View towards escarpment from Chenek camp, Simien mountains, Ethiopia.The Simien range lies north of Gondar and to the east of the main road to Axum. It is one of Africa's largest mountain ranges: many of its peaks rise above 4,000m and Mount Ras Dashen (4,620m) is the highest point in Ethiopia and the fourth highest peak in Africa. Most parts of the Simiens are inaccessible to vehicles , but the range is crossed by a network of tracks which are used by local people to travel between villages on the lower slopes or to reach high pastures for grazing animals. These tracks make ideal walking routes and, combined with the range's impressive scenery, make the Simiens an excellent area for trekking. The base for Simien hikes is Debark, a small town on the Axum road 90km north of Gondar.