 The road from Debark to Simien Mountains Nationanl Park |
 Hut near the park entrance |
 Welcome - Simen Mountains National Park |
 It is strictly forbidden to drive inside the park from 6 am to 6 pm |
 Gate to Simien Mountain National Park |
 Permit inspection - only on the way in |
 Western end of Simien Mountains National Park |
 Simien Lodge - the Highest Lodge in Africa - 3260m (10700ft) |
 Simien Lodge |
 Thick-billed Raven, Simien Lodge |
 Keith with our armed scout and English-speaking guide |
 Me with the armed scout and guide |
 Buyit Ras, 3230m, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Keith, near the Simien Lodge |
 Buyit Ras viewpoint, Simien Mountains |
 Keith on the edge during our first short trek |
 Keith along the Northern Escarpment, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Me sitting on a branch at the edge of a cliff |
 Me, on the edge, Simien Mountains |
 Simien Mountains National Park |
 On the afternoon of our arrival we hiked from the lodge along the northern escarpment for several hours |
 Simien Mountains National Park |
 Abyssinian Rose (Rosa abyssinica) Simien Mountains |
 Keith, Simien Mountains |
 Keith, Simien Mountains |
 Don't Jump! |
 Northern Escarpment, Simien Mountains |
 Panorama of the Northern Escarpment, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Northern Escarpment, Simien Mountains |
 Some people liken the Simiens to the Grand Canyon... |
 Simien Mountains National Park |
 Road leading deeper into the park |
 We hoped to get a lift to the top of the next peak to start the following day's trek |
 Simien Mountains National Park |
 Male Gelada Baboon, Simien Mts |
 Although called baboons, the Gelada are actually monkies |
 The Gelada grazing |
 Keith with a troop of Gelada grazing in the shade |
 Gelada, Simien Mountains |
 Female Gelada scratching her ankle |
 ...and now the other side... |
 Dusing oestrus, the red patch on the chest will brighten |
 Gelada - Theropithecus gelada |
 Researchers named one dominant male like this "Chewbaca" |
 The Gelada were totally undisturbed by our presence |
 Gelada with amazing eyes munching on grass |
 Gelada infant riding its mother's back |
 Gelada baby clinging on for the ride |
 The dominant male of this group |
 Excuse me, mom.... |
 EthiopiaJan09 1480.jpg |
 Looking back to tomorrow's starting point |
 View east towards Geech camp in the distance |
 Panorama atop Buyit Ras |
 Evening in the Simiens |
 Buyit Ras, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Back at Simien Lodge after a 3 hour round-trip hike |
 Simien Lodge |
 Simien Lodge |
 Simien Lodge |
 Simien Lodge |
 Simien Lodge |
 Sundowner, Simien Lodge |
 Simien Sunset |
 Sunset from Simien Lodge |
 Early morning the next day |
 Site of our evening sundowners behind the Simien Lodge |
 Bright morning, Simien Lodge |
 We had to beg for a lift since our vehicle didn't stay with us |
 Keith helped push-start this van securing us a lift a few miles down the road to our starting point |
 The previous day we hiked along the distant cliffs of of Buyit Ras |
 Looking east along the northern escarpment |
 The park is still inhabited by villagers. |
 When the park was established in 1969 there were only a few hundred villagers |
 Today, there are tens of thousands of villagers, placing the park on the UNESCO's endangered list |
 Keith and the guide and scout |
 Me, on the edge |
 I hate the hat but the sun is strong at these high altitudes only 13 degrees north of the equator |
 Armed scouts are required |
 Me, hiking along the ridge with the Gelada |
 We came across Gelada soon after the start of our trek |
 Gelada coming towards us |
 Large male Gelada along the escarpment |
 Tree on the edge |
 Gelada walking along the escarpment, Simien Mts |
 Gelada appreciating his warm coat in the wind |
 Two young Gelada walking along the edge |
 Morning grooming |
 Gelada foraging under a small bush |
 Northern escarpment, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Mother and baby Gelada, Simien Mountains |
 Mother and baby Gelada, Simien Mountains |
 Gelada, Simien Mountains |
 Gelada grazing |
 A pair of serious looking female Geladas |
 Young Gelada sitting on the edge of the cliff |
 Young Gelada raising his foot |
 Gelada Baboons on the cliff, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Young Gelada scampering along the steep cliff face |
 Gelada grooming |
 Two Geladas behind a rock |
 Gelada morning routine - grooming |
 Geladas - Simien Mountains |
 A Gelada smile |
 Wow that's ugly! Gelada grimacing |
 Gelada grooming, Simien Mountains National Park |
 A Gelada passes behind me |
 A large band of 100 or so Gelada with the park road, Simien Mountains |
 Simien Mountains National Park |
 Paorama looking north towards the rugged lowlands |
 Northern Escarpment, Simien Mountains National Park |
 We soon encountered another large group of Gelada |
 Gelada grooming |
 Gelada grooming near the edge |
 Gelada and the Northern Escarpment, Simien Mts |
 Park road leading to the east |
 Large male Gelada |
 A large male Gelada yawning |
 My what big teeth you have! |
 University of Michigan Gelada Research Project (UMGRP) |
 Uncommon sight - a Gelada in a tree |
 Large group of Gelada grooming |
 The escarpment trail rejoins the park road for a short distance |
 Park Road, Simien Mountains National Park |
 View of prominent pinnacles to the north of the Simiens |
 English-speaking guides are optional |
 Grasshopper, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Looking farther east along the Northern Escarpment |
 Near where the klipspringer disappeared |
 The camp at Sankaber is just a bit farther |
 Me, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Sankaber camp |
 We stopped for lunch on that rocky cliff |
 Panoramic view just west of Sankaber camp |
 Lunch time panorama |
 A few farms can be spotted beneath the escarpment |
 The trail descends to rejoin the park road |
 The park road leading to Sankaber, Simien Mountains |
 Red flowering bushes, Simien Mountains |
 Red flowering bushes, Simien Mountains |
 The south side of the Simien Mountains just west of Sankaber |
 To cut down on backtracking to the lodge we looped back on a portion of the park road |
 ...which was a very dusty proposition... |
 Panorama with Simien Lodge in the distant west seen from 13.2222N/38.026177E |
 Farmer we came across during my avoid backtracking shortcut |
 Threshing with a team of four white horses, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Cutting across a valley to avoid a large loop in the road |
 Gelada heading to a small stream in the valley we crossed |
 Valley, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Panoramic view of the valley we cut across |
 EthiopiaJan09 1777.jpg |
 Thatched hut of farmers living inside Simien National Park |
 The authorities are having great difficulty resettling the growing population outside the park |
 Thatched hut, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Back at the point where we started that morning 5 1/2 hours earlier |
 Taking a break before tackling the last hour and a half back to the lodge |
 Panorama of Northern Escarpment, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Passing a troop of Gelada |
 Speckled Pigeon, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Panorama from Simien Lodge late afternoon |
 Simien Lodge |
 Gouder - Red wine of Ethiopia |
 It can't be that bad...it got an award from the DDR! |
 Keith with two American girls we ran into trekking - who were also at the Circle Hotel in Gondar for Obama's inauguration |
 The two Americans with an Australian guy who was looking for a lift to Axum |
 Our American and Australian friends |
 Another African sunset, Simien Lodge |
 I must admit...it was too cold at night for me to get enthoused about stargazing |
 The bar and fireside lounge, Simien Lodge |
 Sinner at Simien Lodge |
 Morning of our second full day in the Simiens |
 We hired a minivan today to take us to Chenek and the viewpoint at Mount Bwahit |
 Passing our turnaround point from the day before |
 Large domestic herd within park boundaries |
 Valley leading south from the park road |
 The park road cut into the side of the mountain headed to Chenek |
 Looking down into a heavily farmed valley |
 Dozens of native thatched rondavels among terraced fields within the park |
 Main park road, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Domesticated sheep, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Sheep along side the park road |
 Giant Lobelia - distinctive plants we first encountered approaching Chenek |
 Lobelia rhynchopetalum |
 Giant Lobelia - very palm looking |
 Giant Lobelia in bloom (right) |
 Construction along the park road near Chenek |
 Giant Lobelia - Lobelia rhynchopetalum |
 The start of our morning hike at Chenek |
 I'd been wanting to do this shot for a while... |
 Me with the scout's AK-47 |
 Stunning view from a cut in rock to the steep cliffs of Imet Gogo and Inatye |
 Inatye, Simien Mountains National Park |
 This is one of the most impressive views in an impressive park |
 Keith looking over the edge at a sheer drop off |
 Panorama from the big hole in the cliff west of Chenek |
 View north from Chenek |
 Inatye and Imet Gogo |
 Forest of Giant Lobelia, Simien National Park |
 Panorama near Chenek of Inatye and Imet Gogo, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Stunning landscape, worth the journey |
 If we had another day, the trek to Imet Gogo and Geech looked very worthwhile |
 Looking west from Chenek |
 The trail to Geech goes up that way |
 This part of the Simiens blew away what we had seen earlier |
 Northern Escarpment, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Chenek, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Park ranger hut at Chenek, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Park ranger hut at Chenek, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Park ranger hut at Chenek, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Ethiopian license plate (Addis Ababa) |
 Land Cruiser belonging to Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris |
 Ethiopiain Rift Valley Safaris Land Cruiser at Chenek |
 The cliffs around Chenek are prime habitat for the Walia Ibex |
 The road to Axum leads past those formations but from here that's a long drive to cover that short distance |
 The ranger camp at Chenek |
 Tree on the escarpment, Chenek |
 Giant Lobelia, Chenek |
 "Remove nothing from the park except your foot-prints" |
 Looking for Walia Ibex along the cliffs at Chenek |
 Even if we don't see Ibex this panorama is worth the journey |
 View north from Chenek |
 We're in luck....Walia Ibex - Capra walie |
 No relation to palm trees.... |
 Walia Ibex, an Ethiopian endemic of which only several hundred remain |
 Walia Ibex congregate around Chenek |
 Walia Ibex near the Chenek campsite, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Walia Ibex habitat ranges from 2500 to 4500m |
 The Walia Ibex seem well acclimated to humans |
 Imet Gogo, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Little Brown Bird |
 A second group of Walia Ibex, also near Chenek |
 Walia Ibex, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Walia Ibex, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Ethiopians living within the Simien Mountains National Park |
 Ethiopians living within the Simien Mountains National Park |
 The Ibex can be difficult to spot |
 Walia Ibex, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Walia Ibex, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Walia Ibex, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Walia Ibex, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Walia Ibex, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Walia Ibex, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Walia Ibex passing where Keith was waiting |
 Walia Ibex |
 Giant Labelia in bloom |
 Looking back towards Chenek |
 We continued by van farther east along the park road |
 Simien National Park road from Chenek up Mount Bwahit |
 Switchbacks climbing up from Chenek |
 I'm glad we're not walking this part.... |
 Switchbacks leading up Mount Bwahit, Simien Mountain National Park |
 The "bus station" for people who live in the beyond the eastern escarpment |
 Until the road is completed into the valley below Ras Dashen, they have to walk here to catch a truck to Debark |
 The van we hired for the day, $125 |
 Even here at this high altitude, near 4200m, there are Gelada |
 Gelada with the impressive switchbacks of the park road, Simien Mts |
 Galada mother carrying a youngster |
 Gelada high on the slopes of Mount Bwahit |
 Did I mention I'm glad we didn't have to walk that.... |
 Giant Labelia at 4200m |
 Mount Bwahit, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Mount Bwahit - 4430m (14,534ft) |
 Keith surveying the landscape |
 Keith as "Lewis and Clark" |
 Me and Keith with the Ras Dashen Escarpment |
 Looking across to Ras Dashen, 4554m (14,990ft) |
 Panorama of Ras Dashen, the highest mountain in Ethiopia |
 Panorama from the Bwahit viewpoint |
 Keith with Ras Dashen, Simien Mts. |
 300 degree panorama, Mt. Bwahit, Simien Mountains National Park |
 The "road" which continues past Mount Bwahit towards Ras Dashen |
 The park road circling Mount Bwahit is being improved.... |
 Ice at 4200m, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Back at the "bus station" |
 If you book a car, make sure the extension past Chenek is included.... |
 Giant Labelia in bloom with Imet Gogo in the distance |
 Giant Labelia in bloom with Imet Gogo in the distance |
 Giant Labelia in bloom with Imet Gogo in the distance |
 Looking down 600m below.... |
 The park road near its high point below Mount Bwahit |
 180 degree panorama from the park road, Mount Bwahit, looking towards Chenek and Imet Gogo |
 Imet Gogo from Mount Bwahit, Simien Mountains National Park |
 The serpentine park road leading from Mt Bwahit to Chenek |
 300 degree panorama from Mt Bwahit |
 Giant Labelia and Imet Gogo, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Back by the bus station..... |
 Another brief Walia Ibex encounter |
 A large village with farmland below the cliffs of Chenek |
 A large village with farmland below the cliffs of Chenek |
 A large village with farmland below the cliffs of Chenek |
 Chenek, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Amewalca Primary School, Chenek |
 Walia Ibex, Chenek |
 That's the mountain we just drove up, Mt. Bwahit |
 Chenek, alt 3620m, 58 km from Debark |
 The Geech Abyss can't be appreciated from the park road |
 Geech Abyss, Simien Mountains |
 Geech Abyss from the park road, Simien Mountains |
 Golden jackal (Canis aureus) Simien Mountains, Ethiopia |
 We didn't manage to spot the rare Ethiopian wolf |
 Back to the scenery |
 Panorama from the park road above the Geech Abyss |
 I'd call that Pyramid Peak or something like that |
 The waterfall can't be seen from here |
 Waterfall - must be amazing in the wet season |
 Jin Bahir River plunges 800m into the Geech Abyss |
 Waterfall viewpoint |
 Me on the edge, Geech Abyss |
 Panorama of the Geech Abyss and waterfall |
 Geech Abyss, Simien Mountains National Park |
 Hemprich's Hornbill (?), Simien Mountains |
 Hemprich's Hornbill (?), Simien Mountains |
 Back at the lodge at the end of the day |
 Our 3rd Simien Mountain sunset |
 Our 3rd Simien Mountain sunset |
 The driver from Gondar is back to take us to Axum |
 Shadow of the Land Cruiser in the early morning |