Bale Mountains Safari

Day 1: Addis Ababa

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, your driver will meet you just outside the airport terminal and transfer you to the luxury Sheraton Hotel. Freshen up in the hotel before taking your first steps in the bustling capital city, Addis Ababa (meaning 'New Flower'). The city lies in the central highlands at 2700m above sea level and is Africa's diplomatic capital. Founded in 1887 by Emporer Menelik II, it is now the home of over 3 million people, along with a portfolio is fascinating museums, historic sites, churches, and sprawling markets. The Mercato market is the largest open-air market anywhere in Africa, and the surrounding Entoto hills offer dramatic views over the entire city. 

In the evening, you have plenty of choice for restaurants and bars, and there are a handful of cultural restaurants that showcase Ethiopian dancing from across the country. Well worth a visit on your first evening in the country. 

Overnight: Sheraton Hotel

Day 2: Bale Mountains National Park

Catch a morning flight from Addis to Robe. Arriving at the Webb Camp in the afternoon we will do a small walk up the Webb River.

This beautiful high Plateau has the most Ethiopian Wolves within it and also has numerous other wildlife species including the endemic Mountain Nyala. The Plateau is a hikers paradise with beautiful open and scenic country.

Overnight: Webb Valley Tented Camp 

Day 3: Bale Mountains National Park

Today is all about the Wolves.  In the cooler high plateaus, the Wolves patrol their territory in the early morning whilst the sun starts to warm up the environment. We’ll be out with the vehicle and on foot looking for them as they start their days activities. The birdlife in these high plateaus is phenomenal as the biomass of rodents is second to none up here.

We have access to Ponies and they will be in camp for us to use as well. On horseback, you can approach extremely close to the Wolves and it’s an ideal way of crossing the open grassland. You don’t need to be a rider at all as the ponies only walk along at this altitude. 

We often have Wolf sightings from our dining room which overlooks the beautiful Finch Habera waterfall.

Overnight: Webb Valley Tented Camp

Day 4: Bale Mountains National Park

The Gaysay Grassland has some of Ethiopia’ s highest concentrations of mammals.

Included in the grassland are 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 surrounds. The Webb River which continues it’s journey through the grassland is stocked with both rainbow and brown trout. It’s an ideal opportunitiy to have a picnic on the banks of the river and try a hand at fly fishing.

Overnight: Webb Valley Tented Camp

Day 5: Bale Mountains National Park

We will start the walking trail across to the Sanetti Plateau and ultimately, to reach the escarpment to access Bale Mountain Lodge in the South of the Park. Horses will carry the bulk of the camping gear as we set off across the high country, leaving only day bags with camera’s clothing layers and water to be carried by guests.

In all likelihood, we will see Wolves as well as other endemics on this day. Expect to be hiking for approximately 6 hours during the day. 

Overnight: Wasamaa Hiking Camp

Day 6:  Bale Mountains National Park

Through this next section of wilderness, it becomes very easy to see how the mountain massif was formed through one super volcano long in the past. The ice age with glaciers have also taken some serious sculpting of the mountains, but the walk between Wasamaa and Rafu, really highlight the volcanic influence. Incredible rock formations of basalt pipes and granite boulders litter the high country and makes walking through here an absolutely stunning experience.

Expect to be hiking for about 6 hours during the day

Overnight: Rafu Hiking Camp

Day 7: Bale Mountains National Park

Walking across a small section of the Sanetti Plateau across the Plateau, we meet with the vehicle/s that will take us down the escarpment and into Bale Mountain Lodge. 

The Lodge is beautifully set in the forest overlooking a grassy glade with the steep escarpment behind it. Very comfortably set and cosy, it is from here that you will explore the delights of this largely unexplored forest. Bale Monkeys are a highlight here, but there are also a number of other sightings to be had including, when lucky, black maned Lions.

Overnight: Bale Mountain Lodge

Day 8: Bale Mountains National Park

Explore the forest with mountain walks, exploring bamboo forests looking for the rare Bale Monkeys or hikes up the steep escarpment before the lodge. Drive deeper into the forest towards the coffee and honey collecting villages and look for game using the roads as pathways to traverse the dense forest.

All from the very comfortable surrounds of the best eco lodge in Ethiopia.

Overnight: Bale Mountain Lodge

Day 9: Bale Mountains National Park

We leave the beautiful Bale Mountains this morning via a flight back to Addis from the airstrip at Robe. Arriving in Addis for lunch, we will have the use of day rooms and embark on any last minute shopping and an evening meal before catching the late night flight out of Addis.

Day room: Sheraton Hotel