Simien Mountains National Park - Scenery

April 14 - The Simien Mountains National Park was established in 1969 and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1979. The landscape here is so unique! A little like Zion, Canyonlands, and Bryce Canyon National Parks all rolled into one. With 12 mountain peaks over 13,000 feet high, including Ras Dashen the highest peak in Ethiia, it's also known as "The Roof of Africa". Photos of this place don't do it justice. Not even close!

Here is a photo Carrie took this morning of Yawit (means David), our guide, Maro (means blessing), our "scout" who was always at the ready except when we drove a few legs of our trip in the Land Rover - then he quickly fell asleep, and me. 

See what I mean?  Always at the "ready". For what, we don't know. 

On the edge of the escarpment (CLIFF!)

Looking across the Tekeze Valley. 

Here is Carrie sitting comfortably on the edge of a cliff... 1,800 feet above the ground!

And here is me on the same cliff laying down in a cold sweat. 

How about this for a place to have a picnic!  We're in Walia Ibex territory, a species of mountain goat found only in the Simien Mountains. We'll do a separate post showing the unique wildlife inside the park. 

The rain clouds are moving in. 

This is the Geetch Abyss. During the rainy season, a raging waterfall tumbles 1,600 feet to the canyon floor below. The reason you can't see the floor below is because I wasn't willing, or able, to get to the edge. No waterfall today despite a fairly heavy rain and hail shower.