Ethiopia
Simien Lodge
Staying at the highest hotel in Africa is definitely an experience and when it’s as beautiful as the Simien Lodge you might never want to leave. An escape amidst the UNESCO World Heritage Site with its stunningly rugged landscape will help you recharge your batteries as you relax in your rural 26 bedroom retreat. So prepare to have your breath taken away by the spectacular views, not to mention the dizzying 3260 meter altitude as you get back to nature in this Ethiopian Eden.
Location
Fly into Gondar followed by a leisurely drive watching the scenery transform as you arrive in the park that will be your home for the next few days. With 180 species of bird and 35 mammals in the area your walks through the rolling hills will be spent on the lookout for beautiful animals to photograph, including the native Gelada Baboon.
Your Room
You’ll be living like a local without sacrificing luxury inside your very own tukel, a traditional round thatch-roofed house. Local artwork adorns the walls of your rustic retreat which is an eco-lovers paradise complete with solar-powered underfloor heating for those cold mountain nights.
Why we like it
Not many people can say they’ve sipped an Ethiopian beer at Africa’s highest bar which is just one of the reasons we love staying at Simien Lodge. Being surrounded by nature and endless photo opportunities of unique wildlife is another. The main reason Simien Lodge has Black Tomato’s vote is because it’s a spectacular place to escape from it all while uncovering the beauty and history of Ethiopia.