8 Days Bale Mountains Trekking & Hiking Holiday

Tour Overview

Explore the extraordinary highlands of southeastern Ethiopia on this 8-day Bale Mountains trekking and hiking holiday.

Beginning from Addis Ababa, travel to Dinsho before trekking through mountain grasslands, river valleys and Afro-alpine landscapes towards Finch Habera, Wasama and the beautiful Garba Guracha Lake.

The Bale Mountains provide a very different hiking experience from the Simien Mountains. Instead of enormous cliff escarpments, the landscape includes wide high-altitude plateaus, volcanic peaks, alpine wetlands, mountain lakes and rich wildlife habitats.

Bale Mountains National Park is particularly important for the endangered Ethiopian wolf, mountain nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck and numerous endemic and specialty bird species.

This longer trekking package is ideal for travellers who want an active Ethiopian mountain holiday with wildlife, camping and high-altitude scenery.

Tour Highlights

• Eight-day Bale Mountains adventure
• Trek through Dinsho and mountain grasslands
• Follow the Web River and waterfall areas
• Camp near Finch Habera
• Trek towards Mount Wasama
• Cross high Afro-alpine landscapes
• Visit beautiful Garba Guracha Lake
• Search for the endangered Ethiopian wolf
• Look for mountain nyala and Menelik’s bushbuck
• Experience giant lobelias and high-altitude wetlands
• Excellent birdwatching opportunities
• Explore one of Ethiopia’s great UNESCO-listed mountain landscapes

At a Glance

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Start/Finish: Addis Ababa

Tour Type: Trekking, hiking, wildlife and camping

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging

Highest trekking areas: Around 4,000–4,200 m depending on route

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Addis Ababa

Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

Meet your representative and transfer to the hotel.

Depending on arrival time, relax or enjoy an optional introductory city tour.

Overnight: Addis Ababa

Day 2 – Addis Ababa → Dinsho

Drive southeast towards Bale Mountains National Park.

Arrive around Dinsho and explore the park headquarters area.

Take a short wildlife walk through the surrounding grasslands and woodland.

Dinsho is one of the best locations for seeing mountain nyala and Menelik’s bushbuck.

Overnight: Dinsho

Approximate elevation: Around 3,200 m

Day 3 – Dinsho → Finch Habera

Begin the main trekking section.

Walk through the Web Valley, following sections of the river and mountain grasslands towards Finch Habera.

Stop near waterfalls and look for wildlife and highland birds.

Trekking: Approximately 5–6 hours

Overnight: Finch Habera Camp

Approximate elevation: Around 3,500–3,550 m

Day 4 – Finch Habera → Wasama

Continue through increasingly high mountain landscapes towards Wasama.

The route passes dramatic valleys and good raptor habitat.

As altitude increases, begin searching for Ethiopian wolves and other Afro-alpine wildlife.

Trekking: Approximately 7–8 hours

Overnight: Wasama Camp

Approximate elevation: Around 3,700 m

Day 5 – Wasama → Garba Guracha

Climb towards the high Wasama area and cross elevated terrain around 4,000 metres.

Continue towards Garba Guracha, one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Bale.

The dark lake lies beneath steep cliffs in a dramatic high-altitude setting.

Trekking: Approximately 7–8 hours

Overnight: Garba Guracha Camp

Approximate camp elevation: Around 3,900 m

Day 6 – Garba Guracha → High Plateau → Delo Mena Area

Leave Garba Guracha and continue across high plateau landscapes.

Depending on the exact trekking route and vehicle-access arrangements, continue towards the southern side of the Bale Mountains and the Delo Mena region.

The scenery changes noticeably as you begin leaving the cold Afro-alpine environment.

Overnight: Delo Mena area or according to confirmed route

Day 7 – Bale Region → Addis Ababa

Begin the return journey towards Addis Ababa.

Enjoy the changing landscapes as you descend from the southeastern Ethiopian highlands.

Arrive in Addis Ababa in the evening.

Overnight: Addis Ababa

Day 8 – Addis Ababa City Tour & Departure

Depending on your international flight time, enjoy a city tour of Addis Ababa.

Possible visits include the National Museum, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Entoto or selected markets and cultural attractions.

Transfer to Bole International Airport for departure.

Tour Includes

• Private ground transportation
• Professional trekking guide
• Local guides where required
• Park entrance fees
• Trekking support staff
• Mules or pack animals where used
• Mule handlers
• Cook and cooking equipment
• Camping tents
• Sleeping mattresses
• Meals during camping section
• Accommodation stated in the package
• Drinking water during the trek
• Airport transfers
• Government taxes

Tour Excludes

• International airfare
• Ethiopian visa
• Travel insurance
• Personal hiking equipment
• Alcoholic and soft drinks
• Tips
• Laundry
• Personal expenses
• Medical and evacuation costs
• Services not specifically stated

Additional Information

Trek Difficulty

Moderate to challenging.

Several days involve 5–8 hours of walking at elevations above 3,500 metres.

Elevation

Dinsho: approx. 3,200 m

Finch Habera: approx. 3,550 m

Wasama Camp: approx. 3,700 m

High Wasama area: around 4,000–4,200 m

Garba Guracha: approx. 3,900 m

Wildlife

Possible species include:

• Ethiopian wolf
• mountain nyala
• Menelik’s bushbuck
• giant mole-rat
• Bohor reedbuck
• numerous raptors and endemic birds

Why Trek Bale Mountains?

Bale Mountains National Park contains the world’s largest intact contiguous Afro-alpine habitat and some of the most important remaining habitat for the Ethiopian wolf.

Its combination of mountain lakes, plateau landscapes, wildlife and forests makes it one of Ethiopia’s outstanding hiking destinations.

Simien Mountains or Bale Mountains?

Choose the Simien Mountains for enormous escarpments, geladas and Ras Dejen.

Choose the Bale Mountains for Ethiopian wolves, Afro-alpine plateaus, mountain lakes and a greater variety of habitats.

Travellers with sufficient time can combine both.