Getting to the lodge
We look forward to welcoming you at Limalimo Lodge and the Simien Mountains. Below you will find information about your stay at Limalimo Lodge, if you have any questions or require further details please get in touch at info@limalimolodge.com or +251931688062 / +251918776499.
Getting to Limalimo Lodge
Limalimo Lodge is easily reached from Gondar, where there are daily flights with Ethiopian Airlines from / to Addis Ababa, Lalibela and Axum. It takes approximately 2-hours from Gondar to Limalimo Lodge by private vehicle. We can arrange shuttle transport for you, the charge is $40 per person (please note you may be sharing the vehicle with others), or $120 for the whole vehicle. Please get in touch if you would like to arrange transportation through the lodge.
The lodge is located 5km past Debark. After leaving Debark on the main road towards Axum you will reach some stone scout huts from where there is a signposted track road to the right which takes you to Limalimo Lodge. If coming from Axum, once you have reached the top of the mountain, the track to Limalimo branches left shortly after the hairpin turns. See map linked here.
Please note that traffic is not allowed inside the park between the hours of 6pm and 6am. Therefore please arrive before 6pm otherwise you may not be able to enter the park, and therefore access Limalimo Lodge. Limalimo Lodge cannot be held responsible for late arrivals, refunds will not be given for anyone not allowed to enter the park.
Park access and fees
Limalimo Lodge is located inside the Simien Mountains National Park and all guests must register for the park, pay entrance fees and hire a guide and a scout for the duration of their stay. You will need to be accompanied by your guide and scout whenever you leave the lodge grounds into the national park. Registration is in the park office in Debark, which is 5km from Limalimo Lodge and on the way if driving from Gondar. Please register before arriving at Limalimo Lodge and note that the park office is open from 8.30am to 12.30pm and again from 1.30pm to 5pm. If you have arranged transport with Limalimo Lodge the driver will stop for you at the park office.
The fees are currently* as follows:
Park entrance fee: 90etb per day per person Guide hire: 750etb per day per group Scout hire: 400etb per day per group (There are additional charges for larger groups and you will need to take additional guides/scouts.)
Park rules are that fees must be paid and guides and scouts must be hired for every day you are in the park – this includes Limalimo Lodge. You need to pay for the guide and scout for each day, including part days, you are in the park, even if just a couple of hours, and also if you won’t be using them every day.
*Please note that these rates may change at any time and Limalimo does not accept any responsibility for such changes.
Conserving the park
We take the National Park’s conservation seriously. We donate $10 per guest, per night to the African Wildlife Foundation’s (AWF) work within the park. This will include community engagement work and much needed infrastructure improvements. It also supports Adisge Primary School, which AWF is rebuilding for the community as part of its Classroom Africa programme.
Activities at Limalimo
Trekking: There are several local hikes from the lodge. These range from short one-hour hikes to longer full day hikes. Some routes may require vehicle transport in order to return to the lodge, for which there is a charge. We are also able to help you arrange multi day treks with nights spent camping in the national park. If you would like more details about this please get in touch.
Park drive: To get deeper into the Simiens and to some of the highlights of the park – Chennek for the views and Walia ibex, Sankabar for the Gelada monkeys – you will require a vehicle. We are able to arrange vehicles for you at a charge of $140 per day. Please give us as much notice as possible if you require a vehicle.
Village visit: We are located next to Limalimo Apo village, a rural farming community. The village is about an hour’s hike from the lodge (downhill on the way, uphill on the way back) and you will be able to visit one of the houses where they will offer you some refreshments. There is a charge of $5 - $10 per person (depending on group size), which is given directly to the household that hosts you.
Internet
Please note that there is no guest internet access at Limalimo Lodge. We encourage guests to enjoy the mountains and the atmosphere at the lodge.
Meals and drinks (excluding premium/imported drinks) are included in your stay. Lunch and dinner are fixed menus, breakfast is a buffet with the option to order hot dishes. If you are going out for the day we will provide you with a packed lunch. Please let us know on arrival if you have dietary requirements, we will try our best to cater to all requests.
Food & Drink
Climate
Limalimo Lodge is at almost 3000m above sea level. This means that nights are usually cold, especially from October to January. The long rainy season usually starts mid-June/July and continues until mid-September. During this time views will often be hidden in the clouds and there can be long spells of rain. There is usually a short rainy period around the end of April. For all times of year please bring warm clothes and waterproof clothing as it can rain at any time. Other items that you may wish to consider bringing include: a windbreaker, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, and hat. We find “layering” works best, given the fluctuations in temperatures:
Oct-Jan: 16-24 degrees C during the day, 5-10 degrees C at night
Feb-Jun: 18-28 degrees C during the day, 8-26 degrees C at night
Jul-Sep: 1-15 degrees C during the day, 8-12 degrees C at night
