8 Days - ETHIOPIA - 'Bale Mountain Expedition'

Day notes

Arrive mid-morning / afternoon, meet and greet at Bole International Airport (see map on location to find for your meet & greet). Transfer to Capital Hotel & Spa Hotel for check-in & shower.  You may use the remainder of the day to explore Addis.

Highlights of Addis include:

• A tour of the 'Lucy' Museum
• Selassie Church / Trinity Cathedral 
• A visit to a market
• Views of Addis
• Stop-over for a traditional Coffee experience in Addis (Good strong Ethiopian Coffee)

Dinner at one of the recommended Restaurants

Day notes

After an early morning breakfast, depart the hotel for your flight (1hr) to Awassa, leaving Addis at 08h05. On arrival in Awassa, transfer (4-5hrs drive) to the beautiful Bale Mountains. Check-in at your hotel for lunch, a relaxing afternoon & evening. All meals will be taken at the lodge on a fullboard basis.

Day notes

After breakfast, transfer to Sanneti Research Base to begin your trek with local Bale horses, as you set off to discover the Afroalpine mountains and natural scenery while heading deep into the heart of the Sanetti plateau – a floating land

Explore all habitats of the Bale Mountains National Park as you trek across the home of the Ethiopian wolf, mountain nyala, giant molerat and Bale monkey. Explore vast moorland and discover Afroalpine plants as you camp in the wilderness. Hike amongst rock pinnacles etched out of the lava flows by millions of years of ice and winds, and pass waterfalls and alpine lakes. Camping in the Harenna forest may reward you with a sighting of the elusive animals that live there. Wildlife that can be seen along the way includes the olive baboon, warthog, rock hyrax, Starck’s hare, klipspringer, grey duiker, African wild dog, giant forest hog, leopard, lion and birds of prey.

The mountain campsites are set between 17km and 22km apart at between 3,000m and 4,100m altitude. Walking or riding from one camp to the next takes 6-8 hours, allowing you to spend each night at a different site. Each campsite has its own distinctive features and spectacular views. 

Tonight you will camp at the Wassyma Campsite - located north - east in the Afroalpine are of the park.

Day notes

You will continue your horse trekking on this day, looking out for the common wildlife and birds, as per the day before and enjoying the beautiful views.

Tonight you will camp at the Sodota Campsite - located north of the park, before descending down to the Dinsho Park Headquarters into the Woodlands of the park.

Day notes

You will continue your horse trekking on this day, looking out for the common wildlife and birds, as per the day before and enjoying the beautiful views. You will descend into the Juniper Woodland area of the park as you trek to Dinsho Campsite, which is the headquarters of the park. You will overnight at this campsite.

The juniper woodlands cover the northern slopes of the Bale massif, reaching from Dodola to Dinsho. Hagenia abyssinica and African juniper (Juniperus procera) dominate the woodlands. At the upper limit of their distribution, the juniper trees are smaller than in other parts of the park. In contrast, the Hagenia trees can grow to be massive, flowering from November to February.

St John’s wort (Hypericum revolutum) is also common in the woodlands, growing as shrubs near the lower edge and reaching a height of 5m in the upper tree line. They are easily recognizable by their bright yellow flowers, which bloom throughout the year and are the major source of nectar for the honey produced in the area. Also present is the only indigenous rose to Africa (Rosa abyssinica), which has fragrant, white flowers.

Mountain nyala, warthog, Menelik’s bushbuck* colobus monkey and olive baboon can be spotted in the area. Birds to look for include the wattled ibis, Abyssinian catbird, white-backed black tit, Abyssinian ground thrush, gold-mantled woodpecker, red- breasted wryneck, thick-billed raven and many more.

Day notes

After a camp breakfast, pack up & drive (4-5hrs) to Lake Langano. You will check-in at the lodge for lunch & enjoy a nice hot shower after 3 days of camping.

Visit the Lake for afternoon activities:

• Birding
• Swimming
• See Colobus & Vervit Monkeys

It is recommended you eat at hotel on this night as you may be tired and not up for more moving around, as you will be departing Ethiopia the next day.

Day notes

After breakfast,  enjoy your last day with a morning at the lake, followed by an early lunch, where you will transfer (4-5hrs drive) back to Addis.

Enjoy your last traditional dinner Ethiopia at one of the recommended restaurants before your late night flight or overnight in Addis again.