Main Tukels
A tukel is the name that Ethiopians give to a house. At Simien Lodge, the tukul consists of two rooms and two bathrooms. Think of it as two half-moons. Each room is of a good quality inside with 2 large single beds (2m x 1m). There is a bathroom with a shower. All rooms have under-floor heating by solar (which, of course, works when there is sun). Each room has a sheltered balcony. All rooms have fibreglass insulation to the ceiling, walls and floor. Remember, we are a mountain lodge, and nights can be chilly. So come prepared with warm clothes.
There are 26 main rooms. Twenty-four rooms have twin beds, and two have double beds. The bedding is quilts with pure white cotton sheets and extra blankets if needed.
The bathrooms have showers (we do not have baths because of water scarcity during the dry season). Hot water is provided by solar with electricity backup.
Inside the Main Rooms
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Inside the main rooms look like this. They are semi-circular, essentially half a tukel. Each room has a bathroom. The rooms all have tiled floors, which are heated a few degrees by a solar system. Between the rows of tukels is a bank of 40 square meters of solar panels. When the sun is out, hot water is automatically pumped through pipes under the floor, heating the room by a few degrees. However, this is not intended to be a full central heating system. The lodge is at an altitude of 3300 metres, and of course, it is cold at this height, especially at night. But the system is enough to take the chill off, making the lodge a comfortable place to visit the Simiens. There are original oil paintings and traditional weave. Tea and coffee machines, wall safes and full-length mirrors come as standard.
All rooms have traditional Ethiopian decor. No 'chinese furniture' as so often found in Ethiopian hotels. There are original oil painings and traditional weave. Tea and coffee machines, wall safe and full length mirrors come as standard.
Family Rooms
The family rooms comprise two rooms and a bathroom. The first room is a lounge with two single beds. This leads to the master bedroom, which has one double bed. The bathroom is accessed from the master bedroom.
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Prices
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Low Season |
Pre-low season |
High season |
Mid Season |
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June |
May |
October |
All |
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July |
November |
Other |
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August |
January |
Months |
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Main rooms Double/Twin occupancy |
$130 |
$185 |
$280 |
$250 |
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Main Rooms Single Occupancy |
$120 |
$180 |
$265 |
$240 |
|
Family rooms |
$180 |
$270 |
$385 |
$360 |
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Extra Bed |
$45 |
$55 |
$80 |
$70 |
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Breakfast, VAT, Park tax, Service Charge |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
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Lunch and Dinner |
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| Buffet | $30 | $30 | $30 |
| Set menu | $30 | $30 | $30 |
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Transport |
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| Simien Shuttle bus | |||
| Each way from Gonder/Simiens | |||
| One person | $80 | $80 | $80 |
| 2/3 persons | $130 | $130 | $130 |
| More than 4 people | $180 | $180 | $180 |
Payment conditions:
Minimum 20% deposit to be paid two months before arrival, with final payment within one month. Should the final payment not be made, the reservation will be cancelled without a deposit refund, and the rooms will be reallocated.
Maximising the views
Many people ask us why we did not build on the escarpment and face the north-east. The answer is quite simple. Strong winds rise up the escarpment, especially in the wet season. The cliffs can be exposed. If we had built on the cliff edge, we might have been subject to violent winds that would destroy the thatched roofs. Currently, we have to re-thatch every three years. Also, we want to limit the lights shining down the escarpment that might interrupt the nocturnal hunting activities of the jackal, hyena and leopard.
Park Entrance
Please also note that the National Park is closed from sunset to sunrise. Please allow 30 minutes before sunset as the latest time of arrival at the park gate in order to get to the lodge.
Entrance may be refused if not there on time. It is a 40-minute drive from the town of Debark - the lodge is actually inside the national park. See the map on the National Park page.
Guides and scouts
A guide and scout will be allocated to you or your group when you check in at the park office in Debark and get your park ticket. More details on the National Park page.
The fees are not included in room rates, but you are not expected to pay for the guide and scout accommodation - they have their own facilities.
The restaurant is a spacious area with a log-fire centrepiece. All of the decor is Ethiopian – with no bling. We believe in tradition, from the magnificent circular fireplace to the original oil paintings on the walls, all depicting Ethiopian scenes. Why opt for the ordinary? When in Ethiopia, enjoy a traditional experience.
The kitchen is another matter. Here we opt for efficiency, and essentially all of the work surfaces are Swiss-made, hygienic and ergonomic.
In the evening, we generally serve a set meal prepared by our Master Chef. Meals are normally international fare, but we accommodate vegetarians and those with other dietary restrictions. All day long, we serve an à la carte menu of Ethiopian and European food.
The bar is fitted with warm, comfortable furnishings. It is the highest place to get a drink in Africa.
The bar is open most of the day and until the last clients have left in the evening. We serve several types of Ethiopian beer, South African and Ethiopian wine, and a variety of other drinks.
Most evenings we have some activity. A film about the gelada is very popular.
Food at Simien Lodge
We can do a special Champagne Lunch for small groups. We set out tables with white tablecloths and a gazebo high on the escarpment, and you can have a high-quality picnic lunch and view the animals at the same time. The lunch generally lasts about two hours, and most people say that it is the highlight of their Ethiopian tour, away from the hassle of the towns and in harmony with nature. We also do packed lunches for trekkers who just want to keep walking.
Kitchen: Please feel free to visit our kitchen. We are proud that it is the cleanest in Ethiopia. We have very strict hygiene principles.
Contact Details
Ethiopian Address
Nigist Towers, 2nd floor, Kazanchis Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Office: +251 11 5524758
Lodge: +251 582 310741
European Address
Herentale 58, 17249 Platja d’Aro Spain
Tel: +33 610209635
