Bale Mountains National Park
Bale mountains is an area of high altitude plateau that is broken by numerous Ethiopian Wolf spectacular volcanic plugs and peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and rushing mountain streams that descend into deep rocky gorges on their way to the lowlands below.
The Bale Mountains rise from the extensive surrounding farm lands at 2,500meter above sea level to the west, north and east. The National Park area is divided into two major parts by the spectacular Harenna escarpment that runs from east to west.
The climate of the Bale Mountains is characterized by a high rainfall and periods of damp cloudy weather interspersed with brilliant blue skies. The dry season is usually from November to February. The temperature may rise to as high as 30 centigrade. Nights are star-filled, clear and cold, usually with heavy ground frosts.
The Ethiopian Wolf is found only in Bale and Simien Mountains and no where else in the world. It feeds on rodents and as a result is mainly found at the higher altitudes where rodents abound. The wolf hunts its prey by standing still over the rodent holes, patiently listening, turning its head and ears from side to side,and suddenly pouncing when a rat emerges. There are more than twenty other small to large-sized mammals like Menelik’s Bushbuck, Reedbuck, monkeys and many others.
Wherever you go in Bale there are always birds to watch and some of them are endemic. At least sixteen species of birds are known to be endemic to Ethiopia. About fourteen of these species are known to occur in the Bale Mountains National Park area. Dinsho-400 kms from Addis and the park’s headquarter-, Robe and Goba can all be reached in a day’s drive from Addis Ababa. Fifty kms from the parks headquarter- Ras Hotel provides a good accommodation or camping at the park can be arranged. Warm clothing is a must at any time of the year. Visitors who are intending to do some walking will need sturdy shoes and boots.
