7-Day Bale Mountains Safari Highlights

• Addis Ababa
  Explore the capital city in all its busy glory, including visits to the main museums, marketplaces and historical and cultural landmarks. Night stay at the Sheraton Luxury Hotel.
• Bale Mountains National Park
  Go camping and walking in the lovely Bale Mountains for 6 days. You will cross the Harenna Forest with its waterfalls, monkeys, birds and jungle beauties before meandering into the Sanetti Plateau, a high altitude area that is home to Ethiopia’s second highest mountains and the greatest number of unique Ethiopian Wolves.

A Detailed 7-day Bale Mountains Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Addis Ababa

Upon your arrival at Bole International Airport, your driver will meet you just outside the airport building and take you to the luxury Sheraton Hotel. Start at the busy capital city of Addis Ababa (meaning ‘New Flower’). Refresh yourself at the hotel. It is Africa’s diplomatic capital, situated on the central highlands 2700m above sea level. Founded in 1887 by Emporer Menelik II, it is today home to over 3 million people along with a portfolio contains intriguing museums, historic monuments, cathedrals and enormous markets. The Mercato market is Africa’s largest open-air market, and the nearby Entoto hills have magnificent views over the whole city.

In the evening there is lots of variety of restaurants and bars and a few of ethnic eateries that display Ethiopian dancing from across the country. A must visit on your first night in the nation.

Overnight: Sheraton Hotel

Day 2: Bale Mountains National Park

Take an early flight from Addis to Robe. Arrive at Webb Camp in the afternoon and we will take a short stroll along the Webb River.

This picturesque high Plateau is home to the largest population of Ethiopian Wolves and also hosts a wealth of other animal species such as the rare Mountain Nyala. The Plateau is a hiker’s dream with lovely open and gorgeous country.

Overnight: Webb Valley Tented Camp

Day 3: Bale Mountains National Park

It’s all about Wolves today. On the chilly upper plateaus, Wolves patrol their territory early in the morning when the sun begins to warm the environment. We will be out with the van and on foot looking for them as they start their days activities. Birdlife in these high plateaus is remarkable as the biomass of rodents is second to none here.

We have ponies and they will be at camp for us to use as well. You may get very near to the Wolves on horseback and it’s a perfect way to cross the open grassland. You don’t need to be a rider at all as the ponies walk along just at this altitude.

From our dining room that looks out onto the lovely Finch Habera waterfall we often see Wolf sightings.

Overnight: Webb Valley Tented Camp

Day 4: Bale Mountains National Park

The Gaysay Grassland is home to some of the highest populations of mammals in Ethiopia.

The grassland is home to Mountain Nyala, Reedbuck, Warthog, Serval, Olive Baboons, Golden Jackals, Colobus Monkeys, Bushbuck, Grey Duiker and Hyaena.

We’ll spend the day exploring the grassland and the surrounds. The Webb River continues its trip through the grassland and is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. What better excuse to have a picnic on the river banks and try your hand at fly fishing.

Overnight: Webb Valley Tented Camp

Day 5: Bale Mountains National Park

We will begin the walking trail across to the Sanetti Plateau and eventually climb the escarpment to visit Bale Mountain Lodge in the South of the Park. Horses will carry the bulk of the camping gear as we head off across the high country, leaving only day packs with camera’s clothing layers and drink to be carried by visitors.

Chances are we will encounter Wolves as well as other endemics on this day. Expect to be hiking around 6 hours in the day.

Overnight: Wasamaa Hiking Camp

Day 6: Bale Mountains National Park

This following part of wildness makes it quite clear to understand how the mountain massif was built through one super volcano long in the past. The ice age with glaciers have also done some substantial shaping of the mountains but the hike between Wasamaa and Rafu, particularly shows the volcanic influence. The high region is littered with incredible rock formations of basalt pipes and granite boulders and trekking through here is a truly spectacular experience.

Expect to be hiking for around 6 hours in the day.

Overnight: Rafu Hiking Camp

Day 7: Bale Mountains National Park

We travel a little stretch of the Sanetti Plateau across the Plateau, and meet the vehicle/s that will drive us down the escarpment and into Bale Mountain Lodge.

The Lodge is attractively situated in the woodland gazing over a grassy glade with the steep escarpment behind. Very comfortable and pleasant, this is where you will enjoy the delights of this mainly untouched woodland. Bale Monkeys are a highlight here, but there are a lot of other sightings to be had including when lucky, black maned Lions.

Overnight: Bale Mountain Lodge

Day 8: Bale Mountains National Park

Go for mountain walks through the jungle to search for the elusive Bale Monkeys through bamboo groves or climb the rocky escarpment before the resort. “Continue into the forest towards the coffee and honey harvesting villages. Use the roads as trails to navigate the dense forest and look for game.

All from the very comfy base of the best eco lodge in Ethiopia.

Overnight: Bale Mountain Lodge

Day 9: Bale Mountains National Park

We depart the lovely Bale Mountains this morning on an aircraft back to Addis from the airstrip at Robe. Back in Addis for lunch we will have use of day rooms and have any last minute shopping and evening meal before taking the late night flight out of Addis.

Day room: Sheraton Hotel

End of the 7-Day Bale Mountains Safari Ethiopia