Trekking in Ethiopia's Bale Mountains; 7 Days / 6 Nights A

Itinerary BM06a

Arrival Bole International Airport

If you are arriving the day before your tour, Awaze Tours will meet you at the airport regardless of arrival time. We can book this hotel night for you upon request. If you arrive in the morning on the first day of the tour, you may begin after checking into your hotel.

Web Valley.

Day 01 Addis Ababa - Bale Mountains National Park

Morning departure driving from Addis to the Bale Mountains National Park. Arrive at the park headquarters in the afternoon. Meet with guides and drive to the Gaysey Grasslands. Take a leisurely afternoon hike, possibly spotting two endemic mammals that frequent the area: Menelik's Bushbuck and the Mountain Nyala. Birds in this area include the Blue-Winged Goose, the Spot-Breasted Lapwing, the Abyssinian Long Claw, the Wattled Ibis, the Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail, and numerous other species.

Overnight Camping Dinsho (3,200 meters above sea level)

Worgana Campsite

Day 02 To Adelay Campsite

Departing Dinsho campsite, trek to Adelay via the Geysay Valley and the Web River, viewing the Web waterfall en route. During the hike, there will be great opportunities to see the Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Bohor Reedbuck, and possibly Colobus Monkeys. The Bale Mountains is rated as one of the top birding sites in Africa with over 300 species, six of which are endemic to Ethiopia. As you trek look for such species as the Chestnut-naped Francolin, the secretive Abyssinia Ground-thrush, the vocal Abyssinian Catbird, the endemic White-backed Black-Tit, Black-headed Siskin, Black-winged Lovebird, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Tawny Eagle , Little Sparrowhawk, and the African Harrier-Hawk.
Trekking time: 4 - 5 hours.

Overnight Camping Adelay (3,400 masl)

Menelik Bushbuck

Day 03 To Finch Habera Campsite

Trek through the Web Valley to the next campsite at Finch Habera. Take a rest at the scenic Habera waterfall. Near the Web River look for the rock hyrax along the gorge. Although weighing only about 5 kilograms the rock hyrax is most closely related to the elephant in the animal kingdom. Birds you may see today include the Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Blue-winged Goose, Little Grebe, and Augur Buzzard.
Trekking time: 6 hours.

Overnight Camping Finch Habera (3,550 masl)

Warthog in the Gaysey Grasslands

Day 04 To Wasama Campsite

Trek to Wasama through a beautiful landscape with stunning views. Pass through Mararo Valley where the Lammergeyer and Verraux Eagles keep nests. At this point in the trek we begin to look for the Ethiopian Wolf, the rarest canid in the world and Africa’s most threatened carnivore. Ethiopian Wolves live in packs of between 2 and 18 animals but are solo hunters surviving primarily on a diet of rodents.
Trekking time: 8 hours.

Overnight Camping Wasama (3,700 masl)

Bohor Reedbuck

Day 05 To Worgana Campsite

Start the day by trekking up and traversing a pass near Mt. Wassema (4,200 masl). Continue down into the Worgona Valley. Falcons, raptors, and possibly the Ethiopian Wolf will be visible.
Trekking time: 4 hours.

Overnight Camping Worgana (3,700 masl)

Gebre Guracha

Day 06 To Gebre Guracha Campsite

Continue trekking towards, the Senetti Plateau. This will be the third distinct and unique habitat that you traverse, the first two being the Gaysay Grasslands and the Juniper Woodlands. Dotting the landscape here are many Giant Lobelia, a flowering plant which can grow up to three meters in height.
Trekking time: 5 hours.

Overnight Camping Gebre Guracha (3,900 masl)

Day 07 Bale Mountains National Park - Addis Ababa

Take a short trek from Gebre Gurracha up to the Sennati Plateau (6km) to meet vehicles. Explore the Senatti Plateau by car. This is the best place in Ethiopia to view the Ethiopian Wolf. Return to Addis Ababa. Enjoy a Farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups.
Trekking time: 2 hours.

End of Trek
(Awaze Tours will arrange additional hotel nights in Addis Ababa upon request.)

For Information and Pricing: BM06a