Day 1: Arrival to Ethiopia
When you arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel for the night.
Overnight at Hotel Lobelia or a similar place.
Day 2: Flight to Bale Mountains
After arriving at Bale Mountains, you will drive to the park headquarters to meet your guide. You will walk around the park headquarters and may see rare animals like Menelik’s Bushbuck, Mountain Nyala, Warthog, Reedbuck, Gray Duikers, and Baboons.
The nearby juniper forest is home to special Ethiopian birds such as the Abyssinian Catbird, Wattled Ibis, and Black-headed Siskin.
You will spend the night at Dinsho Campsite, 3,100 meters above sea level.
Day 3: Trek to Adelay
Today you will hike 16 kilometers from Dinsho (park headquarters) to the Adelay campsite. On the way, you will pass through Gaysay Grassland and may see many antelope species like Menelik Bushbuck and Mountain Nyala before reaching the forested areas.
Overnight at Adelay campsite, 3,400 meters above sea level.
Day 4: Trek from Adelay to Sodota Campsite
After breakfast, start an 18-kilometer hike to Sodota. You will pass through the Web Valley, a beautiful area leading to Fincha Habera waterfall, where the Wolla and Web rivers meet.
You may see birds of prey, rock hyrax, Ethiopian wolves, and native birds like the Blue-winged Goose. When you reach the campsite, enjoy a nice coffee or tea break.
Camp at Sodota, 3,500 meters above sea level.
Day 5: Trek from Sodota to Wasema
Hike to Wasema today through a lovely area with great views. You will cross Mararo Valley, home to the nests of Lammergeyer and Verreaux’s Eagles. After 6 to 7 hours of hiking, you may spot many birds and possibly the Ethiopian wolf.
Camp at Wasema, about 3,900 meters above sea level.
Day 6: Trek from Wasema to Rafu
On this walk, you will see how the mountain was formed by a single large volcano long ago. The ice age and glaciers shaped the mountains too. The walk from Wasema to Rafu shows the volcanic features well.
You will see large rock formations like granite boulders and basalt pipes along the way. The hike takes about 5 to 6 hours.
Camp at Rafu, 4,000 meters above sea level.
Day 7: Trek to Sanetti Plateau
After breakfast, hike from Rafu to the Sanetti Plateau. Here, you may see birds of prey, falcons, and sometimes the Ethiopian wolf. You will enjoy the wide alpine landscape, lakes, and Afro-alpine moorlands.
Camp at Sanetti Plateau, 4,100 meters above sea level.
Day 8: Drive to Harenna Forest
After breakfast, drive to Harenna Forest, Ethiopia’s second-largest tropical rainforest. On the way, you might see rare animals like the Ethiopian wolf and Abyssinian hare, and water birds such as the Blue-winged Goose, Wattled Crane, and Ruddy Shelduck.
Then, hike to a waterfall and walk the Bamboo Trail in the forest. You can see many birds and the native Bale Monkey here. Return to your hotel for the night.
Overnight at Tokuma Hotel in Robe.
Day 9: Drive to Lake Langano
Drive to Lake Langano with stops along the way. When you arrive, check into Sabana Resort. Spend the afternoon swimming, watching birds, and enjoying the sunset over the lake.
Overnight at Sabana Resort.
Day 10: Drive back to Addis Ababa
In the morning, drive ten minutes to Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park. Take a walking tour to see warthogs, Grant’s gazelles, baboons, ostriches, and black-backed jackals. Then stop for lunch in Ziway before heading back to Addis Ababa.
You should arrive in Addis Ababa late in the afternoon. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a traditional restaurant with folk dances from different Ethiopian regions. After dinner, you will be taken to the airport for your international flight.
