2 / 5 - One review
How to get there
1 day by car from Aksoum or a few hours from Gondar
When to go
From November to May
Minimum stay
One day
Debark (Ethiopia)
©
Rod Waddington
Practical information about Debark
Reviews of Debark
It's the only town at the foot of Simien National Park, located between Aksoum and Gondar, a main place to stop, where you pay an entrance fee for the park and choose your guides, scout, cook, routes, etc. before the climb.
My suggestion:
Plan in advance how you will reach Debarq from Aksoum; buses are often full upon arrival from Gondar and the roads full of roadworks are tedious, so you can easily be held up for an hour.
Summary:
I didn't like Debarq: the atmosphere is sad, cloudy and humid. There's nothing to do; it's cold as it's at a very high altitude (2,200 metres), the buildings are ancient and the villagers live in great poverty.
As the park is expensive for the day, what with the whole team having to accompany you, you can spend a night in Debarq, before or after the trek, for the purpose of saving a bit of money, but the price-quality ratio of accommodation is not very interesting overall.
I'd advise you instead to organise your trek in the Simien Mountains from Gondar, which is what all the travel agencies suggest, so that you don't have to hang around there. You can negotiate an all-inclusive price (camping, meal, entrance fee, scouts, guides, etc.) at a better price than in Debarq.
©
Rod Waddington
