Sankaber is the first major camp on the standard Simien Mountains trek, reached in a half-day's walk or a short drive from Debark. At 3,250 metres on the escarpment edge, it offers the first dramatic views over the gorges that make Simien so extraordinary, and it is the first place where gelada baboons are routinely encountered in large numbers. The camp has a basic campsite with toilet facilities; a small staff kitchen can provide simple meals.
Most trekkers stop at Sankaber on the first night and continue west along the escarpment toward Geech on subsequent days. The trail along the escarpment is not strenuous in terms of gradient but the altitude demands a steady pace. The birds along this section of escarpment are exceptional: thick-billed ravens, chough, lammergeier, and augur buzzard are all common. At Sankaber itself, the geladas often graze right up to the camp perimeter in the evening.