Lucy, 3.5 million years old, and the recent discovery Ramides, 4.4 million years old hominid fossil, are discovered in Haddar, along the Awash River, east of the country. They completed the missing link between Apes and men. Melka Konture is also an important archeological site where 1.5 million years old stone tools were found. Several cave paintings and stone monuments are found in different parts of the country like Dilla, southern Ethiopia and Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia

Ethiopia lies in the horn of Africa, between 4 and 18 degrees north latitude, and 33 and 48 East longitudes. It measures some 1,400 km from North to South, and its total area being 1,374,737 sq kms, making it the 10th largest country on the African continent.

Traveling in Ethiopia gives the daydream of through different centuries. It has an independence of spirit which made it the only country to remain

Un colonized country from the 19th century scramble for Africa. It is true to say it is where the ancient world and Africa meet.

The country is a true revelation. It is welcoming, enjoyable, and uplifting, and one of the most rewarding and attractive countries in Africa. The historic Route is one of the great pleasures of Ethiopia. Nowhere else in the world can you see riches of the man’s past such as those in the northern Ethiopia. A history that stretches back to the time of prehistoric man to more than 3,000 years old history of Axum; the 5th century B.C. Temple of yeha; the 12th century rock hewn churches of Lalibela and the medieval castles of Gondar. Riches that encompass the history of Ethiopia from 1st early beginning to the modern day, riches that are set amongst some of the most stunning scenery in Ethiopia; and where our people work today, just as their ancestors have done for generations

Trek through the Simians, following widespread network of trails used by the local people to travel between the villages on the lower slopes or to reach the high pastures for feeding them animals. The superiority of these trails, along with the fantastic scenery, unique flora and fauna make this a gratifying and challenging trek. It is a paradise for natural history fanatics as well as for trekkers. Initially the route will take through small villages and terraced fields in the lower valleys, before reaching a series of dramatic cliffs and escarpments. Beyond these escarpments we reach the beautiful high-altitude fields and the rugged wilderness of the high peak areas.

There will be an opportunity to ascend many of the 4,000m peaks, including Ras Dashen 4543m, before descending into the lowland valleys, and returning by a completely different route, which will give us a rare opportunity to view the ridges and peaks from a different viewpoint.

A Day on the Trek

After a substantial breakfast, depart on the day’s trek carrying a day sack containing your packed lunch, water, camera, and warm top . Our personal equipment and things are carried by mules to the next camp. On arrival, your tents will have been set up, refreshments at hand, and there is time to relax and refresh yourselves before dinner and socializing around the camp fire.

The Simien Mountains are not far from the equator but has temperatures which often drop below freezing at night. There4 is a big difference between night and day time.  Hail and snow can fall on the highest peaks and may remain for several days but it never last.

On the other hand the suns rays beat directly down and the rarified atmosphere does not act as an effective filter, so giving warm days and the need for a strong sun block.

The reason October and November has been chosen for the trek, is that the big rains begin in June, and last through until September. Trekking is very difficult at this time. Mid September the rains decrease, the skies clear of haze and most of the plants burst into bloom. It’s the ideal time of the year, clear skies, warm temperatures, little rain and flora and fauna is in abundance.

Maximum temperatures during the day are about 17c (64f), and at night dropping to 3c-5c (35-40f)

The Simien Mountains are graced with exceptional botanical phenomena that are unique, abundant and rare. Olive’s cedar, Abyssinian rose, junipers, giant heather, giant lobelia, Erica and hundreds of species of flowers and shrubs.

On our trek we will pass through many different botanical regions. At the lowest altitude up to about 3,000m, the land has been cultivated and grazed by cattle, sheep and goats. This area was once covered in forest, but little is left of this indigenous vegetation.

Above this level and up to 3,600m, in ancient times there was a forest of giant heath. Today this area has also been deforested, but remnants of the original vegetation can still be seen.

Above 3,600m the mountain grassland begins. It’s also graced with an abundance of flowers, including the most spectacular plant of this region, the giant lobelia with flower stalks up to eight meters high.

At the highest altitudes, on the summits of the peaks, the vegetation consists mainly of mosses and lichens.

In the lowland valleys on our return journey, extensive forests with more than 20 species of trees will be found.

The plants of the Simien mountains may be summed up as being both cosmopolitan and unique, both strange and very beautiful.

Three of Ethiopia’s endemic large mammals are resident in the Simien. Like the plants the animal species have originated in the northern continents as well as the southern regions of Africa, and their isolation in the specialized habitat of the Simien, has enabled them to evolve into a collection of unique creatures.

The Gelada baboon is the most common of these, with an estimated population of at least 7,000. On our trek we will often see grazing herds of up to 400 individuals.

The Walia ibex a type of wild goat, is now found only in the Simien, and in the 1960s was poached close to extinction. The population is now on the increase, and we would expect to see them when we reach the escarpments, where they live on nearly vertical cliffs faces, and narrow ledges.

We would be very fortunate to sight a Simien fox otherwise known as the Abyssinian wolf, which is in fact a member of the dog family! It is extremely rare, with no more than 50 individuals concentrated in the high alpine meadows.

Other mammals are klipspringers, bushbucks, hyenas, and jackals.