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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November 2017
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