Trekking and Wildlife
at Bale Mountains
Paul Simonite writes:
We both enjoyed every minute of the tour and will recommend it as a great trip for all ages.
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Julie and I were looking for a different holiday to celebrate my 60th
birthday and found it in a two week guided cultural tour of the Omo Valley, Bale Mountains and Rift Valley
Lakes.
The tour was operated by Eskinder Hailu's "Highwaytours" company. We were
driven throughout by a very pleasant and competent driver called Yared and our welfare was overseen by a
thoughtful and efficient guide called Girma.
Supplementary to this, local specialist guides were provided to enhance
our experience. The tour gave us a brief but thorough insight into the different peoples and landscapes that
make up this region of Southern Ethiopia.
Our experience was further enhanced by Girma's ability to communicate with
all of the different tribes with whom we came into contact and nothing was too much trouble for him. He did
much of our negotiating and all of our bookings; handling money matters and social interaction with
ease.
We both thoroughly enjoyed this tour and would heartily recommend the tour
and crew to anyone looking for an out of the ordinary holiday.
Ethiopia is a vibrant and exciting country but visitors should be aware
that sanitation is not yet a priority in many areas and the use of toilets can be challenging to say the least.
It is also a very large country and two weeks can only brush the surface of all it has to offer.
In conclusion, we wholeheartedly recommend Eskinder Hailu and his
"Highwaytours" company for your Ethiopian experience. Read the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Paul Simonite & Julie Catterall
Caithness,
Scotland.
Places Visited Oct 29 - Nov 11, 2010:
Addis Ababa, Rift Valley Lakes, Omo Valley Tribes, Bale Mountains
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10 Days and 9 Nights
Bale Mountains is the best location for viewing mammals and birds unique to Ethiopia, being the largest alpine
habitat in the whole of the African continent.
It gives the visitor opportunities for unsurpassed mountain walking, horse trekking, scenic driving
and to see a wide variety of endemic mammals and birds.
Day 1 Arrival in Addis Ababa:
A welcoming reception by Highway Tours and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 Drive via Debrezeit:
We journey to a series of crater lakes where you will enjoy viewing the many species of birds before proceeding to
the lakes of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Zewai is rich in varieties of water birds as are the lakes and parks of
Shala and Abyata. You end the day at your hotel in Langano.
Day 3 Drive to Dinsho:
Headquarters of the bale mountains national park is where your trekking begins to the Web and Wollo Valleys, the
Finchaya Habera waterfall before reaching camp at Mararo.
Day 4 Wasama Valley:
We trek the Wasama valley to the Sanetti plateau with its giant molerats, visiting the mineral springs at Worgona
before camping in the Shaiya Valley.
Day 5 Mt Batu:
We continue the trek to Mt Batu for terrific views of birds of pray, Lammergeyers, short eared and cape eagle owls
and buzzards. Then to the very picturesque camp site in the Tagona valley under the sheer cliffs beside the Garba
Guracha with camping overnight.
Day 6 Crane Lakes:
Our onward trek takes you to the Crane lakes known for their water birds including the crane. Also recognised as
one of the best spots to see the endemic Ethiopian wolf.
Day 7 Tullu Deemtu:
Trekking on to Tullu Deemtu you will have good views over the Harena forest to the south before boarding your
vehicle to Goba Dolomena.
Day 8 Drive to Wondogenet:
We drive you to the popular hot spring resort "Wondo genet" where you will be able to relax and view many birds
like the yellow fronted parrot, Hemprichs, crowned hornbills, lesser honey guide and others.
Day 9 Drive to Addis:
We stop over for a lunch break and an en-route visit at Sodore, a popular resort. Here you can enjoy the Olympic
size swimming pool, the beautiful scenery of the Awash River and Nazreth city. Then you will enjoy a farewell
dinner party organized by Highway Tours in Addis Ababa.
Day 10 Departure:
Last minute shopping in Addis Ababa and departure to the airport.
Prices start from $135 (USD) per person, per day, depending on time of year and whether persons are
sharing or non-sharing.
Seasonal and group discounts are also available, as are tours customized to your exact requirements
using our Tour Enquiry Form.
Or for more details of this tour or other available tours download one of our brochures at
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