Africa & the Middle East Africa contains as broad a spectrum of landscapes, cultures and wildlife as it is possible to imagine, from the souks and kasbahs of the northern coast to the snows of Kilimanjaro. Travelling via Egypt in the far northeast, as nomads and traders have done for thousands of years, one crosses into the Middle East, a region of mystery and magic. Staff from Mountain Kingdoms have been exploring these parts of the world for many years, and we've chosen our favourite destinations and used our experience and knowledge to create this special selection of trips. 60

61 telephone: 0845 330 8579 ( local call rate, UK only) international telephone: + 44 1453 844 400 www. mountainkingdoms. com Grade: Strenuous Grade: Moderate Ethiopia The ' cradle of civilization' offers visitors a wealth of cultural treasures and natural wonders. The rock- hewn churches of Lalibela and the remains of ' Africa's Camelot' at Gonder are only two of the highlights on the Historical Circuit whilst the high peaks and rare wildlife of the Simien Mountains make a trekking holiday in Ethiopia truly unforgettable. T his holiday has been designed to give you the best and most comprehensive trek in the Simien Mountains. Trekking around the escarpments of Sankaber, Geech and Chenek, we will have stunning views and ample time to observe the unique wildlife such as Gelada Baboon, Walia Ibex and Simien Fox. We also have the opportunity to summit Ethiopia's highest mountain, Ras Dashden ( 4,533m/ 14,873ft). Rather than retracing our steps, we complete our trek by heading north, on lesser trekked trails, through varied scenery and culturally fascinating villages. To provide a perfect balance to the itinerary we have included a visit to Lalibela, where we explore the 12th century rock- hewn churches, and sightseeing in the ancient capital of Gonder. We end our holiday in the lively city of Addis Ababa making this a truly definitive trip. A fter a day exploring the colourful capital city, Addis Ababa, we travel on to Lalibela, famous for its unique rock- hewn churches that are still thriving today. We then head north to Axum, the ancient capital of the long standing Axumite kingdom - one of the oldest African kingdoms. We break our cultural tour with a three- day moderate trek taking in the wildlife havens and stunning scenery of the Simien Mountains National Park. After our trek we spend two nights in Gonder, often described as Africa's Camelot, and home to a dozen castles built by the various emperors over the course of 236 years. To complete the circuit we visit the 328 feet wide Blue Nile Falls at Bahir Dar, and we end our trip with a boat ride over Lake Tana, Ethiopia's largest lake. Complete Simien Mountains Trek Abundant wildlife, beautiful scenery, welcoming villagers and Ethiopia's highest mountain - all in one trek. Historical Ethiopia & the Simien Mountains The cultural highlights of Ethiopia's Historic Circuit combined with a superb trek in the Simien Mountains. On Trek: 12 days Local Leader Accommodation: Hotels: 5 Camping: 11 Optional: Single Room £ 75 Single Tent £ 85 Insurance: £ 99 1- 2 Fly Addis Ababa, sightseeing 3- 4 Fly Lalibela & Gonder, sightseeing 5- 16 Trek Simien Mountains NP, ascend Ras Dashen 17- 18 Fly Addis Ababa, fly London Trek | Duration: 18 Days £ 1,750 £ tbc £ 2,395 £ tbc Land Only Land Only Flight Included Flight Included Thu 21 Jan - Sun 07 Feb Thu 07 Oct - Sun 24 Oct Thu 04 Nov - Sun 21 Nov Thu 20 Jan 11 - Sun 06 Feb 11 Guaranteed to run for a minimum of 5 clients Guaranteed to run for a minimum of 5 clients £ 1,750£ 2,395 Land OnlyFlight Included Sat 09 Oct - Sat 23 Oct Sat 06 Nov - Sat 20 Nov On Trek: 3 days Local Leader Accommodation: Hotels: 9 Camping: 4 Optional: Single Room £ 135 Single Tent £ 55 Insurance: £ 95 1- 2 Fly Addis Ababa, sightseeing 3- 6 Fly Lalibela & Axum, sightseeing 7- 9 Trek Simien Mountains NP 10- 13 Sightseeing Gonder & Blue Nile falls. Lake Tana boat trip 14- 15 Fly Addis Ababa, fly London Trek | Duration: 15 Days Royal Enclosure, Gonder, Niki Morgan