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Bale Mountains NP Safari - Compare 152 Tours

3.9/5  –  7 Bale Mountains Holiday Reviews

Were you to create a scale that ranked the ecological worth of a national park against low tourist arrivals, Bale Mountains National Park might well top it. This exceptionally beautiful and biodiverse park, which protects the 4,377m/14,360ft Bale Mountains, offers plenty of once-in-a-lifetime treats to wildlife connoisseurs. It’s the best place in the world to see the Endangered Ethiopian wolf and mountain nyala, along with a long list of Ethiopia’s endemic birds. And the scenery is as varied as it is breathtaking: dazzling green highland meadows, broodingly windswept Afro-alpine moorland, and swathes of rainforest that could have been transplanted from the Congo. Yet despite all this, if you do visit Bale, you’ll most likely have it to yourself.

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6 Questions About Bale Mountains National Park Safaris

1. Am I likely to see the Ethiopian wolf and mountain nyala in Bale Mountains NP?
2. Which other animals can I see in Bale Mountains National Park?
3. Which endemic birds can I see in Bale Mountains NP?
4. Is it possible to hike in Bale Mountains NP?
5. Are there accommodations in Bale Mountains NP?
6. How can I get to Bale Mountains NP from Addis Ababa?
 
 

6 Questions About Bale Mountains National Park Safaris

Answered by Philip Briggs

Am I likely to see the Ethiopian wolf and mountain nyala in Bale Mountains NP?

“In a word, yes! Which is pretty remarkable when you consider that these endangered creatures, both found only in Ethiopia, rank among the world’s most scarce animals. The Ethiopian wolf is the rarest of all Africa’s carnivore species, with an estimated population of around 450 adults split between six scattered pockets of high-altitude moorland. More than half of the world’s Ethiopian wolves are resident in Bale Mountains National Park, and most of these are concentrated on the Sanetti Plateau, which is bisected by Africa’s highest all-weather road. Wolf sightings cannot be guaranteed on the Sanetti Plateau, but they are very, very likely, especially in the early morning. I’ve driven across the plateau half a dozen times and have yet to miss out. What’s more, Sanetti’s wolves are very relaxed, so it is often possible to watch them at close quarters as they groom, trot dog-like through the heather, or pounce on their favorite prey of giant mole-rats. The best part of Bale for mountain nyalas is the woodland around the park headquarters at Dinsho. A short walking trail runs through this forest, and on a good day you might come across half a dozen nyala herds. Indeed, having visited Dinsho on several occasions, I’d go so far to say that mountain nyala sightings are as close to guaranteed as any wildlife encounter can be.”

1

Which other animals can I see in Bale Mountains National Park?

“That depends on the habitat. Walking around the park headquarters at Dinsho, you’re likely to come across Menelik’s bushbuck (an endemic Ethiopian subspecies distinguished by the male’s black coat), bohor reedbuck and warthog. Large mammals are generally quite scarce on the Sanetti Plateau, but you might well see the odd pair of klipspringer on the rocks, or a giant mole-rat scurrying between burrows as it tries to avoid being eaten by a hungry buzzard or wolf. Another interesting part of the national park is the Harenna Forest. This extensive tract of high-altitude and bamboo forest is situated below the steep cliffs of Sanetti Plateau’s southern escarpment. Harenna is the main stronghold of the Bale monkey, a bamboo-eating Ethiopian endemic that resembles a longer-haired and browner version of the familiar vervet monkey. Surprisingly, lions are quite often seen along the main road through Harenna after dark, while the giant forest hog – a hefty wild swine most normally associated with central Africa – is regularly encountered on forest walks.”

2

Which endemic birds can I see in Bale Mountains NP?

“Listed among the continent’s top five avian hot spots by the African Bird Club, Bale offers exceptional bird watching by any standards. There’s certainly no finer place to see a good range of birds that are either endemic to Ethiopia or near-endemic, with a range that nudges neighboring Eritrea. The juniper-hagenia woodland around Dinsho is a great place to look for white-cheeked turaco, yellow-fronted parrot, black-winged lovebird, banded barbet, Abyssinian woodpecker, white-backed black tit, Abyssinian slaty flycatcher and Abyssinian catbird (the latter a babbler-like endemic with no other close relatives). Endemics associated with the Sanetti Plateau include spot-breasted lapwing, blue-winged goose, Rouget’s rail, Bale parisoma, Abyssinian longclaw and Ethiopian siskin. The plateau is home to several other localized high-altitude rarities including moorland francolin, chestnut-naped francolin, red-throated pipit, tacazze sunbird, Africa’s only resident population of ruddy shelduck, and the only breeding population of wattled crane in the northern hemisphere.”

3

Is it possible to hike in Bale Mountains NP?

“Yes. Bale Mountains National Park is an excellent destination for a hiking holiday. Day walks and multiday hikes of up to 11 days generally start and end at Dinsho, which is the best place to pick up a guide and optional porters. A good goal for day or 1-night hikes is the Web Valley, which supports a fair number of Ethiopian wolves. Longer hiking trips generally head up to the Sanetti Plateau, most of which lies at breath-sapping altitudes of above 4,000m/13,123ft. If you are thinking of hiking in Bale, be prepared for very cold and possibly rainy conditions.”

4

Are there accommodations in Bale Mountains NP?

“Accommodations are limited but they do exist. The upmarket Bale Mountain Lodge, which has a wonderful location in the heart of the Harenna Forest, was closed at the time of writing and its future is uncertain. Sadly, the budget lodge at Dinsho park headquarters closed some years back. There are plenty of accommodations in the gateway town of Goba, but the only place that can be recommended is the Wabe Shebelle Hotel, a privatized former government property.”

5

How can I get to Bale Mountains NP from Addis Ababa?

“The park headquarters at Dinsho are about 375km/235mi from Addis Ababa via Adama and Asela. It is another 45km/28mi from Dinsho to Goba, the largest town close to Bale. Goba is the main road gateway to the Sanetti Plateau and Bale Mountain Lodge, which respectively lie about 20km/12mi and 62km/39mi further south. Coming by road, it’s best to allow a full day for the drive from Addis Ababa, with the earliest possible start. The alternative is to fly: Ethiopian Airlines currently operates two flights per week between Addis Ababa and Goba, from where you’ll need to arrange a road transfer to your lodge. Most people who visit Bale Mountains NP do so on an organized tour or safari package that also takes in other highlights of southern Ethiopia. However, it is possible to visit the park independently, using daily buses between Addis Ababa and Goba, all of which stop at Dinsho. If you were to bus down, your only options for reaching the Sanetti Plateau would be to hike from Dinsho or arrange a 4x4 vehicle and driver in Goba.”

6

Bale Mountains Holiday Reviews

3.9/5 7 Reviews
Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

The land of the wolf…
4/5

Bale (pronounced Bar-lay) is best known as the home of the world’s rarest canid, the Ethiopian wolf. It’s an elegant creature that looks more like a fox, but with long, thin legs. Only around 400 survive and they’re extremely...

Full Review

Expert
Stephen Cunliffe  –  
South Africa ZA

Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa.

Stronghold of the Ethiopian wolf
4/5

Located 400km/249mi southeast of Addis Ababa, the 2,200km²/849mi2 Bale Mountains National Park comprises a magnificently diverse landscape. The national park, set aside in the 1960s and currently supported by the Frankfurt Zoological...

Full Review

All 7 Bale Mountains Holiday Reviews