12/02/2013
About Bale Mountains National Park
The Park was established in 1970 primarily for the protection of the Mountain Niyala and Ethiopian Wolf, and other features including spectacular scenery, an extensive Afro-alpine plateau and moist highland forest.
Location: The Park is located south-east of Addis Ababa at the coordinate between N70 00’ and E39o 45’. The area is within an altitude range of 1500 -4377 m asl. The Head Quarter is situated at 400 km from Addis Ababa near Dinsho town in Bale Zone.
Temperature: as to be expected the temperature falls with increasing altitude. The lowest temperatures occur at night in the clear skies of the dry season and the highest temperatures during the day of the same season. The lowest temperature that has been recorded in the mountains is -150c at night, with the highest recorded temperature 260 c. in contrast, the rainy season is warmer.
Vegetation types: Afro- Alpine Moorland, Heather, Woodland, Gaysay grassland and Herenna forest. Each of these zones has their own characteristic flora and fauna. These vegetation types are primarily demarcated by altitude.
Major wildlife species of the park: the park harbors diverse flora and fauna and center for endemicity, including amphibian.
Fauna: Largely includes Mountain Niyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Ethiopian Wolf, Bohor Reedbuck, and Common (grey) Duiker, Common Jackal, ServalCat, Leopard, Klipspringer, Warthog, Rodents and Birds.
Endemic mammals: Include Mountain Niyala, Starck’s hare, Ethiopian Wolf, Bale monkey, Giant Molerat, Lovat’s Mouse, Nikolaus Mouse, Mahomet’s mouse, White-footed rat, White-tailed rat, Grey-tailed rat, Blick’s grass rat, Scott’s-hairy bat and four species of shrews such as Crocidura baileyi, Crocidura bottegoides, Crocidura harenna and Crocidura Thalia.
Endemic Birds: Includes Abyssinian catbird, Abyssinian Long claw, Yellow-fronted parrot, Spot-brasted plover, Black-headed siskin and Golden-backed woodpecker. Other birds once used to be endemic include Watteled ibis, Blue-winged goose, Rouget’s rail, white-collared pigeon, Black –winged lovebirds, Banded barbet, White –winged cliff-chat, White –backed black tit, Black-headed forest oriole and Thick-billed raven.
Flora: Most notable are Giant lobelias, Kniphofia, Helichrysum splendidum, Hypericum revolutum, Hagenia abyssinca / kosso/ and Juniperus Procera.
Tourist Attractions.
Dinsho Hill: there is a nature designed path toward the hill top. Along the path is pleasant to walk for the massive Hagenia and Juniperus trees, the sightings of Mountain Niyala, Menelik’s bushbuck, warthogs and occasionally, Bohor reedbuck. In the evenings, the song of Abyssinian catbird can often be heard; the Abyssinian ground thrush seen among the undergrowth. The views from the hill top, over the Gaysay valley, are spectacular. The museum offers information on the area and displays an interesting collection.
The Gaysay valley: it is the northern-most area of the Park. It is an area of grassland scrub, swamp and river. It is an area good for sighting pack of wolves, Bohor reedbuck, warthog, mountain Niyala, Menelik’s bushbuck, and birds like Harriers Augur Buzzard, Rouget’s rail and Abyssinian Long claw. Here, one can see Web River flowing through a deep and spectacular gorge.
Sanetti plateau: It is an extensive Plateau where Tullu Deemtu is found. The Plateau is perfect in its beauty, almost lunar. Warm clothes and a waterproof jacket are required as it can be chilly as a result of the strong wind blows. As ascending either side from Goba or Delo Mena to the plateau, discovering vegetation variation with altitude is a rewarding experience. On the Sanetti plateau Ethiopian wolves and rodents including the giant molerat can be seen. Wattles cranes can also be seen in this area. Another magnificent sighting on the plateau is its Pigmented Alpine Lakes. The summit of Tullu Deemtu (4,377 m asl.) is accessible by road, and from this top the full extent of the Afro Alpine ecosystem, including Herenna escarpment can be clearly observed.
Herenna forest: it can be reached through a road traverses Sanetti plateau. The abundance of vegetation here challenges most distinctly the stereotypical images of Ethiopia, and it is the second largest patch of forest in the country. The largest trees include Podocarps, figs, Wild stocks of coffee and Schefflera forming closed canopy. The best way to visit this is to camp in Katach clearing. A portion of the steeper slopes are covered with mountain bamboo. Herenna forest is the best places for viewing the elusive animals, including Bale monkey, Guereza common baboon s, Warthogs, common bushbuck, giant forest hog, bush pigs, Serval cats, gents, civets, porcupines and hyenas. The forest does contain some large carnivores-lion, leopards and hunting dog. The birds are equally elusive such as Abyssinian hill babbler, Abyssinian crimson-wing, Ayre’s hawk eagle, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, black winged lovebird, black-headed forest oriole, Yellow- fronted parrot and Narina’s trogon. The forest also attracts a large number of migrant birds including Palaeartic warblers.
Web Valley: the route is so scenic with a rewarding view of the plain. This is the best place for Wolf watching, and to see rock Hyrax and Starck’s hare- and the Golden eagle hunting them.
Trekking: The Park offer the best trekking in Ethiopia, mainly from Dinsho through Sodota, Garba Guracha, Wasama, Batu to Sante.
Outside the park
Sof Omar caves: the river gorge is spectacular for its depth and for the regular limestone cliffs that line it. Visiting Sof Omar gives one the opportunity of also glimpsing some of the lowland wildlife. These include lesser kudu, Greater kudu, Dik dik and Salvadori’s serin.
Dodola- Adaba trekking: was established specifically to provide alternative sources of income to the people living in local communities. It is one of the best organized ecotourism in the country. It is an excellent place for trekkers and hikers. There is a series of five mountains joined by trails for trekking.
