Day 1: Drive to Dinsho(from Addis Ababa), Bale Mountains National Park Headquarter – Goba
In the morning, you will drive to Dinsho, via Shashemene (410 Km from Addis). En route, you will make a stop on Awash River and Lake Ziway (best known for its birdlife) to visit aquatic birds. You will have lunch at Shashemene (250 Km from Addis). You will proceed driving and arrive in Dinsho in the afternoon. Upon arrival, you will do all the requirements for short easy trekking at the Bale Mountains National Park HQ. After a brief break, you will have time to make a short hike along the northern part of the park. Later late in the afternoon drive to Goba (40 Km from Dinsho) for overnight stay. On arrival, you will check into a hotel. In the evening, you will have dinner and stay the night at the hotel.

Day 2: Excursion/Day trip to Sanetti Plateau
In the morning, you will have breakfast and drive to the Sanetti Plateau (altitude of 4000 meter, with Afro-alpine Moorland, beautiful wild alpine scenery). Upon arrival in Goba, you will check into a hotel and rest. In the evening, you will have dinner and stay the night at the hotel.

Day 3: Dola Mena: Rift Valley, Camels, Coffee
Around 40km or so to the south, the pristine Harenna forest drops into the dry, dusty rift valley. A trip south from the Lodge to the small town of Dolo Mena takes about an hour. En route one has a chance to see Giant Forest Hog and Vervet monkeys along with myriad butterflies that flutter through the shadows and sunlight. Small temporary camps may be seen, springing up where wild coffee is harvested from the forest; coffee said to amongst the best in the world. At certain times in the year, post rains, the wild coffee can be seen drying at the side of the road. Dolo Mena is a small town, where one can savour the coffee and locally collected wild honey. A camel market is frequently held along with a local market for other traders. Few tourists venture here, and so it is still unspoilt in its daily activities. Approximately 20 km further on from Dola Mena are the Welman River Falls and caves - home to a hermit - which have religious significance. Those able bodied enough can crawl through the caves and pass behind the waterfall onto the river bank opposite. The rift valley also offers an opportunity to spot birds which are indigenous to the dry conditions.

Day 4: Drive back to Addis Ababa via Bekoji – Assela & departure
After breakfast, you will be driving to Addis Ababa. You will stop for lunch at Assela. You will arrive in Addis Ababa late afternoon where you will do some shopping for souvenirs. Finally you will be taken to a farewell dinner depending on your scheduled flight; you will be transferred out to Bole International Airport for return flight back home.

END OF TOUR


The program can be customized upon request.