Bale Mountain National Park

Day 1: Addis Ababa To Shashemane. On the way to Shashemane we will visit Debre Zeit and see the beautiful crater lakes. We will eat lunch at Ziway Lake and then proceed to Shashemane. In Shashemane we will visit the Rastafarian Community and their museum of Rastafari culture. We will spend the night at the beautiful Zion Train Lodge, owned by one of Shashemane’s Rastafarian families.

Day 2: Shashemane to Dinsho. We will visit with the Arsi Oromo tribe on the wy to Dinsho. After arriving in Dinsho, we will visit Bale Mountain National Park. It is one of Ethiopia’s most diverse parks in terms of fauna. Here you can see Mountain Nyalas, Gazelles, Baboons, and many species of birds. We will stay overnight at Dinsho Lodge in the Bale Mountains.

Day 3: Dinsho to Sof Omar Caves. Departing from Bale, we will stop for breakfast in Robe and continue on to the caves. We will spend the night at Sof Omar Caves.

Day 4: Sof Omar Caves. Today we will visit the famous caves or in the Amharic language, Washa. The journey is a 16km hike from the campsite, thru the caves and back to the camp. Camping at Sof Omar campsite once again.

Day 5: Sof Omar to Goba. After the drive from Sof Omar, you will arrive in Goba at the majestic Wabe Shebele Hotel where you can rest after a long day.

Day 6: Goba to Dolamena. We will travel on the Highest All weather road in Africa, The highest elevation we will reach is 4100 meters above sea level. On the way we will see the Sanetti Plateau and Herenna Forest where if you are lucky you just might glimpse Lions.

Day 7: Dolamena To Negele Borana.

Day 8: Negele Borena to Salt Lake

We wil visit the town of Wechile which is inhabited by the Borana tribe. After that, we will continue to the famous Salt lakes there. We will watch the beautiful sunsets here over the incredible termite mounds which rise to over 3 meters.

Day 9: Salt Lake to Yabello. After spending the night at the Salt Lake, we will learn about the Borena tribe and how have been extracting salt from it for millenia. It is a two hour hike to the lake and Borena Caves. Additionally, we will visit the Singing wells of the Borena tribe. We spend the night in Yabello town.

Day 10: Yabello To Wondo Genet. Today we will visit a coffee plantation and the UNESCO world heritage site of Tuttafella. We will also visit the Gedeo tribe before relaxing in the exhilarating and naturally occurring hot springs of Wondo Genet. We will spend the night in the town of Wondo Genet.

Day 11: Wondo Genet to Addis Ababa. We return to Addis from Wondo Genet with a lunch at the beautiful Lake Langano, One of the nicest Rift Valley lakes.