Ethiopia

All meals on the mountain are of the highest possible standard. In fact considering that our cooks have to produce the best possible meals in a wilderness setting using only the most basic of facilities (gas burners) the meals they produce are nothing short of a miracle. The meals are always fresh, nutritious and varied. We ensure that dietary preferences are always met and that the best local ingredients are used. The underlying aim is to provide balanced nutritional meals packed with carbohydrates to re-fuel hungry bodies and to replenish stores for the next day of activity.

You are invited to bring along any of your favourite snacks and goody bags from home if you want. Concentrate on high energy food-stuffs such as Jelly Babies or nuts to give you that little boost on an arduous day and remember that chocolate will melt.

Absolutely, please inform the office of any allergies or intolerances and we will ensure that these are taken into account on the trek.

We use bottled water on this trek. We reocgnise that it’s not particularly environmentally-friendly, but there are too many villages above most water sources for it to be reliably clear.

Fill up your camelbaks or bottles at breakfast before heading out for the day and take a good 2 liters minimum with you.

If you do find you need to fill up from streams out on the trek, be sure to purify the water first.

Before leaving camp in the morning you will fill your water bottles or camel bladder. If this runs low you will have ample more water to replace it with. For most walking days water can be replenished at the lunchtime site.

Most altitude related symptoms manifest themselves at night. We therefore recommend tent sharing from the onset of this expedition.

Tent share is always organised according to sex and where possible age groups. Obviously if you are climbing this mountain with a friend or partner then you will be able to share tents. If you have joined the team by yourself then it is highly likely that you will be sharing a tent with your pre-assigned room buddy unless prior arrangements have been made. We use high quality 3 man tents to be shared between 2 people to provide extra space for your comfort.

Our local camp crew will set up the tents for you each night. We send them ahead of the group to secure the best site and to get the site prepared before you arrive. Bear in mind that these guys are also porters and when our walking days are shorter we might get to camp before them. If this happens then have a cup of tea in the dining tent and wait for your tents to be ready.

We bring along our own toilet tents with Portaloo units. This method allows us to maintain the best possible levels of hygiene without contributing to the toilet problems that can happen at some camps.

All our guides are in communication with each other by phone and radio. In addition the national park operates a rescue service on all the routes we use, this service is linked by radio to the park headquarters. In the vast majority of cases of emergency rescue the problems can be attributed to altitude and if so the solution is immediate descent to lower altitudes. Our local mountain crew are all experienced in dealing with any problems that arise. Our guides are either doctors or qualified with the highest standard of wilderness first aid qualifications and can handle any emergency to the highest level of competency, in the vast majority of cases without national park assistance.

There are different types of altitude sickness. Although our acclimatisation regime ensures that everybody enjoys the best possible chance of getting high on the mountain, altituderelated problems can happen. The most common of this is high altitude sickness, (AMS – acute mountain sickness).

Symptoms for this generally include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting

It all sounds quite dramatic but generally this is just the process your body naturally goes through to adjust to the higher altitudes and the reduced partial pressure of the atmosphere. For some people the acclimatisation process is a little longer and harder than others.

For our guides this is all part and parcel of trekking at relatively high altitude and although we assess each client’s personal situation carefully we also further consider the compounding affects of dehydration brought on by excessive vomiting and lack of appetite.

AMS might sound frightening but our guides are fully trained (and experienced) in helping relieve your symptoms and providing advice on how to best proceed.

Please note that we don’t recommend using Diamox as a prophylactic and if you have been prescribed it by your GP, please raise this with your expedition leader.

In most cases AMS can be avoided by following these guidelines:

• Drink lots of water
• Walk slowly
• Stay warm
• Eat well

We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the various affects that altitude can cause.

During your pre-climb briefing, we describe altitude sickness to you in detail, and advise you how to cope with it. The most important thing is not to fear it, but to respect it and to know how to deal with it and more importantly tell your guides how you feel. Our guides have seen every condition that the mountain produces, and they will always know how to deal with problems.

Although we recommend you come armed with a course of Diamox or other high-altitude drug on this expedition, we do not recommend that take you these as a prophylactic during the trek or climb. We view Diamox as a treatment drug rather than a preventative medicine. Most adventure medics give similar advice, however we do appreciate this can be confusing, as many GPs (who aren’t necessarily mountaineers) do suggest taking it as a prophylactic.

We pride ourselves on designing all our itineraries with acclimatisation very much front and centre and this expedition itinerary has been carefully designed to allow for your body to adjust to the altitude gradually, safely and comfortably. However, if you find that you are still having problems adjusting to the altitude (see our FAQ on Altitude Sickness) then your expedition leader or expedition medic will recommend the correct course of action regarding taking Diamox.

It is far preferable to take Diamox if and when needed during the course of the expedition. If you are already taking it and then start having altitude related problems you are left with few options but to descend to a more comfortable altitude which sadly often means that the summit is not attainable.

Furthermore, Diamox is a diuretic, meaning you will have to drink a lot of fluid to prevent dehydration. Of course, the upshot of this is you’ll have to pee more which means you’ll probably be having to get up more in the night and take cover behind rocks during the day. Another quite common side-effect is that it can cause your extremities to “buzz and tingle” including your fingers, toes and lips which can feel quite unsettling.  Other side-effects can include dizziness and light headedness with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Although all these side-effects are manageable when you have symptoms of altitude sickness, we personally believe it is counter-intuitive to take it unless necessary.

Of course, it is totally up to you, this is just our recommendation and we’re not doctors. If you do decide to take Diamox on the advice of your doctor then please do let your leader know in situ so they are aware of this. We also suggest you take the drug for a couple of days a few weeks before travelling so you can experience the symptoms before taking them during the trek.

The Malaria protozoa generally does not survive over an altitude of 1,500m so Malaria poses no threat on this trek.

We advocate a little bit of self-help on the mountain. If you have a blister developing for example then please stop take off your boot and treat it before it becomes a problem. Your own first aid kit should contain: a basic blister kit, plasters, antiseptic, high factor sun protection, your own personal medication (sometimes your porter might get to camp after you and if he is carrying your medication you may not be able to take it according to the regime you are used to), basic pain relief (aspirin and Ibuprofen), a personal course of antibiotics if prone to illness. Foot powder in your socks every morning is great for preventing blisters. Generally the best approach to take when packing your first aid kit is to include such basic medications as if you would on a family or personal holiday.

Your 360 expedition leader and / or a local porter (we call the ambulance man!) carries a very comprehensive first aid kit which contains a wide range of supplies and medications. They are fully trained to use whatever is needed for any emergency that may arise. We advocate keeping this in mind when packing your own first aid supplies and keeping your own FA kit as compact and light as possible.

The following vaccinations are recommended for Ethiopia:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Polio
• Yellow Fever (see below)

This list is not absolute and it is important you should see your GP Surgery or travel clinic for latest recommendations and to ensure you are up to date on necessary vaccinations.

The advice about Yellow Fever vaccinations for travelling to Ethiopia changes frequently and you must check with your GP surgery or Travel Clinic for the latest advice before you travel. We cannot advise you on this due to the frequency with which the advice changes.

We advocate the beg, steal and borrow principle for first timers instead of buying brand new stuff that may never get used again. The cost of equipment is usually a major deterrent for people coming onto trips in the first place.

Our guides usually start the walk wearing long, lightweight trekking trousers and t-shirts. Long trousers are recommended as a deterrent to insects, stinging plants and to act as sun protection. Shorts can also be worn on the initial few days of the trek as the temperature is usually warm. Ensure that you apply sun protection frequently!

The prevailing conditions on the mountain will dictate what you will wear: if it is cold when you leave the camp in the morning then wear a fleece. As things warm up take advantage of the zipper system which most trekking clothing has and open and / or close the zips to adjust to your own preferred temperature. If you get too warm simply take a layer off.

The nature of mountains means that weather can be changeable so it’s worth having layers and waterproofs to hand.

Because of the huge variety of terrain encountered when ascending this mountain it is very important to wear the right footwear. Boots should be sturdy, waterproof, insulated against cold temperatures and offer adequate ankle support. In addition it is highly recommended that your boots are well worn in to prevent the formation of blisters.

A wide range of suitable boots are on the market and further advice as to which brands are available can be found online or at your local gear store. When in store try lots of boots on, use the ramps in the shops to test their traction, make sure they are comfortable as you will be almost living in them for days on end and they are very important.

It is not necessary to buy technical boots with crampon clips unless you plan to do more ambitious climbs in the future as crampons are not used to climb this mountain.

A daysack is worn at all times during the trek. The content of this is mandatory and should include: a fleece (for when taking breaks or weather changes) a full set (top and bottoms) of waterproofs, sufficient water for the day, snacks, camera equipment, personal medication and a head torch.

Your day to day sack should weigh no more then 3 – 4 kg and a rucksack of around 40L capacity will more than suffice. This rucksack can be filled to brim with extra stuff when checking in at the airport.

It is important that this bag has an adjustable waist belt to transfer the weight of your daily load onto your hips and from here onto your legs (your strongest muscles) to do most of the carrying.

Your porter bags should be off a soft material “duffel bag” or rucksack variety and should not be a suitcase or hard bodied metal case. Furthermore they should weigh no more then 12-14 kg when packed for the mountain – we have found this weight to be ample. T

Please bear in mind that park regulations restrict the weight porters can carry and that on top of your load porters will also have to carry a share of the food, kitchen equipment, camping equipment and their own survival gear.

Inside the porter bag should be a change of clothing, your clothing for higher up the mountain, sleeping bag, personal toiletries etc. (Refer back to the kit list).

They are highly recommended and are worth their weight in gold on summit day and in the evenings and early mornings.

A layer system comprising of several layers of base and thermal layers, fleeces, and a thick jacket will suffice on most summit nights but nothing beats the efficiency of a good down jacket (especially when topped with a water proof layer).

Should be rated within the -10C comfort zone. From the first camp upwards it is not unusual to experience frosty nights and a good night’s sleep is important to giving you the best chance to climb this mountain. Ensure you get a sleeping bag that has this temperature rating at this comfort zone rather than as its extreme zone.

3 season sleeping bags can be enhanced by using an inner silk liner (or similar), and ultimately by draping your down jacket over you. The idea is to be as comfortable and warm as possible for the night and henceforth to ensure plenty of sleep for the arduous days ahead. It is important to remember that down sleeping bags work by your own body heating the down that’s inside the bag. Once you have warmed the bag up the feather down will retain the heat and ensure that you sleep at a temperature that’s your own body temperature. For best results wear as little as possible when inside your sleeping bag. Our guides will often only wear a set of thermals in their bag. It is important for the bag to trap the heat. By wearing multiple layers of clothing your clothing will trap this heat and your bag will not function properly.

You can rent equipment from our friends at www.outdoorhire.co.uk. However, we do advocate the use of personal equipment when it comes to footwear, your boots should be well worn in to your own feet.

Ethiopia is close to the equator and daytime temperatures are warm.

Shorts and T-shirts are fine to wear during the day. Evening wear generally tends to be casual with long trousers and casual shirt appropriate for all hotels and restaurants. Ethiopians are generally quite conservative in their dress code and are generally well dressed despite their situation in life.

This is quite a well known trekking area, particularly by French and Italians (the Italians occupied Ethiopia during the war), so Geech and Chenek could be reasonably popular camps during high season. Very few people, however, go all the way to Ras Dashen so after Chenek we might see a handful of other people, but not many.

In any event, once we leave the camps, we tend to be on the trail on our own. Aside from the Gilada Baboons of course, there are plenty of colonies along the trek and they head to the escarpments for safety so we’d be unlucky not to see any. There are also Wallia Ibex, particularly after Chenek, but they are shy and tend to wander around on their own, so a sighting might not be so likely. Lammergeyers normally circle overhead too!

In Addis and Gondar – both well above 2,000m – the temperature range is normally about 20C-28C, very occasionally low 30’s, but cooler than one would have imagined.

In the mountains the daytime temperatures will start warm in the mid to high twenties, but by night – particularly higher up – be prepared for the temperature to drop below freezing.

Don’t be deceived by the mild temperatures however, the vast majority of this trip is spent over 3,000m and the sun intensifies very quickly with altitude so slap on the cream liberally and frequently. You’ll definitely want a sunhat, along with high factor sunscreen and lipsalve. The last thing you want is to be dealing with sunburn.

360 Expeditions will be booking flights on your behalf. We provide confirmation of flight times and departure terminal approximately three weeks before your departure date. Please be aware that flight schedules are subject to change. Please ensure that you have checked your flight details before you set out for the airport.

You must carry individual travel insurance to take part in the trek. We cannot take you on the mountain without proof of insurance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate insurance for your intended trip.  To include medical evacuation and coverage up to the maximum altitude of this trip.

Your insurance details are requested on the booking form, however this can be arranged at a later date. 360 Expeditions will be requesting your insurance details 8 weeks before your departure.

Visas are compulsory for entry into Ethiopia for UK citizens.

All international visitors to Ethiopia can now apply for an e-visa – www.evisa.gov.et

The 360 expedition training programs have been devised to be expedition specific. Use these as a guide but also feel free to contact us for individual advice on how best to incorporate a suitable fitness program with your own lifestyle. If you are struggling from day one then you will not enjoy the rest of the trip. Physical preparation does not have to be Herculean: concentrate on cardio-vascular exercise during the week by taking short runs when time allows and try to spend at least 2 weekends a month going on long duration walks (longer than 6 hrs) carrying a rucksack of around 10kg.

This kind of regime will not only prepare your body for carrying minor loads but will harden your body against the big days on the mountain itself. In addition it will help break in your boots and get you used to your equipment. In combination this will pay dividends when you reach The Simien Mountains because even though you can’t train for altitude your body will be ready for arduous days and you will be familiar with how to best use your equipment, so you can enjoy and appreciate the mountain all the more.

Having a good level of fitness will allow you to enjoy the expedition all the better and increase your chances of reaching the summit of Ras Dashen. Summit day can be up to 10 hours long and the climb is steep!

On a day to day level remember that you will be camping at altitude. You are likely to be cold, washing and toilet facilities will be limited, your appetite may be affected by the altitude and as you get higher on the trek it is posisble that you will suffer shortness of breath and many people have difficulty sleeping. Remember that everyone on the trek is probably experiencing exactly the same symptoms, both physical and mental.

Generally speaking deposits are due upon booking as we need to book your international flights well in advance. The full amount should be paid 4 months prior to departure. However having said this, our aim is to get you to the top of this mountain and we understand that personal financial situations can vary. Please contact our friendly office crew to discuss a suitable interest-free payment plan should you find raising the funds to be difficult. We have after all been in your shoes and go by the motto of where there’s a will there’s a way.

Please read our terms and conditions careful before you depart. 360 Expeditions highly recommends trip cancellation insurance for all expeditions. Due to the nature and heavy costs of government and operator permits we must adhere to a stringent refund policy.

The Ethiopian currency is the birr. Notes are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr. Coins are available in 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, or santim and also 1 birr. One cent coins do exist but are not used; if you do acquire one (usually from changing money), consider it a souvenir.

US dollars, Euros and GB Pounds can easily be exchanged at banks. If you’re bringing US dollars, it’s best to bring notes that are series 2000 or later (aka “big-headed” notes), especially for $100 bills; series 2006 or later is even better. Since older notes were more easily counterfeited, many banks will not change them.

The amount of money you will need depends on how many presents you wish to buy or how much you wish to drink when you come off the hill. As a basic rule of thumb $200 should be more than adequate for any post expedition spending.

Ethiopia is a relatively cheap place and when indulging in the local custom of haggling then goods can be very good value for money. Your 360 leader will be happy to point out the relative bargains and the suitable prices plus where to get the best value for money. The only cash you’ll need to consider taking with you on the mountain is the local crew tips which are presented to them usually on the final evening at the last camp before you sign out from the national park.

Our local crew work extremely hard to ensure that your expedition runs well. While tipping is not compulsory, once you see how hard the crew work and realise the small amount of money they get paid relative to one’s own income tipping will seem the least they can do to say thank you. As a general rule we suggest around 1,000-2,000 Birr per client which is pooled and then apportioned according to seniority. This is about £30 across the whole local team. For the leader this is your call.

If you need to leave early, arrangements can be made with the help of your 360 Guide. Additional costs (transport, hotels, flights etc.) will be incurred by the trekker but our guides will be able to assist in every detail of your departure.

There is a bank to change money near immigration and baggage claim at Bole International Airport, as well as several ATM’s. All banks should have the same exchange rate, whether in the airport or in the city. ATM’s are fairly widespread in Addis, and are fast making their way into the regions. They are present in Gondar and Debark. But they should not be relied upon once outside Addis, they’re often either out of order or simply out of cash. Bank branches in the regions will normally advance against a visa card during working hours.

Ethiopia is very much a CASH ECONOMY, (Ethiopian birr, not foreign notes), don’t expect to pay for much – if anything – with a credit card or US dollars / GBP.

As a guide, £1GBP is roughly 35 birr. A beer is normally about 50 birr (tourist rate), a coffee about 30 birr. Meals might be around 200 birr for a main course. Do take some cash with you on the trek as hawkers will gladly sell you a Ras Dashen beer or soft drink.

Opportunities to charge your batteries will be limited. If you can get hold of a solar battery charger this is probably the best option. This together with making sure that you keep your spare batteries warm i.e. by keeping them near your body day and night should mean that you can keep snapping all the way!

Ethio Telecom is the sole mobile network provider, and as such tends to run beyond capacity, but this improves by the day. At the time of writing, international SIMs work on the network for voice, but not data. Coverage is surprisingly good right to the top of Ras Dashen. Local SIMs can be purchased at the airport but are quite expensive, especially if you’re only there for a short while.

The voltage is 220v / 50Hz like the UK. Round two-pin plugs are used, like in Europe.

While we will do everything we can to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces, rings and even watches. Your passport and money should be kept on you at all times. As with travel in any foreign country, you need to look after yourself and your possessions, and this is no different.