Day 5: Simien Mountains
Thursday 12th February 2015
Simien Mountain Lodge – Chennek Camp We left our lodge at 7.30am to drive east along the road in search of the Walia Ibex, the mountain goat that is endemic to this range of mountains. We followed the massive northern escarpment towards Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia. We broke the journey when we stopped to watch a lovely Klipspringer and then a group of Erckel’s Francolin close to the road. Groups of Gelada sat out enjoying the early morning sunshine and raptors soared overhead. The road is rough and rocky so we made slow progress through to Chennek Camp. Abiy checked with the local guides and found that no Ibex had been seen that morning. So we continued on for several more kilometres to an elevation of 4,200 metres (about 14,000 feet), when we came across another, larger group of Geladas. Abiy decided to stop and scan the surrounding slopes because the Ibex often associate with Geladas. After a lengthy search, we found a female Walia Ibex and we were able to approach close enough to get clear views and photographs. We ate our picnic lunch at a view point above Chennek Camp; the vista was simply stunning. Fan-tailed and Thick-billed Ravens hovered over the precipice, occasionally snatching discarded bread. We then walked along the scarp to another vantage point, where the view was equally awe-inspiring. Abiy’s persistence paid off when he found a male Walia Ibex with an impressive set of horns; everyone had the opportunity to admire him through the telescopes. On the drive back we saw another Klipspringer and a total of five Menelik’s Bushbucks, as they ran away from the roadside. We also enjoyed excellent views of the endemic montane wader, Spot-breasted Lapwing. We stopped to scan for more endemic birds and were rewarded with good numbers of the black-headed Ethiopian Siskin. A fine end to another memorable day.
Simien Mountain Lodge – Chennek Camp We left our lodge at 7.30am to drive east along the road in search of the Walia Ibex, the mountain goat that is endemic to this range of mountains. We followed the massive northern escarpment towards Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia. We broke the journey when we stopped to watch a lovely Klipspringer and then a group of Erckel’s Francolin close to the road. Groups of Gelada sat out enjoying the early morning sunshine and raptors soared overhead. The road is rough and rocky so we made slow progress through to Chennek Camp. Abiy checked with the local guides and found that no Ibex had been seen that morning. So we continued on for several more kilometres to an elevation of 4,200 metres (about 14,000 feet), when we came across another, larger group of Geladas. Abiy decided to stop and scan the surrounding slopes because the Ibex often associate with Geladas. After a lengthy search, we found a female Walia Ibex and we were able to approach close enough to get clear views and photographs. We ate our picnic lunch at a view point above Chennek Camp; the vista was simply stunning. Fan-tailed and Thick-billed Ravens hovered over the precipice, occasionally snatching discarded bread. We then walked along the scarp to another vantage point, where the view was equally awe-inspiring. Abiy’s persistence paid off when he found a male Walia Ibex with an impressive set of horns; everyone had the opportunity to admire him through the telescopes. On the drive back we saw another Klipspringer and a total of five Menelik’s Bushbucks, as they ran away from the roadside. We also enjoyed excellent views of the endemic montane wader, Spot-breasted Lapwing. We stopped to scan for more endemic birds and were rewarded with good numbers of the black-headed Ethiopian Siskin. A fine end to another memorable day.