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The Bale Mountains National Park is a national park in the
Oromia region of southeast Ethiopia. Created in 1970, this park
covers about 2,200 square kilometers of the Bale Mountains to
the west and southwest of Goba.
Bale Mountains contains three distinct eco regions: the northern plains, bush and woods; the central Sanetti Plateau lying at over 4000 meters ; and the southern Harenna Forest, known for its mammals, amphibians and birds including many endemic species. The central Sanetti Plateau is home to the largest population of the rare and endangered Ethiopian wolves.
Dodola Destination
The 4 forest camps mentioned above are at an altitude between
3,080 and 3,460 metres above sea level. Each camp can be reached
from Dodola in half a day. Thus, your trip can start in the
afternoon but no later than 2 p.m. setting off early in the
morning is preferable, especially during the rains. The distance
between camps is 5 to 18km. It takes between a few hours and
half a day of walking or riding to travel from one camp to the
other. This allows you to spend every night in a different camp.
If you do not have time for all 4 camps, the guide will help
select the ones most suited to your personal preferences. Also,
tours of just one night with two half days for ascending and
descending are possible.
There is also one tented camp (Cangity) situated at the edge of the forest with very beautiful scenery. The camp is only half and hour’s drive from Dodola and then only 20 minutes by foot or horse. A group of more than 16 people and up to 5 families can be accommodated at the camp. Your trip to this site can start any time before 5 p.m. from Dodola town.
Last but not least, short, half-day, trips from Dodola town to nearby attractions like the Lensho River or the Shebelle Water Falls are highly recommended.
Adaba destination
The Adaba destination is situated 55km from the Bale Mountain
National Park (BMNP) head office, Dinsho. There are 3 tented
campsites and one hut at an altitude between 3,000 and 3,600
metres above sea level. Each camp can be reached from Adaba in
half a day, but it is better to start in the morning. The
distance to the nearest camp from Adaba town is 7km and from
each camp to the next is from 11 to 20km. There are different
routes depending on the preference of the visitors.
As you travel through the forest you will come to two exciting
waterfalls (Kille hada berite and Meribo falls) where there is a
high likelihood of spotting wild animals, particularly Ethiopian
Wolves (Canis simensis).
One can start trekking from one side (Adaba or
Dodola) and can continue to the next destination. To make an
entire trip to the mountains (Adaba and Dodola), prior
arrangements from the starting point are required, as the guides
must change for each destination. Efforts are underway to link
this destination to the Bale Mountain National Park.
Tour Code: ETT 004
Duration: 10 Days/ 9 Nights
Means of transport: flight /surface
Customize: this package can be customized
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa. Overnight Hotel
Day2: Drive Addis to Wendo Genet. Visiting Lake Ziway, Abijata
Shalla Lakes National Park. O/n Hotel.
Day 3: Drive Wendo Genet to Dinsho- the headquarter of Bale
Mountains National Park. O/N Camping.
Day 4: Trek from Dinsho to Geysay Valley and back to Dinsho. O/N
Camping.
Day 5: Trek and pass through the lovely waterfall of Finch’abera,
and finally reach the beautiful campsite of Meraro (3750 m).
Overnight Camping.
Day 6: Trek beneath the peaks of the same name; see and taste
the strange mineral springs before making the steep ascent out
of the head of the valley onto the Sanetti Plateau. Travel
across to camp beneath Mount Batu’s (4203 m) crags, at the head
of the Shiya Valley. Overnight Camping.
Day 7: Climb Batu (4203 m), and then trek on across the arms of
the Batu horshoe, to camp beside lovely Garba Guracha Lake-set
beneath towering cliffs in the head of the Tegona Valley.
Overnight Camping.
Day 8: Trek across the Plateau and its many lakes to be met by
vehicle at the Goba. Overnight Hotel.
Day 9: Drive from Goba to Sodere-famous weekend resort center.
O/n Hotel.
Day 10: Drive back to Addis and sightseeing tour, farewell
dinner party & evening departure
Tour Code: ETT 005
Bale Trekking
Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Custom: Yes,
Up on arrival in Bale, you will start your trek towards Moraro
Mountains, and continue to Wassama Valley, climb Batu and make
your camping near Gebreguracha Lake, and then you will ride
across Senetea Plateau and meet your vehicle to drive back
Tour Code: ETT 006
Semien Mountains Trekking
Duration : 7 Days / 6 Nights
Custom: Yes , This tour can be customized
Up on arrival in Gonder you will have a city tour of
the castle compound and Debrebirhan Selassie church, and then
you will drive to Debark, make some preparations for camping and
continue to Sankaber . Then trek to Gich and then continue to
Chenek , where your two days trekking ends
Tour Code: ETT 007
Adaba-Dodolla Horse Trekking
Duration : 8 Days / 7 Nights
Custom: Yes , This tour can be customized
Up on arrival at Dodolla -the place where you will get ready for
your trekking, then you will go to Wahoro, then continue to
Angafu and then to Adele, to Mololicho ,and further to Duro then
back to Dodolla and pass your night at Wendogenet resort. You
take natural hot spring shower and finalize your trip at Addis.