8 Days - ETHIOPIA - 'Bale Mountain Expedition'

1. INTRODUCTION

This extension to Bale Mountains has been designed for those wanting to take a deeper look into Ethiopia and possibly connect it with one of our other 'INSPIRING' signature itineraries. This trip can also be enjoyed as a trip on it's own.

Ask us about what other journeys we recommend you can add to this experience.

Highlights of this experience include:

Traverse the largest patch of Afroalpine land on the continent, across the Sanetti Plateau on horseback in the Bale Mountains further south of the country, to witness the elusive Ethiopian Fox, Walia Ibex, Mountain Nyala and a multitude of bird and rodent life.

Eating and drinking in Ethiopia is almost a religion in itself, with its unique traditional cuisine and popular Coffee Culture - practiced in every house, everyday across the country. You will have the opportunity to dine 'Ethiopian Style' in almost every location you visit, testing your palette with local flavours and washing it down with what is considered the best coffee in the world.

2. SUMMARY OF ITINERARY

You will be met by an Inspired Journeys representative on your arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis (known as the Capital city of Ethiopia), it is from here that your journey into the countrys' vast landscape will begin. Due to the large area of the country with major cities being spread out, this journey can be joined with a domestic flight between locations.

The local Ethiopian Airline connects to 22 of its’ main cities, making it is easy to plan your trip with short flights. In order to do this, we recommend that you book your international flight with Ethiopian Airlines, where you will be issued with a PNR number on your ticket that we can use to book your domestic flights for your trip at a discounted rate. Please note this does not apply to other international airlines (such as Lufthansa), and this case, you would be charged full rates for domestic flights.

On your arrival in Addis, you will explore this busy city, with its’ market, stopping over for a traditional Coffee experience (Good strong Ethiopian Coffee), and visiting 2 of it’s main museums and site attractions:

1. A tour of the 'Lucy' Museum
2. Selassie Church / Trinity Cathedral 

Ethiopian food is a culture in which you may want to experience, where you will be provided with a recommended Restaurant guideline – depending on the food you wish to eat.

Flight: Addis / Awassa (1hr)

On arrival in Awassa, you will transfer 4 – 5hrs to the beautiful Bale Mountains, where you can explore the area as follows:

• Take a walk in the Bamboo Forest around the lodge, and enjoy great birding, and see the Bale Mountain Monkey.
• Drive to other areas in the park, where you can experience more of the largest patch of Afroalpine land on the continent. 

CAMPING & HORSE TREKKING THROUGH BALE MOUNTAINS:

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 Fox, 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. 

You will stay at 2 campsite locations in this Afroalpine area, before descending into the Juniper Woodlands the next day to the park headquarter Dinsho 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.

LAKE LANGANO

Following your horse trekking expedition, you will transfer by road on a 4hr drive to Lake Langano, where you can enjoy a nice hot shower and a relaxing afternoon/evening before transferring back to Addis the next day for your flight out.

This afternoon and next morning can be spent

• Birding
• Swimming in the lake
• See Colobus & Vervit Monkeys