Bale Mountains Trek11 Days
Arrival Bole International Airport
Trek Ethiopia Eco Tours meets all guests arriving at the airport regardless of arrival time. For morning flight arrivals you may begin your tour after checking into your hotel. For afternoon or evening arrivals, you may begin your tour the following day.
Day
01
Addis Ababa - Bale Mountains National Park
Drive from Addis to the Bale Mountains National Park in the morning. Arrive in the afternoon at the park headquarters. Take a car to the Gaysey Grasslands and meet the guides there. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon hike with the possibility of seeing Menelik’s Bushbuck and Mountain Nyala, two endemic mammals that are common in the area. The Blue-Winged Goose, Spot-Breasted Lapwing, Abyssinian Long Claw, Wattled Ibis, Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail, and many other species of birds can be found in this region.
Overnight Camping Dinsho (3,200 meters above sea level)
To Adelay Campsite
Trek to Adelay via the Geysay Valley and the Web River after leaving the Dinsho campsite, stopping to see the Web waterfall along the way. There will be excellent chances to see Menelik’s Bushbuck, Bohor Reedbuck, Mountain Nyala, and maybe Colobus Monkeys during the hike. With over 300 species, six of which are endemic to Ethiopia, the Bale Mountains are considered one of the best birdwatching locations in Africa. See species like the African Harrier-Hawk, Tawny Eagle, Little Sparrowhawk, endemic White-backed Black-Tit, Black-headed Siskin, Black-winged Lovebird, vocal Abyssinian Catbird, shy Abyssinian Ground-thrush, and vocal Abyssinian Catbird as you hike.
Time spent trekking: 4–5 hours.
Overnight Camping Adelay (3,400 masl)
Day
Day
02
Day
03
To Finch Habera Campsite
Hike to the next campsite at Finch Habera through the Web Valley. Relax at the beautiful Habera waterfall. Search for the rock hyrax along the gorge near the Web River. In the animal kingdom, the rock hyrax is most closely related to the elephant, despite weighing only around 5 kg. The Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Blue-winged Goose, Little Grebe, and Augur Buzzard are among the birds that you might see today.
Trekking duration: six hours.
Overnight Camping Finch Habera (3,550 masl)
To Wasama Campsite
Hike to Wasama with breathtaking views while traversing a lovely landscape. Travel through the Mararo Valley, home to nesting Lammergeyer and Verraux Eagles. At this point in the journey, we start searching for the Ethiopian Wolf, Africa’s most endangered carnivore and the rarest canid in the world. Ethiopian Wolves are solitary hunters who mostly subsist on rodents. They inhabit packs of two to eighteen animals.
Trekking duration: eight hours.
Overnight Camping Wasama (3,700 masl)
Day
Day
04
Day
05
To Worgana Campsite
Begin the day with a hike up and over a pass close to Mt. Wassema (4,200 masl). Proceed downward into the valley of Worgona. There will be sightings of falcons, raptors, and maybe the Ethiopian Wolf.
Time spent trekking: 4 hours.
Overnight Camping Worgana (3,700 masl)
To Gebre Guracha Campsite
Hike to Wasama with breathtaking views while traversing a lovely landscape. Travel through the Mararo Valley, home to nesting Lammergeyer and Verraux Eagles. At this point in the journey, we start searching for the Ethiopian Wolf, Africa’s most endangered carnivore and the rarest canid in the world. Ethiopian Wolves are solitary hunters who mostly subsist on rodents. They inhabit packs of two to eighteen animals.
Trekking duration: eight hours.
Overnight Camping Wasama (3,700 masl)
Day
Day
06
Day
07
Trek to Rafu Campsite
Trekking along the Senetti Plateau, the largest continuous area of its altitude in Africa, will take you above 4,000 meters above sea level. This is a fantastic opportunity to witness numerous raptors as well as the endemic Ethiopian Wolf.
Trekking duration: eight hours.
Overnight Camping Rafu (4,000 masl)
Trek to Rira Village Campsite
Trek past interesting rock formations and start to descend into the Erica Forest, our trek’s fourth unique habitat, which is located beneath the Sanetti Plateau. When you arrive at Rira Village, get firsthand knowledge of the people’ way of life and culture. To collect honey from one of the traditional beehives high in the trees, venture into the forest. Come back to the village for a snack and some freshly brewed coffee.
Trekking duration: seven hours.
Overnight Camping Rira Village (3,200 masl)
Day
Day
08
Day
09
Trek to Kella Campsite
Trek into open forests after passing through Rira village. After an hour, make your way to our fifth habitat—the dense Harenna forest—where you can search for Bale and Colobus monkeys. There are hundreds of traditional bee hives on the trees, and honey is a staple food for the local villagers. Among the birds we might spot are the Abyssinian Catbird and Wattled Ibis. Thekla’s Lark, Yellow Bishop, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Abyssinian Oriole, Narina Trogon, and White-cheecked Turaco.
Trekking duration: five hours.
Overnight Camping Kella Campsite (2,500 masl)
Bale Mountains National Park - Addis Ababa
Walk through a thick bamboo forest in the direction of Gushuralle. The Bale monkey, Menelik’s bushbuck, warthog, colobus monkey, and giant forest hog are among the animals you might encounter. While reports of sightings are less common, keep an eye out for lion and leopard activity. Scenic views of the Harenna forest can be seen from the top of Gushuralle. Approximately two to three hours are needed to reach Gushuralle’s peak. Travel by car to Roba.
Time spent trekking: 4 hours.
Overnight Wabeshebele Hotel
Day
Day
10
Day
11
Bale Mountains National Park - Addis Ababa
Travel by car via Asella to Addis Ababa. shopping for mementos is optional. Savor dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with musicians and dancers from a variety of the nation’s ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for international flight.