30 seconds of walking with geladas near sankaber

This is a short phone video from near Sankaber in Simien Mountains National Park. The altitude here is around 3,200m, and Gelada baboons often graze on the open grass close to the escarpment.

What I like in this kind of moment is how normal it feels after a few minutes. At first, visitors whisper and take many photos. Then they realize the Geladas are just eating grass, grooming, arguing, and moving slowly as a group. If you sit quietly, you can hear them making soft contact calls almost like murmuring.

A few notes for anyone visiting:

keep a respectful distance

don’t feed them, even small snacks

don’t block their movement

stay calm if they pass near you

avoid sudden running or shouting

listen to your scout/guide

The classic first-day route near Sankaber is one of the easiest places to see them, so you don’t need a long expedition just for Geladas. Even a short 2-day trip can include good sightings if timing and weather cooperate.

For me, this is one of the most special wildlife experiences in Ethiopia because it is peaceful, close, and still wild.