Simien Mountains National Park

The Simien Mountains National Park is one of the very first sites to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Located in northern Ethiopia and north-east of Gondar, the mountains are one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with sharp mountain peaks, deep valleys, and precipices dropping up to 1,500m.

The park is also Ethiopia’s leading trekking and walking destination, with treks ranging from short strolls to one day excursions to thirteen day treks.

The park is the also important due to its biodiversity. The park is home to rare animals such as the Gelada Baboon, Ethiopian Wolf and the Walia Ibex that can be found nowhere else in the world. Other animals include the Anubis and Hamadryas baboons, grivet monkey, Menelik’s bushbuck, klipspringer, common jackal, spotted hyena, leopard, and more than 180 different species of birds including the famous lammergeyer vulture. There are also more than 1,200 plant species, three of which are endemic to the park.

Ras Dashen, Ethiopia’s highest mountain at an altitude of 4,533 metres, is also located within the park.