Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Sankaber to Gich
Trek through Erica heather and mossy forests, keeping an eye out for klipspringers. Visit the Jinbar waterfall before a picnic lunch and an afternoon ascent to the traditional village of Gich.
Day 2: Imet Gogo & Saha Circuit
Visit the most scenic viewpoints in the park: Imet Gogo (3,926m), Saha, and Kedadit. This route offers incredible views of the canyons and the chance to spot the iconic Ethiopian Wolf.
Day 3: Gich to Chennek (3,600m)
Hike across Afroalpine meadows to the summit of Inatye (4,070m), a fantastic spot for raptor watching. Descend to Chennek camp to look for the cliff-dwelling Walia Ibex.
Day 4: Chennek to Ambiko
A challenging 3-hour ascent leads to the Buwahit Pass (4,200m). From the pass, descend into the Menesha River valley, passing through the rural village of Chiro Leba before reaching the Ambiko base camp.
Day 5: Summit Ras Dashen (4,553m)
A pre-dawn start for the 10-12 hour round trip to Ethiopia’s highest peak. After a rocky scramble to the summit, enjoy “the roof of Africa” before descending to Mentaber camp.
Day 6: Mentaber to Arekwazeye
Trek across hillsides beneath the peaks of Kidus Yared and Silki. Enjoy spectacular mountain scenery as you descend to the campsite at the foot of Mount Berochwuha.
Day 7: Arekwazeye to Sona
Ascend Mount Berochwuha (4,272m) for a final high-altitude panorama before a flat and downhill walk through local villages and schools to the Sona riverside campsite.
Day 8: Sona to Mekareba
Descend 1,000m into the lowland zone at the Ansiya River. Explore the riverine forest, home to rare Cordia africana trees and vibrant birdlife including the African Paradise Flycatcher.
Day 9: Mekareba to Mulit
Trek along the riverbed before a steep ascent to the Hawaza “Table Mountain.” Pass through impressive rock towers to reach the vibrant village of Mulit.
Day 10: Mulit to Adi Arkay
A gentle 2-hour downhill stroll to Adi Arkay marks the end of the trek, where you can catch transportation back to Gondar or Axum.