The Bale Mountains are made up of the Harenna Forest and the Sanetti Plateau, home to the world’s rarest canid – the Ethiopian wolf. The scenery is spectacular, with pristine lakes and rushing streams carving waterways to the lowlands.
Thanks to the isolation of these mountains, the park has an incredibly high number of endemic species, and the wide altitudinal range has resulted in a variety of belts of vegetation that support many niche species of both flora and fauna. The open spaces of the high Sanetti Plateau are possibly the easiest place to see the rare Ethiopian wolf, while nearby Harenna Forest is the place to find bushpig, giant forest hog, grey duiker and occasionally lion and leopard. Menelik’s bushbuck, mountain nyala and giant mole rat, all endemic to the Bale Mountains, can also be seen here.
Many other attractions outside lie within easy reach: in the Rift Valley to the south, the landscape changes to arid scrub, providing a habitat for an entirely different range of indigenous birds. A day trip often results in a sighting of the exceptionally rare Prince Ruspoli’s turaco in a small area between Dolo Mena and Negele, some 50 kilometres away. In the opposite direction lie the spectacular Sof Omar limestone caves, the largest in East Africa and an Islamic religious site.
Join award-winning environmental photojournalist and conservationist Ben Cherry on a trip through three unique locations in Ethiopia: the Simien Mountains, Lalibela and Bale Mountain National Park, and discover an entirely different take on African wildlife photography. Find out more about Ethiopia: A Unique Wonder
Ethiopia boasts a wide diversity of birds, mammals, landscapes and plants which is hardly matched in Africa. The birdlife is a mixture of East and West African and Palearctic elements, with over 800 species recorded, including 37 endemics and this trip explores its key wildlife sites. Find out more about Ethiopian Endemic Wildlife
This wonderful introduction to Ethiopia takes you to each of the country’s major cultural highlights and provides you with the chance to see superb wildlife, such as gelada baboon, Menelik’s bushbuck, mountain nyala and one of the world’s rarest mammals - the Ethiopian wolf - all in stunning scenery. Find out more about Ethiopian Wildlife Extravaganza
Ethiopia offers a wonderful array of unique wildlife species. This suggested itinerary begins in the picturesque Simien Mountains where you can enjoy huge herds of charismatic gelada baboons and walia ibex, before travelling to the spectacular Bale Mountains, in search of the endangered Ethiopian wolf. Find out more about Wolves & Baboons of Ethiopia’s Highlands
This innovative and attractive lodge brings new levels of comfort and service to the unmissable Bale Mountains. Set in a forest clearing which teems with wildlife, this thatched ecolodge offers a secure and comfortable base with first-class facilities, excellent food and exceptional views. Find Out More about Bale Mountain Lodge
