Expedition · Private
Highlands & Wildlife
The Simien escarpment and the Sanetti Plateau, Ethiopia's two great high-altitude wildernesses, in one trip.
The Journey
8 nights, designed around the hours that matter
A naturalist travels with you the entire way, from gelada troops on a two-thousand-metre drop to wolf-tracking above the clouds. Strenuous where you choose, comfortable everywhere else.
Who this is for
Active travellers comfortable with 9 Days that include real walking, altitude and early starts.
What this is not
Guests who prefer purely vehicle-based sightseeing, low elevation, or no trail days at all.
Places
- Simien Mountains
- Rift Valley Lakes
- Bale Mountains
Tailor-made journey
Priced to your plans
Quoted individually once we know your dates, lodges and group size.
- Duration
- 9 Days · 8 nights
- Best season
- Nov – Apr
- Group size
- 2 – 6 guests
- Style
- Expedition · Private
Final pricing depends on season, room category and group size. No deposit is taken until the itinerary is right.
Day by Day
The itinerary, as it usually runs
A working draft rather than a fixed schedule — we move days around for weather, festivals and how you are feeling.
Day 1
Arrive Addis Ababa
A briefing dinner with your wildlife specialist, kit check, and an early night ahead of the flight north.
Day 2
Gondar to Sankaber
Fly to Gondar, drive to Debark for park formalities, then a first gentle rim walk toward Sankaber among gelada troops.
Day 3
Imet Gogo & the escarpment
A longer day to the Imet Gogo viewpoint and along the cliffs — gelada at close range, lammergeier on the updrafts, and lodge or camp return by evening.
Day 4
Chenek & walia cliffs
Push toward Chenek for walia ibex habitat and a final Simien dawn, then descend to Gondar for the night.
Day 5
South via the Rift
Flight to Addis, then the Rift Valley road with a birding and lakeshore stop at Ziway before continuing toward Bale.
Day 6
Dinsho & mountain nyala
Park HQ at Dinsho, an afternoon walk for mountain nyala and Menelik's bushbuck, and a night on the northern Bale edge.
Day 7
Sanetti Plateau wolves
Pre-dawn onto Sanetti for Ethiopian wolf tracking when hunting activity peaks, with Afro-alpine birds between sightings.
Day 8
Harenna cloud forest
Drop into Harenna for colobus, forest birds and wild coffee understorey — a damper contrast to the plateau.
Day 9
Addis & Departure
Return to Addis, an optional National Museum visit with context from your specialist, and an evening departure.
What Is Included
- Domestic flights and private 4x4 transfers throughout
- A dedicated wildlife specialist for the full itinerary
- All national park fees, scouts and permits
- Lodge accommodation on the Simien rim and Bale escarpment
- Full board on every trekking day
- Trekking poles and daypacks provided
Not Included
- International flights and Ethiopian visa fees
- Travel insurance (required)
- The optional Ras Dashen summit extension
Enquire
Make Highlands & Wildlife yours
Send us your dates and we will confirm availability, quote precisely, and suggest the two or three changes we would make if it were our own trip.
Runs Nov – Apr · 2 – 6 guests · priced to your plans
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Speak With a Designer
Questions before you enquire?
Altitude, road time, how hard the walking really is, whether the children will cope. Ask us anything — a designer will answer honestly.
Or call us directly on +1909-450-7246