6 Days Bale Mountains Trekking Tour

Addis Ababa, Bale Mountains National Park, Dinsho, Goba, Harenna Forest From Addis Ababa to Harenna Forest Itinerary Start in Addis Ababa and end in Harenna Forest! With the Hiking & Trekking tour 6 Days Bale Mountains Trekking Tour, you have a 6 days tour package taking you through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and 4 other destinations in Ethiopia. 6 Days Bale Mountains Trekking Tour includes accommodation in a hotel as well as flights, an expert guide, meals, transport. Introduction The Bale Mountains are extraordinarily interesting, and extraordinarily varied. Spectacular volcanic towers, babbling mountain brooks and serene alpine lakes; the mountains (actually escarpment) looming majestically high above, the famous high Sanetti Plateau edged by the vast cliffs of the Harenna Escarpment and fascinating vegetation and rich animal life, the Bale Mountains offer unbelievable diversity in what is really quite a small area. The Bale Mountains are vulcanism galore, with a huge variety of formations – consisting of ancient trachytes, basalts, agglomerates and tuffs, for the geologists amongst us. The central peaks, covered by a capping of more recent magma flows, form spectacular rock ripples and pillars, and provide a constant and dramatic backdrop to any plateau trek. One of the area’s fascinations is its very distinct eco-regions. Below the mountains to the north, but still within the National Park, are the Gaysay Grasslands and Park HQ “reserve”. The Grasslands are a wide area of low shrub and grass, with rivers and pools of varying seasonal sizes and bush and woodlands on the hillsides above. Much of the year, they are verdant and full of animal and bird life, and a wander through them is a delight; but, in dry season, it is grey and empty. The enclosure (actually a small reserve) by the Park HQ is a delight at any time of year, with beautiful open woodland and a wealth of sightings of its un-shy wildlife. Most people approach the mountains from the north, climbing through its different vegetation zones: forest (some of it state planted), then a band of lovely vivid green heather, before tipping over the lip of the central Sanetti Plateau into a new world of wide plains and gentle slopes punctuated by rocky bands and outcrops and some peculiar cliffs and towers, dominated by the mass of Tullu Deemtu (4,377m). This is a grey world dominated by low low silvery helichrysum shrubs dotted with heather of different sizes and some fine giant lobelias. If the cloud is down, it is inexpressibly lonely. The plateau’s south is cut off by the vast cliffs of the Harenna Escarpment; below it you drop through heather, then mossy giant heather, then farmland and villages before getting to the southern Harenna Forest, Ethiopia's second-largest tract of surviving forest, a rich, damp cloud forest, its trees dripping moss and ferns at higher levels. Further in it is so remote that new species still get discovered. Even in the accessible areas the jungle is lovely and fascinating, and you have a good chance of seeing colobus and Bale monkeys, giant forest hogs and a vast selection of birds both beautiful and rare. The mountains, and the National Park in particular, are famous for their thrilling diversity of wildlife, with around 60 species of mammal, and over 260 varieties of bird. Mammals include the majority of the remaining Ethiopian wolves, and other Ethiopian endemic mammals, the Mountain Nyala and Semien Fox. The chances of a wolf sighting on the high plateau are high, despite their being highly endangered. They are spectacular and gorgeous, and seeing one will be a highlight of any time in Ethiopia. You will see raptors including augur buzzards and, not unconnected, lots of mice and mole rats. Endless other birds and different animals – colobus and Bale monkeys in the Herenna Forest. Likewise lovely vegetation and birds, nyala and buck in the Gaysay Grasslands and Park HQ reserve. While this is sensational landscape, it is not pristine, grazed for chunks of the year when lower reaches are droughted-out. Even much the Harenna Forest is carpeted with cropped grass below the shrubs, with the effect that you can see some way at ground level but perhaps a few metres at head height. The main base villages (all in the north) are Dinsho, near the National Park HQ, and Dodola and Adaba on the main road in from the west. They all have accommodation of varying qualities and supplies, and are good bases for day walks or for starting a trek onto the plateau. In addition, community-led organizations provide local guides with real insight; recommended (indeed required) for most (if not all) walks. Up inside the range (mainly above Dodola) are some lodges and tented camps: you must forge through dense forest and past beautiful waterfalls, plus not a little wildlife, to reach them. Otherwise, it is camping once up in the mountains. It is delving deeper into the park, however, that yields the greatest reward. Day 1 Flight to Bale Mountains Pick up from Your Hotel or Addis Ababa Bole Int. airport, take internal flight to Goba, Bale Mountains. On arrival to Goba airport you will be picked up by our team then drive to Dinsho town where the parks headquarter is located. Afterwards, our hike will take us through park H.Q where we’ll get a chance to spot and see some endemic/endangered mammals such as: Menilik’s Buchbuck, Mountain Nyala, Warthog, Reedbuck, Gray Duikers and Baboons. Also Ethiopian endemic birds such as: Black-headed siskin, Wattled Ibis, and Abyssinian cat bird which all will be found in juniper woodlands of Bale Mountains HQ. Overnight at Dinsho Campsite.3100masl. Start point Bole International airport , Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Day 2 Trekking to Sodota Morning after breakfasts begin our hike to Sodota which is about 18km long. Trek from Dinsho through the spectacular scenery of Web Valley towards the Fincha Habera waterfall, where the Web and Wolla rivers meet. In this area, we have our first chances to spot the endemic Ethiopian Wolf, as well as raptors, rock hyrax and endemic birds such as: Blue Winged Goose. This will surely leave you excited and in awe of the actual wilderness of Bale mountains. on arrival at the campsite you will have nice coffee/tea break. Overnight Sodota Campsite 3500masl. Day 3 Trekking to Wasema Start hiking from Adelay and enter the national park. while trekking through the park there will be a chance to see the rarest canid Ethiopian Wolf, Rock Hyrax, Giant Mole rat and most of birds of prey. stop by Habera waterfall for a nice break then heading to Sodota campsite for Overnight 3,500masl. 6-7 hrs walk 20km. Overnight Wasema Campsite at a b 3900masl. Day 4 Trekking to Sanneti Plateau Start the day by hiking through Wasama and then continue down into the Worgona Valley. Falcons, raptors, and possibly the Ethiopian wolf will be visible. Pass through the most beautiful Afro-alpine Moor land, beautiful wild alpine scenery and lakes on the plateau. Trekking will take 7-8 hrs. Overnight Sanneti Campsite. 4100amsl. Day 5 Drive to Harenna Forest After breakfast Meet the vehicle at the camp and drive towards Harenna Forest which is the second tropical rain forest in the country. On the way there will be a chance to see the rare and endangered Canid species Ethiopian Wolf, Abyssinian Hare, water birds like Blue winged Goose, Ruddy shell duck, Wattled Crane and others. Then after take a hike in the forest to water fall and Bamboo trail. The endemic Bale Monkey will be seen in the area and numerous bird species. Overnight Wabe Shabale Hotel or Similar. Day 6 Transfer to Airport for your flight to Addis Transfer service to Airport for your return flight to Addis. End point Bole International airport , Addis Ababa, Ethiopia What's Included - Accommodation 4 nights camping and 1 hotel accommodation - Flights Round trip Domestic flight from Addis Ababa - Guide Well Experienced Mountain Trekking guide - COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures We have put specific measures in place to ensure the safety of our employees and our guests. On a daily basis, we are working to ensure that we meet the latest guidance on hygiene and cleaning. - Meals Breakfast Lunch Dinner This tour offers Vegetarian and Halal food options on request. Simply let Armaye Ethiopia Tours know the food option that you prefer. - Transport Air Conditioned Vehicle with Fuel and Driver allowance NOT INCLUDED X Insurance Travel insurance is not covered in the tour price. You can organize travel insurance with your preferred insurance company. We recommend World Nomads, a company recommended by LonelyPlanet. You can check out the details here. X Additional Services Any Alcoholic drinks Personal Expenses Tip