Bale Mountains National Park is in Southern Ethiopia. In 2023 the park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand[edit]

Bale Mountains National Park protects 2,220 square kilometres (860 sq mi) of the Bale Mountains, the highest range in Ethiopia. The range hosts the Harenna Forest, one few remaining natural forests in the country, and the largest.

History[edit]

Landscape[edit]

The park is divided into five distinct and unique habitats: the Northern Grasslands (Gaysay Valley), Northern Woodlands (Park Headquarters), Afro-alpine Meadows (Sanetti Plateau), Erica Moorlands, and the Harenna Forest.

Flora and fauna[edit]

The park is home to the endangered Ethiopian wolf, mountain nyala and the Bale Mountains vervet, along with Menelik's bushbuck, common duiker, klipspringer, Bohor reedbuck, Ethiopian highland hare, honey badger, warthog, spotted hyena and serval. Wild forest coffee (Coffea arabica) grows in the montane forests.

Climate[edit]

Temperatures vary widely throughout the park: on the plateau, daytime temperatures are usually around 10 °C (50 °F) with strong winds; in the Gaysay Valley average daytime temperatures are around 20 °C (68 °F), and the Harenna Forest is around 25 °C (77 °F). However, the weather changes frequently and sometimes drastically. In elevations over 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), night frosts are common. The rainy season is from May until November.

Get in[edit]

The nearest international airport is in Addis Ababa. The drive from Addis take 6–7 hours.

Fees and permits[edit]

Get around[edit]

The park is reasonably drivable. You can cross the Sanetti Plateau on Africa's highest all-weather road.

See[edit]

• Sanetti Plateau

Do[edit]

• Hiking
• Birdwatching

Buy[edit]

Eat[edit]

Drink[edit]

Sleep[edit]

Lodging[edit]

Camping[edit]

Backcountry[edit]

Stay safe[edit]

Go next[edit]