Again I can recommend best tour organizer and it’s lovely owner Taz. He’s a very special young man who you can trust; he’s reliable and honest and knows the area like the back of his hand. He loves his country and will organize your trip and show you his part of it with consideration and care.

Visited September 2015

My husband and I (both 60) booked a short camping/hiking trip in the Simien National Park through Taz in Gondar. It was all very well coordinated and organised. Although it was just the two of us, we had a guide, a scout, a cook (who also seemed to be cooking for other groups), and we also took up the option of a mule and mule handler as we thought the altitude and my husband’s lung infection might warrant this. Our guide was a young man called Taz. He was endlessly patient and attentive to our needs, well informed and spoke good, if accented, English. The hike was fantastic, with amazing scenery. We did wonder, after the first couple of minutes of climbing a steep incline at the start of the hike, if we would make it through the effects of altitude. However, we did get used to it, and got on fine over the next three days. We were taking diamox to help acclimatise to the altitude. Some other hikers who were not taking this seemed to be suffering. We did the hike between 24-26 December 2014, and the weather was beautiful during the day: warm (but not hot) and very dry. The nights were absolutely freezing and even with all our clothing on, the provided sleeping bags were really inadequate. Taz managed to track down a blanket and extra sleeping bag to cover us. The scout was an ancient man carrying a rifle to ‘protect’ us. He slept outside our tent wrapped in a blanket. He must have been freezing. He also was very attentive and kind. On the evening of 25 December I stumbled badly in the dark while heading to the (disgusting) toilets at our campsite (avoid if at all possible). My severely sprained ankle, which later turned out to be broken, made it impossible for me to walk the remaining 25km back to the road on our final day. So I had to ride the mule. Without that, I don’t know how I would have got out. Taz, the scout, and the mule driver were all incredibly kind and attentive and helped me the whole way back. My husband had to do it all on foot, but he was ok. I can highly recommend our whole team. The cook was a bit of a larrikin, but provided good food throughout the trip. I think the key things are not to underestimate the intensely cold night time temperatures, nor the effects of altitude. Be prepared for both. A good and considerate guide like Taz makes all the difference. please contact him through his Email: taz.simien@gmail.com and web: www.simienethiopiatrekking.com