Bale Mountain National Park Trekking 7 Days

In the morning at 7:00 AM, we start driving to the town of Dinsho. Dinsho is the location of the Bale Mountains National Park Headquarters. En route to Dinsho, we see the Arsi massive and their abundant agricultural farmland. Continue driving south and stop for lunch at the town of Asela (250 Km from Addis Ababa). Arrival in Dinsho in the 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. Possibly spotting two endemic mammals that frequent the area Menelik's Bushbuck and the Mountain Nyala. Birds in this area include the Blue-Winged Goose, the Spot-Breasted Lapwing, the Abyssinian Long Claw, the Wattled Ibis, the Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail, and numerous other species.

After breakfast, start the hike from Dinsho to Sodota. Today’s trekking will give a good chance to see the typical biodiversity: Mountain Nyala, Menelik Bush Buck, Warthog and the Ethiopian Wolf and different birdlife that you may spot, including the gigantic bearded vultures known as lammergeyer and the thick-billed raven, Wattled Ibis, blue-winged Goose and Rouget’s rail. Lunch at the mid-way point of the trekking. After enjoying the beautiful highlands fauna and flora we have dinner and overnight at the campsite in Sodota.

After breakfast, we resume trek that will last at Wasama camping area. Pass through Mararo Valley where the Lammergeyer and Verraux Eagles keep nests. The trek offers the chance to see Ethiopia's endemic Abyssinian Wolf. At this point in the trek, we begin to look for the Ethiopian Wolf, the rarest canid in the world and Africa’s most threatened carnivore. Ethiopian Wolves live in packs of between 2 and 18 numbers, but there are solo hunters surviving primarily on a diet of rodents. Lunch at the mid-way point of the trekking. Beneath the peaks of Wasama 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 Wasama Mountain.

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. Lunch at the mid-way point of the trekking. 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. We climb Mount Wasama, situated at 4200 meters above sea level. The terrain around the mountain is dotted with colourful giant lobelia and other plants typical to the high altitude Afro-Alpine landscapes. Our walk will pass through high altitude plateau with amazing views and amazing clear alpine lakes.

After breakfast, we trek 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. Highland birding includes the Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker, White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Yellow-crowned Canary, Somali Chestnut Winged Starling, Olive Pigeon and Mountain Buzzard. The vehicle will meet us here and drive us down to Goba town for an overnight stay.

Early in the morning drive to the fantastic lime stone 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. Finally, you will drive back to Goba for overnight

Today you will return to Addis Ababa. On the way, visit the Abijatta-Shala National Park. Lake Shala is a very deep crater lake (over 260 meters deep!) and Lake Abijatta is a soda lake, which attracts thousands of flamingos. After the visit, continue drive back to Addis Ababa. In the evening, farewell party dinner invitation by FINOT TOUR ETHIOPIA with cultural dinner and traditional special buffet and local drinks to experience Ethiopia’s cultural meals and drinks. Here you will enjoy and experience several tribal dances. After farewell dinner party, we transfer you to Bole International Airport for international departure.