Lush evergreen forests echoing with birdsong, dense stands of giant bamboo, pastel-shaded moorland studded with glacial lakes and ethereal giant lobelias, sweeping valleys swathed in fragrant juniper-hagenia woodland, misty peaks soared above by majestic buzzards and golden eagles ... these are just a few of the many habitats that make southeast Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains National Park the most important biodiversity hotspot in the country.
Nominated as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, the Bale Mountains form one of Africa’s most unique and thrilling wildlife-viewing destinations. This is the most important remaining global stronghold for several endangered large mammal species, among them the charismatic Ethiopian wolf, handsome mountain nyala and delightful Bale monkey. Meanwhile, such is Bale Bale09, the Bale Mountains form one of Africa studded wan Birding Club has listed it as one of the continent’s top five birding hotspots. The common but endemic wettled Ibis, Abyssinian cat birds, the Golden backed black tits, the thick billed raven etc are among the birds that can be seen in the woodland area. As montane parks go, Bale is surprisingly easy to explore by vehicle, with all-weather roads offering access to most of its more alluring habitats. Yet the park is also a treat for enthusiastic walkers, with a wide range of day walks on offer, as well as the opportunity to undertake a guided overnight hike or horseback trail of several days’ duration. [Bale Highlights linked to map – each entry up to 30 words] The Adaba-Dodola Integrated Forest Management Project offers wonderful hiking opportunities between a series of five overnight huts on the northern slopes of the Bale Massif. This woodland covers the northern slopes of the Bale massif extending from Dodola, Adaba to Dinsho. The park headquarters at Dinsho are the site of the guides association, a lodge and campsite, and a small natural history museum, interpretation centre and library. This area represents the best site to see mountain nyala. The untaxing Dinsho Walking Trail leads from the headquarters through a juniper-hagenia forest frequented by the endemic mountain nyala and Menelik’s bushbuck Borofa along with many forest birds. Bisected by the main road from Addis Ababa, the Gaysay Extension, named after the 3,543m Mount Gaysay, is a good place to spot Ethiopian wolf, mountain nyala and Abyssinian longclaw. Named after a large stream originating in Bale, the Web Valley, 10km from Dinsho along a track, is prime Ethiopian wolf territory; here also are the attractive Fincha Habera Falls. The water fall has carved a deep cave under its ledge; at the back of the cave there is a deep but narrow cave that leads some distance underground. The largest town close to Bale Mountain, Robe, on the main road between Dinsho and the Sanetti Plateau, is equipped with several hotels, restaurants, shops, a small museum and an airport. Carved by the Web River, Sof Omar, (not Ethiopia’s it is Africa’s) largest cave system and a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site, is named after a revered sheik took refuge there in the 12th-century.(recommended if its removed) Damp and green Goba, is the town is a popular base for day drives to the nearby Sanetti Plateau. Climbing verdant slopes seasonally studded with beautiful red-hot pokers (Kniphofia), the ascent road to Sanetti is a reliable spot for Rouget’s rail and the best place to find Bale parisoma. Bale’s chilly high-altitude centrepiece is the Sanetti Plateau, the world’s most extensive Afro-Alpine moorland, and home to a wealth of endemic wildlife including the largest remaining population of Ethiopian wolf (about 275 in 2002, which represent over half of the global population). Accessible by all-weather road, the 4,377m peak of Mount Tulluu Diimtu, the highest point in southern Ethiopia, offers a splendid view over the moorland of Sanetti. The Harenna Escarpment at the southern end of the Sanetti Plateau offers incredible views over cliffs frequented by soaring eagles and buzzards to the lush green forest below. Harena Forest remains a largely unspoilt patch of moist tropical forest including organic coffee covering an area of over 4000 km2 which is the 2nd largest patch of forest in Ethiopia. Recently opened to tourism, the vast Harenna Forest, blanketing the southern half of the national park, is a superlative birding destination and the only habitat of the endemic Bale monkey. Riverine woodland at Genale, to the south of Harenna, is renowned among birders as one of the best sites for Prince Ruspoli’s turaco, a beautiful and much localized endemic.
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What is Gada The Gada system is a time-honored age and generation-set system practiced among the Oromo people who regarded the system as their common heritage and as one of their major identity makers. The system has long been practiced by the Borena, Guji, Karayu, Tulama, Arsi, Ittu, Humbana, Afran Qallo, Akichu, Macha, and Gabra clans of the Oromo Nation. Major Oromo clans have established the centres of their Gada at several places based on their territorial settlement. The Borana and the Gabra Oromo established their Gada centres at Gumi Gayo and Arero in Borana Zone, the Guji at Me'e Bokko and Nura in Guji Zone, the Tulama at Oda Nabe and the Karrayu at Hora Sama in East Shoa Zone, the Macha at Oda Bisil and Oda Buluk in West Shoa and East Wellega respectively, the Arsi at Oda Roba in Bale Zone, the Ituu and Humbana at Oda Bultum in West Hararghe. Gada assemblies, power transfer ceremonies and transition rites took place at these cultural spaces under Oda (sycamore tree) which is regarded as the symbol of the Gada System. Besides these main centres, there are also several ritual and ceremonial places within each clan’s Gada system. These cultural spaces are legally and culturally protected. Gada system is one of the most important intangible cultural heritage of the Oromo people and it is manifested in four of the five domains of the ICH :- (a) oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; (b) performing arts; (c) social practices, rituals and festive events; (d) knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; The Oromo recognized the Gada System as part of their cultural heritage and as a contemporary system of governance that functions in concert with the modern state system. The gada is crucial organizing structure among the Oromo people and its social, political, ritual and legal aspects provides the framework for order and meaning of life. Gada organizes society via councils (yaa’aa), laws and injunctions, outlining rights and duties of its members.The Gada System is an all-inclusive social system in which every member of the society has specified roles and duties during one's life course. This begins when sons join the system as members of Gada class (generation class or set) forty years after their fathers and continues passing from one Gada grade to the next every eight years. In the fourth grade, known as Kusa, the class forms its own internal officials (adula hayyus) and its own assembly (ya'a). Regarding persons with special responsibilities, the Abba Gada, the elected chairman of the class leadership presides over the assembly. Together with the Gada class in power, he is responsible for the day to day administration of the community's local affairs including dispute arbitration and maintenance of social order. His duties also includes transfering knowledge and skills associated with the functions of the democratic Gada System to the members of succeeding grades.The retired Abba Gada and his council called yuba serve as counselors for the ruling Gada Class and are in charge of admiistration of justice. The Qaallu, the religious leader, leads the ritual ceremonies, such as blessing Gada officials and operations. As such, he plays an indispensible role in power transfer occasions and legitimizing the ruling Gada System. Women are consulted in making national decisions and ensuring that women's rights are protected. Gada is composed of an elected council with a leader called Aba Gada. The system is governed by Adula council (committee) of elders of seven to nine men lead by their presiding leader called Abba Gada (father of Gada).The governing power of Gada is invested in Assemblies and councils. The Gada leaders are elected by, responsible and accountable to the Chaffe or General Assemblies.The number of officials elected slightly vary from locality to locality. But all have a supreme body known as adulaa hayyuu, functional specializaations such as Abbaa Gadaa or Abbaa Bokku /the leader/, Abbaa Chaffee (chairman of assembly), Abbaa dubbi (the speaker), Abbaa Seera/ the memorizer of laws), Abbaa Alangaa (chief Judge), ( Abbaa Duula (Defense/ army commander), Abba Sa’a (responsible for economy). Though it has ‘leaders’, it is a flexible system of council rule, ritual regulation, customary law and cosmology that orients people’s lives. The councile of the Gada has leaders and councilors with different duties and responsibilities. The system is governed by Adula council (committee) of elders of seven to nine men lead by their presiding leader called Abba Gada (father of Gada).The governing power of Borana totally is invested in Assemblies and councils where the apex Assembly is the Gumi Gayo (multitude of Gayo). The Gada leaders are responsible and accountable to the General Assemblies.The number of officials elected and their functions slightly vary from locality to locality. But all have a supreme body known as adulaa in Borana, functional specializaations such as Abbaa Gadaa (Abbaa Bokku /the president/ Abbaa Seera/ head of judiciary) Abbaa Duula (Defense/ war leader), Abba Herregaa (responsible for cattle management) etc. |
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November 2017
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