Comfortable lodge with exemplary operating practice and superb location
Owned by British philanthropist Nick Crane, Simien Lodge is our accommodation of choice for this impressive national park. Africa’s highest-lying lodge, the property sits on an impressive escarpment at an elevation of 3,300m above sea level and is located inside the national park. While there is solar-powered under-floor heating in the rooms, guests should note that winter nights up in the mountains can be very cold; temperatures plummet to freezing as soon as the sun sets.
The stylishly decorated, en-suite rooms are in round, thatch-roofed huts or tukuls. Each has comfy twin beds and a writing desk. Family rooms have two rooms and a bathroom; one of the rooms has a double bed and the other, twin beds. The highest bar in Africa has a neat restaurant serving traditional and European dishes and in the cosy lounge armchairs are arranged around the central fireplace. The lodge prides itself on having the cleanest kitchen in Ethiopia.
Aside from exploring the mountains, guests can also visit Deresge Maryam or take a half-day walking excursion to the Saddique Amba monastery perched on a cliff face.
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Best places to stay in Simien Mountains National Park
Simien Mountains National Park Trip Inspiration
When to visit Ethiopia
Find out the best time to visit Ethiopia with our month by month guide.
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
January
January in Ethiopia is all about Timket, an annual Christian festival being celebrated throughout the country. It's a spectacular sight to behold. Check out our Timket tour for more information. Temperatures are pleasant at this time of year so it's a great time for touring around much of the country.
February
February marks the end of winter in Ethiopia, so if you're travelling to the highlands pack a few extra layers as it can get cold at night.
March
Temperatures begin to rise in March, making trekking in the Simien Mountains and exploring Lalibela great options this month. There are occasional rain showers but nothing that will really disrupt activities. It's wet in the Omo Valley region between March and June, with muddy roads disrupting travel in this area.
April
April is the start of the short rains, which begin in the Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia.
May
The rains arrive in the Bale Mountains National Park and the Rift Valley Lakes during May and June, so this isn't a great time for hiking in these areas. However the downpours are usually in the afternoons, leaving the mornings with blue sunny skies, and plenty of opportunity to explore the rest of the country.
June
The rains continue, which make this a great time for the breeding season of migratory birds, with numerous colourful species to keep an eye out for.
July
The wettest months in the northern and central highlands are July and August. The short heavy storms mean this isn't a good time for hiking in the Simien and Bale Mountains, but the downpours don't really disrupt activities throughout the rest of the country. It's a good time to visit Lalibela which will be less crowded than during the rest of the year.
August
The wettest months in the northern and central highlands are July and August. The short heavy storms mean this isn't a good time for hiking in the Simien and Bale Mountains, but the downpours don't really disrupt activities throughout the rest of the country. It's a good time to visit Lalibela which will be less crowded than during the rest of the year.
September
Whilst the beginning of the month will see the tail end of the rainy season, it's actually quite a good month to travel around Ethiopia, just before peak season kicks in, and whilst the country is still green and beautiful. If you want to see the carpets of yellow Meskel flowers, or witness the colourful Meskel Festival, this is the month!
October
October is the start of the peak tourist season in Ethiopia, bringing with it great weather, pleasant temperatures, blue skies and little rainfall. A perfect time for touring around the country, particularly the Central Highlands and Northern Ethiopia.
November
The cooler temperatures and little rainfall during November and December make them great months for exploring the Omo Valley, with better road conditions and green landscapes.
December
The good weather and travelling conditions continue through December and into January, making this an ideal month to explore the whole country
Speak to a Ethiopia expert today
and start planning your tailor-made holiday
Alistair
