Bale Mountains National Park – 5 Day Tour

Bale Mountains National Park – 5 Day Tour

The Bale Mountains, located in the southeast of Ethiopia, are considered part of the Ethiopian Highlands. The main attractions of the park are the wild alpine scenery and a chance to see the Ethiopian Wolf in the wild.

This five day trip from Addis Ababa, will include three and half days of trekking in the national park. Starting from Dinsho and finishing at the Sanetti Plateau, this trek will give you a great opportunity to stretch your legs and see a wide variety of Ethiopian mammals, birdlife and fauna.

Itinerary

Day 1: ADDIS ABABA / DINSHO (BALE MOUNTAINS)

Stop At: Bale Mountains National Park, Bale Mountains National Park, Oromiya Region
Rise early and drive to the town of Dinsho. Dinsho is the location of the Bale Mountains National Park Headquarters.

En route to Dinsho, stop off at at Lake Ziway to see some local bird life.

Continue driving south and stop for lunch at the town of Shashmene (250 Km from Addis).

Arrival in Dinsho by late afternoon and present yourself at the Bale Mountains National Park headquarters to fill in all the necessary forms needed for trekking in the park.

If time permits, make a short hike along the northern part of the park close to where you will be staying for the night.

Dinner and overnight stay in Dinsho guest house.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Over Night stay at Dinsho guest house.

Day 2: DINSHO / SODOTA. trekking

Stop At: Bale Mountains National Park, Bale Mountains National Park, Oromiya Region
After breakfast, begin trekking from Dinsho to Sodota. This trek is around 20 km and will take about 6 – 7 hours.

Today’s trekking will give a good chance to see the Mountain Nyala, Menelik Bush Buck, Warthog and the Ethiopian Wolf.

Birdlife that you may see includes: the thick-billed Raven, Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged Goose and Rouget’s Rail.

Lunch at the midway point on the trek.

Dinner and overnight camping at Sodota.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Over Night stay camping at Sodota

Day 3: SODOTA / WASAMA

Stop At: Sodota Campsite, Ethiopia
After a hearty breakfast, begin trekking from Sodota to the Wasama Valley. Today’s trekking should take about 5 – 6 hours.

The wildlife on view today will include: Lammergeyer, Verraux Eagles and the Ethiopian Wolf.

Lunch at the midway point on the trek.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight camping in Wasama Valley

Day 4: WASAMA / GEBRE GURACHA

Stop At: Bale Mountains, Bale Goba 150 km east of Shashamene in the Oromia Region National State, Goba Ethiopia
In the morning, trek from Garba Guracha to Wasama. The days trekking will take between 6 – 7 hours.

On our route, will be a climb Mount Wasama. Mount Wasama lies at 4200 meters above sea level. The terrain around the mountain will be dotted with giant lobelia and other plants common to high altitude Afro-Alpine landscapes.

In the evening, you will have dinner and overnight camping at Garba Guracha.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight camping at Garba Guracha

Day 5: GEBRE GURRACHA / SENNATI PLATEAU / ADDIS ABABA

Stop At: Sanetti Plateau, Ethiopia
After breakfast, trek to the Sanetti Plateau. The plateau, which lies at an altitude of between 3,500 and 4,000 meters, is covered by Afro-alpine Moor land with beautiful wild alpine scenery. Visitors to the plateau can often see the rare Ethiopian Wolf which hunts for its rodent prey across the Sanetti heights.

Once we complete our trek, the car will pick us up and start the drive back to Addis Ababa.

Gebre Gurracha - Sanetti Plateau - Addis 6h - 7h 370km

We will aim to be back in Addis Ababa by 6 pm, after which the program will finish.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.