Bale Mountains National Park

Overview

Bale Mountains National Park sits about 400 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa in the Bale-Arsi Massif, stretching over roughly 2,150-2,220 square kilometers of the Ethiopian Highlands, with elevations ranging from 1,500m up to 4,377m at Tullu Dimtu, Ethiopia's second-highest peak.

It is the largest expanse of Afro-alpine habitat on the African continent, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023 for its exceptional biodiversity and glacial lakes, wetlands, and moorlands.

The park is best known as the stronghold of the endangered Ethiopian wolf, alongside other endemics like the mountain nyala, giant mole-rat, and Menelik's bushbuck, and it is also the source of five major rivers that supply water to millions of people beyond the park's borders.

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Key Attractions

• Sanetti Plateau: A dramatic high-altitude plateau dotted with volcanic plugs and tiny alpine lakes, and the best place in the world to spot the Ethiopian wolf in the wild.
• Harenna Forest: A dense, misty montane forest on the park's southern slopes, home to giant lobelias, wild coffee, and rich birdlife.
• Tullu Dimtu: Ethiopia's second-highest peak at 4,377m, reachable by scenic drive or hike across the Afro-alpine moorland.
• Dinsho Headquarters: The park's main entrance and a reliable spot for close encounters with mountain nyala and other endemic wildlife.

Conservation Significance

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Inscribed in 2023 for containing Africa's largest area of Afro-alpine habitat above 3,000m, with numerous glacial lakes and wetlands.

• A Water Tower for the Region: Around 40 rivers rise within the park, feeding five major rivers and providing year-round water sources for lowland communities far beyond Bale.

Itinerary