This morning we will depart early and ascend the Bale massif onto the Sanetti Plateau, which is between 3800m and 4377m above sea level. Once we reach this unique plateau, we will be driving on Africa’s highest road, passing close to the summit of Ethiopia’s second highest mountain, Mount TulluDemtu (4330m). This is an area of high altitude plateaus, broken by numerous spectacular volcanic plugs and peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and rushing mountain streams that descend into deep rocky gorges on their way to the lowlands below. As we ascend into the mountains we will experience changes in the vegetation, directly linked with the climb in elevation, from juniper forests to heather moorlands and alpine meadows.
Our main target here during our tour will be the plateau’s most celebrated resident, the Ethiopian or Simien Wolf, crowned with the unfortunate title of “the world’s rarest canid.” Watching these vibrantly coloured animals, most closely related to the European Timber Wolf, exhibiting their hunting prowess whilst pouncing on Giant Mole Rats (another endemic to the Sanetti Plateau), is surely amongst Africa’s greatest Ethiopia wildlife experiences. We should enjoy excellent photographic opportunities in this unique mountain wonderland. The Bale Mountains contains three distinct eco-regions: the northern plains, bush and woods; the central Sanetti Plateau, with an average elevation of over 4000 metres; and the southern Harenna Forest, known for its mammals, amphibians and birds including many endemic species. The central Sanetti Plateau is home to the largest population of Ethiopian Wolf. Incredibly, the moorlands here are estimated to support an unbelievable biomass of 4,000kg of rodents per hectare! Of special interest is the Giant Mole Rat, a large species that feeds above ground in the daylight and makes hefty craterlike depressions. It only partly emerges from these holes as it feeds around the edges. Later it blocks the entrance with soil and vegetation, and then digs a new crater nearby to commence feeding once again. The large numbers of rodents in turn support not only the healthy Ethiopian Wolf population in the high plateau area, but also numerous spectacular birds of prey. As far as the birds are concerned, we should encounter some of the fantastic highland endemics that occur in the area, including Rouget’s Rail, Chestnut-naped Francolin, Ethiopian Siskin, Spot-breasted Lapwing and Blue-winged Goose.After an incredible day on the plateau, we will descend to our lovely accommodations in the mythical and underexplored Harenna Forest, which is home to an interesting assemblage of large mammals and other Ethiopia wildlife — we stand a chance of photographing the largest pig on earth, the hulking Giant Forest Hog, Menelik’s Bushbuck, the endemic and localized bamboo specialist Bale Monkey and elegant GuerezaColobus. Lion is sometimes heard roaring in the vicinity of the lodge at night, and although our chances of finding such creatures are slim, Spotted Hyaena, African Wild Dog and Leopard were also reported as seen in the forest. These rare sightings also include a recent rumor of a mythical Black Leopard! An unresolved canid has been seen in the area, as has an unfamiliar black adder! Clearly much is still to be discovered in this fascinating forest.
Meal: breakfast /lunch /Dinner
Overnight at Lodge or Camping
