Rising in the mountains of Dogu’a Tembien in northern Ethiopia, it flows southward to empty finally in the Giba and Tekezé River.

[1] The Zikuli is a confined ephemeral river, locally meandering in its narrow alluvial plain, with an average slope gradient of 37 metres per kilometre.

On steep slopes, exclosures have been established; the dense vegetation largely contributes to enhanced infiltration, less flooding and better baseflow.

[6][7] Transhumance takes place in the summer rainy season, when the lands near the villages are occupied by crops.

[9] Almost over the full length of its course, the Zikuli runs parallel, just west of the border between Abergele and Dogu’a Tembien districts.