Tour Guide, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| 10 mins read
Bale Mountain National Park
Bale Mountains National Park is an area of high-altitude plateau that is broken by numerous spectacular volcanic plugs and peaks. Beautiful alpine lakes and rushing mountain streams descend into deep rocky Gorges on their way to the lowland below; as you ascend into the mountains, you will experience changes in the vegetation with altitude, from juniper forests to heather moorlands and alpine meadows, which at the Various times of year exhibit an Abundance of colourful, some
400kms from Addis Ababa, Southeast of Ethiopia
Bale Mountains National Park contains its diverse landscape and the highest altitude of the Afro Mountains.
2. Woodland
The Northern forests are open with Little undergrowth and Well Dominated by Juniper and Hagenia Abyssinia forests-a belt That reaches up to about 3100m altitude, which is the upper limit of the trees zone, apart from a few Isolated trees in protected, protected valleys, above the trees Line the Heather Moorlands begin, Reaching to about 3,700 meters above sea level altitudes, on gently Sloping ground, Hagenia trees can grow
4. Erica Forest and Moorland
Then, Immediately continue our way to above the trees from 3,500m to 3,800m, is the Belt of Heather, made up of species of the Erica and Philippa genera, Dominated specifically by Erica arborea or tree heath a shrub common throughout the world that grows to staggering proportions in Bale and this forest are a fairytale wood of Giant Heather dressed in moss and (old Man Beared) a Lichen, These trees are highly endangered and quite rare in Ethiopia, we may have chance to spot Klipspringers, rock hyraxes grey duiker are life in the area in relatively large numbers, but very hard to spot due to Vegetation density.
5. Harenna Forest, the largest part of the Park
The Southern Forest, in contrast, is much denser, with a greater variety of trees, shrubs, and herb species. The trees are covered in Epiphytes and Creepers and, in many cases, rise to over 32 meters in height; higher reaches of the Forest, Situated at 2,500m, are interspersed with Bamboo groves and many wildflowers beside the Small rushing torrents and Consist of Second Largest Forest in Ethiopia. The Harenna forest, Along with the adjacent State and Community-managed forest outside the Park, constitutes an area of 3,700 Square kilometres and also the Largest Cloud forest in the country, the Road from the African continent(plateau). Take you down to the Harrena Escarpment and into the forest and mountains. Bamboo grows within the forest, in particular on steep Slopes. Early in the wet Season, Dense Thickets of edible Rubus Steudneri in the Black berry Family are in Flower and Fruit, Streamside beds of the white flowered Cranium with their heavy Sweet Scent also bloomed at this time, grows along the road from April to June, the upper area of the Forest is wet Cloud forest with an extensive bamboo belt, and thewhile the lower parts are drier mountain forests, Situated at the 2,300m above sea level, as the Slopes become gentler and the height of Large trees up to 30m tall appear, These include podocarpus gracilior, and Fig trees, in the Lower areas of the forest, wild Coffee (Arabica sp), grows Because the forest is so dense and Clearings are few and far Between, you may have chance walk to waterfall through dense forest, situated at the middle of Harrenna forest, the elusive animals of the area or forest have Little Trouble Staying hidden, Bale monkeys, Bush pig,Giant forest hogs, Black and white monkey, olive baboon, warthog and Ethiopian bushbuck warthogs are commonly with a Little Luck and perseverance,you may have chance to spot Giant forest hogs, bush pig, and endemic Bale monkey, the best place to look for lion, leopard, and African wild dogs, genet, civet, porcupine, and hyena are all at night.
Birds of the area. Abyssinia catbirds, black-winged love birds, yellow-fronted parrots, Abyssinia oriole, white-cheeked Turaco, Nairina Trogon, Abyssinian hill babbler, Abyssinia Crimson-wing, Ayres hawk Eagle, Slavery-cheeked hornbill, White-cheeked turaco, and Wide range of migrant Birds can be seen, including Palearctic warble
to be massive, Flowering from November to February,
and St wor or Hypericum revolutum Rosa Abyssinic is also commonly in the Woodlands and contains St John’s Wort and bushes (Hypericum Spp.) Large Golden yellow flowers and juniper woodlands cover the northern slope of the Bale massif, Reaching from Dodola to Dinsho. These woodlands are under intense pressure from grazing, inhabiting the Growth, and Flowering from November to February, a chance for Mountain Nyala, warthogs, Ethiopian bushbuck, colobus monkeys and Olive Baboon warthogs can be spotted in the area. Birds of the area include endemic welted ibis, Abyssinian catbirds, Golden-mantled woodpeckers, red-breasted wryneck, thick-billed raven and many more
Bale mountains National Park is Essentially a walking area, mountain Bike or Horse trekking of Several days Duration into the main Peak area with pack and riding horse or Bikes and accompanied by a guide. Can be arranged Through Bale Trek Ethiopia tours or park authorities in Dinsho; in addition, short excursions, walks, or Trekking can be accomplished in the Dinsho area, which contains its diverse landscape and its highest altitude of Afro mountains, including the highest Sanetti plateau, which is rise to 4000m above sea level and including the highest peak in the southern part of Ethiopia highland and with its largest plateau is marked by numerous Glacial lakes and swamps and surrendered by high volcanic ridges and peaks Bale mountain national park is unlimited distention for hikers, wildlife, birds watching, cultural and natural enthusiasts bird watching and more explore one of the highest parks in Africa. By Horseback, go fishing or experience an authentic Bale mountain. Allow you time to enjoy Bale's natural beauty and diversity. Its highest altitude results in volcanic plugs and its peak and also beautiful alpine lakes and mountain streams that descend into deep rock Gorge on their way to low land.
3. Afro-alpine meadows or Sanette plateau
The Afro-Alpine Moorland is dominated by Different plants depending on Slopes, Drainage and rodent activity; the top of most of the high Peaks are either bare rocks or exposed Soil with very Small hardyTussock herbs or grasses; this is the highest all-weather road in Africa. Crosses over the 4,000m contour. Some of the loveliest scenery in Africa can be viewed from the Comfort of your Vehicle.
The road climbs up from Goba through beautiful community forest such as Juniper and Hagenia forest The road is lined with the orange-Blossomed Leonotis, and during Wet season Red Hot poker or Kniphofia or its Blooming beneath the trees and attracting the Brilliant iridescent Tacazze and malachite Sunbirds, Birds of the area- Bale Parisoma, Moorland francolin, Abyssinia cat birds, and white bucked black tit, Black winged love birds, white cheeked Turaco, Abyssinia woodpecker, Tacazze sunbird, and malachite, This forest Gives way to Rosa Abyssinic is found here, Beautiful White Flowerss and delicate Scent, the only indigenous African Rose, and St John’s Wort Or Hypericum revolutum, situated at the 3,300m altitude, This Narrow zone is soon to the Succeeded by Heather or (Erica) Moorland at the 3,500m, Finally we are out of the forest and into the open in the mountains Proper, Vistas open to the Strange pinnacles of chorchora peak on the Left one of park Boundary markers, Across the three-sided one of Gorge to the right, then Another Steep Zigzag Climb across Slopes Covered in Heather Bushes and Alchemilla, then Welcome to the Plateau proper, and on This area Various forms of Afro-Alpine Moorland, Dominated by Different plants depending on Slpoes, portals of the weird which is long some meters tall flowers columns of Giant Lobelia, Here the plateau is studded with numerous shallow alpine Lakes,with views to the steep -sided Volcanic plug of konteh mountains (Tullu) in South, Then the Lead you to Clmbing Area of high altitude Plateau that is Broken by numerous Spectacular Volcanic plugs and peaks, Beautiful alpine Lakes and rushing mountains Streams that Descend into Deep rocky gorges on their way to lowlands below, the Best areas for Seeing Ethiopian wolf and on rare occasions Small groups of mountain Nyala, Situated at, 4,000m above sea level, and in pure, Clear Cool mountain air with Views in all Directions on a Clear day, Ethiopian wolf is more common here in Bale than it is Simien mountain, its found between these two Isolated mountains areas, and nowhere else on the world, the animals is the Size and Color of European Red Fox, but with Longer muzzle, and Striking Black-white Tail, the Male and Female are similar in appearance, The Ethiopian wolf on rodents, and as a result are mainly found at the higher altitudes part of the National park, the Sanetti Plateau is an especially Best area to see them, they are usually seen hunting alone, but can be seen in pairs, and after the Breeding Season as many as seven adults and Cubs have been seen Together, Rodent as the Ethiopian wolf Source of food most part of Sanetti plateau, the especially interest is a Giant mole rat, a Large species that feed above ground in the daylight and Large Craterlike and Vegetation, among Rats, mice, Bird of the area Blue winged Goose, Walled Caren, Rouge’s Rail, Spot Breasted plover is Found, Thick Billed Raven, Black Headed sisin, Walled ibis, and Several Birds of Prey such as the Steppe Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Kestrel, and one of the Largest and the most Spectacular Birds is Lammergeier also Called the Bearded Vulture or Bone Breaker,and Sanetti Plateau is Crowned by Several Peaks That add a wanderful Walk to the Driver over it, Tullu Diimtu means red soil, is the Second highest mountain in Ethiopia at 4,377m and the highest point in Bale mountains, Starting from the main Road at it’s base it takes one to half house to Climb the Slopes and Reach the Summit,gives you magnificent views from the top,
Sanetti Plateau is situated at an altitude of over 4000 meters above sea level and is the highest peak in the southern part of Ethiopia. Highland, its largest plateau, is marked by numerous Glacial lakes and swamps and surrendered by high volcanic ridges and peaks. Bale Mountain National Park is the Largest area of Afro-alpine Habitat in the whole of the continent. It Gives the Visitor opportunity’s for unsurpassed Mountain Trkking, Hores Trkking, Scenic drving and you may have chances to spot many of Ethiopian wolf, endemic mammals, in particular Ethiopian wolf, Mountsin Nyala, Ethiopian Bushbuck, Gaint mole rat, Bale monkey, and Birds of the area such as Abyssinia cat birdis, Abyssinia longclaw, white bucked Black Tit, Abyssinia ground thrush, Thick billed Raven, Blue winged goose, Wattle ibis, and its Topography the Bale mountains rise from the extensive Surrounding farmlands at 2,700 meters above Sea level, to the west, North and East, The North of this escarpment is a high altitude Plateau area situated at 4000 meters above sea level, The plateau is formed of ancient Volcanic rocks, basalts, agglomerates and tuffs, and Dissected by many Rivers and Streams that have cut Deep gorges into the edges over the Centuries, the major Part of the central mountains.area is covered by lava flows, Still mainly unvegetated, and forming Spectacular rock ripples and pillar’s, on the plateau are filled with Water in the wet Season, by froming small Lakes that mirror the Surrounding Scenery, one of the. The largest Lake, Garba Guracha, means Black Lakes, and these Lakes provide a habitat for water Birds; from the plateau Rise Several Mountain massifs of rounded and Craggy peaks, including Tullu Diimtu, the second highest mountain in Ethiopia, situated at 4377 meters above sea level, Next to Ras Dashen at the Simien mountain, North part of Ethiopia.