Lying south-east of Ethiopia, Bale Mountains National Park covers 2400 square kilometers (1488 square miles) covering wide range of habitats and ranging in altitude from 1500 to 4377 meters (4920 to 14357 feet) at Tulu Dimtu, the highest point in the southern Ethiopia. The spectacular Harenna escarpment running from east to west divides the area into two major parts. To the north is a high altitude plateau area known as the Sanetti Plateau (4000m) formed of ancient volcanic rocks and dissected by many rivers and streams that have cut deep gorges into the edges. In some places this has resulted in scenic waterfalls and alpine lakes.
The vegetation here varies according to altitude.

The park can be divided into three main zones. Around Dinsho, in the north, there are grass riverine plains, bordered by bands of bushes, particularly sagebrush and St. John’s Wort. Wild flowers, such as Giant Lobelia, Geraniums, ‘red-hot pokers’ and Alcheilla, form carpets of color. Higher up the mountains heather appears either as small bushes or as mature trees.
The second zone, the Sanetti Plateau, is home to typical Afro-Alpine plants, some coping with the extreme temperatures by either remaining very small or becoming large. The best example of the latter is the curious looking Giant Lobelia, whose stems stand high against the skyline. Wild flowers are many and various, the dominant plant being the Helichrysum, or ’everlasting’ flowers that can be seen in many forms. Keep an eye on the indigenous Abyssinia rose, with its lovely subtle scent.

The Bale Mountains National Park in central Ethiopia remains relatively undiscovered by even the most adventurous travellers, who tend to explore the Simien Mountains in the north and the Rift Valley Lakes in the south. This is in part due to poor access and limited accommodation. Now, a new road has cut the journey time from the Rift Valley Road from 10 hours to one, and at the end of it the first high-end lodge has open.

The stream also brings rich wildlife watching: 240 species of bird, mountain nyala (antelope), warthogs and Bale monkeys are in abundance. There’s a research centre with a naturalist and ornithologist who spends the day studying the park’s endemic species, and gives talks to guests in the evenings. Not far away is the Sanetti Plateau, where endangered Ethiopian wolves – 300 of the 500 left in the wild – can sometimes be spotted hunting rodents in the snow.