Package ID: 1015
Duration: 10 Days
Season: January- December
Activities: Mountain hiking, Trekking
Customize: This package can be customized
Accommodation: Mixed (Hotel and camping)
Bale Mountains National Park is the largest area of Afro-Alphine
habitat in the whole of the continent. It gives the visitor
opportunities for unsurpassed mountain walking, horse trekking,
scenic driving and chances to view many of Ethiopia’s endemic
mammals, in particular the mountain Nyala and Semien Fox; and birds,
such as the Thick-billed Raven, Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged Goose,
Rouge’s Rail, etc.
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa; meet your guide holding Addis Tours
sticker and transfer to hotel. An overview of the program and
itineraries will be given. After refreshment, city tour of Addis
Ababa. Visit the Entoto Mountains, with its view over the capital,
the National Museum and Trinity Church and also shopping in Merkato;
the biggest open-air market in Africa.
Overnight Addis Ababa
Day 2: Drive Dinshio
Very early morning start driving to Bale Mountains National Park
head quarter, traveling thorough the southeast part of the capital,
where fertile land is cultivated by the Oromo people. In time for a
walk around the park to see three of the endemic mammals: Menelik's
Bushbuck, Semien Fox, and Mountain Nyala. And birds Blue-winged
goose, Spot-breasted lapwing, Abyssinian long claw, Wattled ibis,
Black-headed siskin, Rouget’s rail. Other mammals you can expect to
see here are warthog, boor reedbuck, Gureza monkey, as well as
several other water and grassland birds.
Overnight Dinsho lodge
Day 3: Dinsho - Geysay Valley
The whole day visit around Dinsho and Geysay Valley. Walk around and
see more Birds Dinsho itself is an excellent spot for endemics-
black-winged lovebird, white-backed black tit, Abyssinian catbird,
Abyssinian salty flycatcher, thick-billed raven, white-collared
pigeon are few to mention. The forest around Dinsho head quarter is
characterized by light undergrowth, which allows for game viewing,
and by the herby aroma of fallen hygiene leaves. An unusual plant of
the Dinsho area is the white-flowered Abyssinian rose, the only
flowering rose that is indigenous to Africa. The rest of the day
arranges the trekking staff.
Overnight Dinsho lodge
Day 4: Wolla Valleys (Kotera) - Camping:
Accompanied by your guide, a scout and packhorses we trek 5 hrs
through the lush highland vegetation to our first campsite. This is
the center of the best area for seeing Semien Fox, and on rare
occasion’s small groups of Mountain Nyala. Here, you are at over
4,000 m above sea level, and in pure, clear cool mountain air with
views in all directions on a clear day. These views are heightened
by the steep climb to the top of Konteh (4132m).
Overnight camping
Day 5: Wassema Valley – Camping:
After breakfast we resume trek that will last for approx. 7-8 hrs.
The trek offers the chance to see Ethiopia's endemic Abyssinian
Wolf. Beneath the peaks of Wassema valley; see and taste the strange
mineral springs (“hora” in Oromo) before making the steep ascent out
of the head of the valley onto the Sanetti Plateau.
Overnight camping at the base of Wassema Mountain
Day 6: Gebre Guracha – Camping:
Today we trek through the highlands, crossing Batu Mountain on the
way to Gebre Guracha- set beneath towering cliffs in the head of the
Tegona valley. Wild flowers abound, the dominant plant being the
Helichrysm, or 'everlasting' flowers. The Everlasting plant can be
seen in several forms, but the grey bushes of H. splendidum are the
most striking with their yellow flowers. Several rodent species are
found in the area.
Overnight camping
Day 7: Sanetti Plateau to Goba Town
After breakfast we trek for 5 hrs to the highest peak in the Bale
Mountains, Tullu Deemtu (4377m, 14357ft) which is part of the
Sanetti Plateau. The vistas are simply unbelievable and so
photogenic. Here you will find small alpine lakes and typical
afro-alpine vegetation that includes the Giant Lobelia and shrubs
such as 'Everlasting'. Vistas reach out to the strange pinnacles of
Chorchora Peak and across the sheer-sided Tegona River Gorge. There
are views to the steep-sided volcanic plug of Konteh Tullu and the
long, craggy ridges of Mount Batu. The vehicle will meet us here and
drive us down to Goba town for an overnight stay.
Overnight Goba Town
Option: on Day 8 you can also drive back to Addis without visiting Sof Omar Caves.
Day 8: Drive to Sof Omar Caves; the fantastic limestone caves of Sof
Omar make a day’s outing from Dinsho, Robe or Goba. The road leaves
Robe town, crossing the farming areas to the east, before descending
into the lowlands. Very different animals occur along the way as
well, most noticeably the Greater and Lesser Kudu. The caves
themselves carry the whole flow of the Web river. There are 15 km of
associated passages, which require skill, time and special equipment
for a full exploration. Our friendly local guide will show you
enough to take your breath away and make the trip worthwhile, for an
hour or for as long as you care to spend.
Overnight Goba Town
Day 9: Drive back to Addis:
Drive back Addis Ababa, Continue to Lake Ziway with some stops to
visit the Oromo villages. Lake Ziway is not only for its scenic
qualities, but also for the large congregations of water-associated
birds that are attracted to the redlined fringes by a thriving
tilapia population.
In the evening, you will have a Dinner invitation by Addis Tour.
Here you will enjoy and experience several tribal dance plus taste
Ethiopian traditional food.
Departure