Quick Summary
9-Days Bale Mountains Trekking Tour is a 9 days tour in Ethiopia via the Ethiopia route, starting from USD 1430. Below you'll find the latest itinerary, inclusions & exclusions, and how to book.
9 days
Ethiopia
USD 1430
Kitano Tours & Safaris
ABOUT 9-Days Bale Mountains Trekking Tour
In keeping with Ethiopia’s status as a land of startling contrasts, Bale Mountains National Park is a land of rugged mountains, cloud-dampened alpine forests, and the country’s largest concentration of large mammals. Known for its lush forests and high concentration of mammals, Bale Mountains National Park is the perfect destination for hikers, wildlife lovers, and nature enthusiasts. Here you can find stunning views of gorges, lakes, streams, waterfalls and volcanic ridges.
- Duration: 9 days
- Route: Ethiopia
- Starts at: USD 1430
Highlights for 9-Days Bale Mountains Trekking Tour
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Day 2: Addis Ababa – Bale Mountains National Park
Day 3: Trek Dinsho to Sodota Campsite
Day 4: Trek Sodota to Keyrensa
Day 5: Trek Keyrensa to Rafu
Day 6: Trek Rafu to Gerba Guracha
Day 7: Trek Gerba Guracha to Senetti
Day 8: Drive to Lake Langano
Day 9: Drive Lake Langano to Addis
Itinerary Overview
| Day | Title |
|---|---|
| Day 01 | Arrival in Addis Ababa Ethiopia |
| Day 02 | Addis Ababa – Bale Mountains National Park |
| Day 03 | Trek Dinsho to Sodota Campsite |
| Day 04 | Trek Sodota to Keyrensa |
| Day 05 | Trek Keyrensa to Rafu |
| Day 06 | Trek Rafu to Gerba Guracha |
| Day 07 | Trek Gerba Guracha to Senetti |
| Day 08 | Drive to Lake Langano |
| Day 09 | Drive Lake Langano to Addis |
Day 01: Arrival in Addis Ababa Ethiopia
>> Meet our team on arrival at Bole International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Located in the center of the country, Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s geographic, political and cultural hub. Addis is distinct from many other African capitals, because it was not developed under the colonial rule. One of its best-known sites is the National Museum of Ethiopia, which houses the remains of “Lucy,” a bipedal hominid who lived 3.2 million years ago and was discovered in 1974.
If you arrive early, you can take an optional tour of this bustling city, established by the Emperor Menelik II in 1887. The city tour will include the National Museum, where you’ll find the famous remains of "Lucy" and the Ethnographic Museum set within the beautiful gardens of Haile Selassie’s former palace. We'll gather for a welcome dinner with our fellow travelers this evening.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included) Drinks not included
- Accommodation: Da'amat Hotel Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)
Day 02: Addis Ababa – Bale Mountains National Park
>> After an early breakfast in Addis, we will drive to Bale Mountains National Park. We will drive about 400km through the southeast highlands of Ethiopia. Afterward, our hike will take us through park headquarters where we'll get a chance to spot some endemic/endangered mammals such as the Menilik’s bushbuck, mountain nyala, warthog, reedbuck, grey duiker and baboon. Ethiopian endemic birds such as the black-headed siskin, wattled ibis, and Abyssinian catbird, can also be found in the juniper woodlands of Bale Mountains headquarters. You will enjoy dinner and your overnight stay at Dinsho Campsite.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Bale Mountains NP
Day 03: Trek Dinsho to Sodota Campsite
>> After breakfast, we will begin our hike to Sodota which is about 18km. We will 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 opportunity to spot the endemic Ethiopian wolf, as well as raptors, rock hyraxes and endemic birds such as the 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 a nice coffee/tea break and have dinner and your overnight stay at Sodota Campsite (3500 masl).
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Bale Mountains NP
Day 04: Trek Sodota to Keyrensa
>> After breakfast, we begin our hike to Keyrensa which is about 20km long. We will continue our trek through magic landscapes to the Keyrensa Campsite. Again, we will have very good chances to spot a variety of bird species, particularly raptors, as well as the Ethiopian wolves. On arrival at the campsite, you will have a nice coffee/tea break. You will overnight at Keyrensa Campsite (3900 masl).
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Bale Mountains NP
Day 05: Trek Keyrensa to Rafu
>> The hike to Rafu Campsite is about 18km. We will have an interesting stop at a special viewpoint for photography and bird watching. We will then pass by the volcanic rock pillars near Rafu from where we'll enjoy spectacular panoramic views. On the way, we should see rock hyraxes, birds of prey, klipspringers and others mammals. On arrival at the campsite, you will have a nice coffee/tea break. We will overnight at Rafu Campsite (4000 masl).
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Bale Mountains NP
Day 06: Trek Rafu to Gerba Guracha
>> Today we will have a long trek of about 22km through the largest afro-alpine part of the African continent, the Senneti Plateau. We will be able to spot the rare Ethiopian wolf once more, along with high-altitude birds and shrubs. After we reach our campsite, we will take a walk around the biggest alpine lake in the Bale Mountains called Gerba Guracha, meaning ”Black Lake”. A variety of water birds usually stay around the lake. On arrival at the campsite, you will have a nice coffee/tea break. You will overnight at Gerba Guracha Campsite (4100 masl).
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Bale Mountains NP
Day 07: Trek Gerba Guracha to Senetti
>> After breakfast, we will hike 5km to Sanneti Campsite, then drive down to Harrena Forest (the largest tropical rainforest in Ethiopia). The southern part of the national park holds unique vegetation and animals. We will explore parts of the pristine Harenna Forest on foot and hopefully spot the endemic Bale monkeys as well as Colobus monkeys. We will overnight at Harenna Forest (2600masl).
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Bale Mountains NP
Day 08: Drive to Lake Langano
>> After breakfast, we will take a drive to Sabana Resort (about 300km) to the Rift Valley of Ethiopia. At the shores of Lake Langano, you may relax on the beach (swimming is possible), take a walk through the lodge and encounter many bird species in the forest.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Sabana Beach Resort Mid-range resort located at Lake Langano
Day 09: Drive Lake Langano to Addis
>> Today we drive back to Addis (about 250km). On arrival, we will have an optional city tour, which include the National Museum, where you’ll find the famous remains of 3.4 million-year-old "Lucy", and the Ethnographic Museum set within the beautiful gardens of Haile Selassie’s former palace. In the evening, you will have a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance at a renowned restaurant in Addis Ababa. You will then be transferred to your hotel or the airport for your departure.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Inclusions
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- Camping equipment
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Sleeping bag
Exclusions
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Bath towels
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees