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Simien Lodge

18/09 Lileta | Simien Mountains, Debark, Ethiopia
Hotel amenities
Simien Lodge
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80 reviews from our community

Traveller rating
    14
    25
    14
    13
    14
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Families
10
 
Couples
34
 
Solo
4
 
Business
1
 
Rating summary
  • Location
    5 of 5 stars
  • Sleep Quality
    3.5 of 5 stars
  • Rooms
    3.5 of 5 stars
  • Service
    3 of 5 stars
  • Value
    2.5 of 5 stars
  • Cleanliness
    3.5 of 5 stars
Date Rating
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Senior Contributor
46 reviews 46 reviews
20 hotel reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 May 2013

The room literature at the Simien Lodge contains a page about tripadvisor, bewailing that they have had some very harsh reviews that take no account of how difficult and costly it is to transport equipment, commodities and people to such a remote location. They make a strong case by saying that people should stay as guests and not set themselves... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
New York
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
9 hotel reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 April 2013

The Women's Travel Group stayed here and loved it. The scene at 10,000 ft is fantastic and you are in a national park full of wildlife. Rooms are in individual huts and are lovely, quite cold but with heavy blankets. Bathrooms same and modern. This is a must if you are going to Ethiopia and its location makes it the... More

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Edinburgh
Senior Contributor
49 reviews 49 reviews
30 hotel reviews
Reviews in 34 cities Reviews in 34 cities
35 helpful votes 35 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 25 March 2013

We spent two nights here; I wish we hadn't. On the up side the location is stupendous and the rooms are simple but spacious and well designed. Do not worry about A or B as all look to the west - if you really want to stay here. The down side sadly outweighs the up. The food is dire, featuring... More

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HeadGelada, General Manager at Simien Lodge, responded to this review
24 April 2013

One thing that the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia are famous for is fresh meat from the abundance of sheep and cattle. At 800km from the Capital and 3300 m high, why would we even think of bring in meat in tin cans when it is available everywhere in the mountain areas and the local people are so willing to sell... More

Berlin, Germany
Senior Contributor
29 reviews 29 reviews
26 hotel reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 March 2013

We booked two nights at the Simien Lodge late February 2013. On their website they offer fancy minibuses and 4x4, so we asked at their office in Addis for transportation. The room was 170 USD and the transport from Gondar to the Lodge and back was 200 USD. For driving into the Park the next day to Chennek Camp and... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 3
HeadGelada, General Manager at Simien Lodge, responded to this review
24 April 2013

The lodge is situated in a National Park. Simien Lodge has its own high quality shuttle bus (a 2013 model) but under park rules we are not allowed to use this bus for tourist visits in the national park. Registered tour operators run these service and Simien Lodge is a hotel not a tour operator. The client arranged his own... More

Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
7 hotel reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 March 2013

I loved this hotel. The service may not have been the best, but the views are wonderful. Even though it's cold, it was a great atmosphere to have dinner by an open fire. The chalets were very well appointed, lots of hot water and comfortable beds and spacious. A chance to see the Gelada baboons was very special. Definitely rcommended.

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Devizes, United Kingdom
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
8 hotel reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 March 2013

Wonderfully positioned in the heart of the national park. The service is not particularly good but the views are wonderful and it is very peaceful. Be prepared that it is cold at night in and out of the huts. As in all Ethiopian hotels a head torch is an essential if you like reading

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Vancouver, Canada
1 review
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 March 2013

At 3260m, and the only one around,this was an ok time for us. The rooms were clean and cool(the in floor heating didn't work). The food was good, by Ethiopian standards. The views were spectacular and the staff accommodating. I would stay there again.

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San Diego, California
Senior Contributor
34 reviews 34 reviews
33 hotel reviews
Reviews in 33 cities Reviews in 33 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 February 2013

The Simien Lodge is a delightful surprise of high quality accommodation in the extremely remote corner of Ethiopia. We stayed at room 2A. The room is tastefully decorated, cozy, and has a large and comfortable bed. The bathroom is clean and the shower is very strong with excellent hot water heated by solar panels. It even provides a hair dryer... More

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North Devon, United Kingdom
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
22 hotel reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
34 helpful votes 34 helpful votes
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 February 2013 via mobile

We booked here for 2 nights in early February 2013, part of an 18 night tour of Ethiopia. The Lodge was very quiet with very few guests - the rate was £110 per night ($170) including breakfast. We were initially allocated room 8B - with the most dismal entrance round the back facing a wall, (4m away), surmounted by about... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 6
london
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
5 hotel reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 January 2013

The lodge is OK, the rooms are clean, and the location excellent....and there is no real alternative within 2 hours...so you are a captive audience, and they know it. At $170 fo a double room, which should trade for $100 or less, $15 (270 birr) for a mediocre dinner that would cost less than 100 birr anywhere else, and a... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 4

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Hotel Summarization (Beta)

What travellers say

  • HOT WATER(4)
  • National Park(4)
  • Highest hotel(3)
  • Main building(3)
  • Most expensive(3)

Additional Information about Simien Lodge

Address: 18/09 Lileta | Simien Mountains, Debark, Ethiopia
Region: Ethiopia > Amhara Region > Debark
Amenities:
Restaurant
Hotel Style:
Ranked #1 of 2 Speciality lodging in Debark
Also Known As:
Simien Hotel Addis Ababa
Simien Hotel
Simien Lodge Ethiopia/Debark

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