask our office to prepare a tailor-made Ethiopia trekking itinerary for you. We can include a Historic Route add-on, and/or a visit to the Rift Valley Lakes. Or simply choose one of our tried and tested Simien trekking itineraries. Our superb Full Simiens Trek will take you to the community project at Keyit and then on to Lamo via the Devil's Staircase. It is our favourite trekking route in the Simiens. In one exhilarating day you can top five peaks each over 4,000m, including Ras Deshen. We also offer a shorter 6-day Simien Trekking itinerary. Brief single-day excursions into the Simien Mountains are also available as an add-on to the Historic Route.

Beyond the Simiens - Bale and Tigray

Trekking in Ethiopia is not limited to the Simien Mountains. The medieval rock churches of Lalibela and Tigray are located in environments that beg to be explored on foot. Tigray's rock churches in particular almost demand it, such is their remoteness! Exploring these ancient lands, with their medieval churches and early Christian monuments, really feels like steeping back into Biblical times.

In southern Ethiopia, the Bale Mountains are often overlooked due to the relative difficulty of accessing the region and the expense involved, but for those with the time to spare, they offer a fascinating alternative to the Simien Mountains, particularly for those trekkers with a keen interest in botany and wildlife. Several rare and endangered species can be found in the Bale Mountains, including the Simien fox (or Ethiopian wolf), Menelik’s bushbuck, mountain nyala and Abyssinian Longclaw.

For further itinerary ideas or for help planning your Ethiopia trekking holiday, please contact us.