ETHIOPIA // Take away its endemic wildlife and its enigmatic, ever-welcoming population of highlanders, and this national park would still crack the top 500. It's that beautiful, and its trekking routes are simply that spellbinding. This hulking, mountainous plateau stands tall above the patchwork plains of northern Ethiopia, its chiselled flanks plunging dramatically from countless precipices. Treks here, which can range from a day to several weeks, skirt past pinnacles, along escarpments overlooking Abyssinian abysses and in and out of valleys quilted in blooms. Although the altitude often passes the 4000m (13,123ft) mark, the toughest part of treks is not the thin air - it's the simple act of moving on. There is so much to stop you in your tracks: the vistas, the wildlife, the people. The wildlife, particularly the several- hundred strong troops of gelada monkeys (aka 'bleeding heart baboons'), can often seem out of this world. The gelada's large are memorable. canine teeth, exposed when yawning or under tension, startlingly resemble something from the movie Alien, while its long flowing hair is more comical - think Bon Jovi in the 1980s. Meanwhile, huge bearded vultures swoop low overhead, mammoth- horned walia ibex walk along cliff edges below, and Ethiopian wolves slide through the shadows. Incredible. Longer treks in these mountains can also be a cultural experience, with rewarding encounters with highlanders who have called this area home for time immemorial. Whether crossing paths with a robed herder on a remote ridge (expect a respectful handshake) or stopping in a tiny homestead to buy a goat or chicken for dinner later, your interactions will be as heartwarming as they are memorable.

What are some interesting facts about the Simien Mountains?

The undulating plateau of the Simin Mountains has been eroded over millions of years and has formed steep cliffs and deep valleys with exceptional natural beauty. The height of some rocks reaches 1500 meters, and the wall of the northern rock extends for about 35 kilometers.

How high is Simien mountain?

What wildlife is in Simien Mountains National Park?

The city is home to a number of endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf and the Walia ibex, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world. The glada and the caracal, a cat, also exist in the Simin Mountains.

How much is the entrance fee for Simien mountain?

Simin National Park - 100 Birr per person, plus a daily scouting fee of 400 Birr per person. Gondar – 200 Birr per person for Fasil Ghebbi and related sites, 100 Birr per person for Kuskuam, 100 Birr per person for Debre Berhan Selassie. Debre Berhan Selassie guide fee is from 100 to 200 per person.

Do people live in the Simien Mountains?

The people of the Simin Mountains live mainly through agriculture, but many of them have livestock, mainly sheep and goats, but also cattle. Cows or horses are used as work animals, and horses are often used for plowing.