Gada Great Run Tours of oromia

Trekking to bale mountain national park with sof umar caves

Duration 10 days

Tour Highlight-The Bale Mountains National Park is the largest area of Afro-alpine habitat in the whole of the continent. It is a home for various flora and fauna species. It is home to high mountains, dense forests and many features.
Generally the park is home of the big five mammals and many endemic fauna and flora species with the largest ecosystem in Africa. Not far from Bale Mountains is one of the world’s most spectacular and extensive underground caverns: the Sof Omar cave system. The web river, which sources from the Bale Mountains National Park, penetrates the caves year round, offering a magnificent view to the visitors. Sof Omar is an extraordinary natural phenomenon of breathtaking beauty. At 15.1 kilometres long, Sof Omar Cave is the longest cave in Ethiopia and the largest system of caves in Africa, through which the Weib River flows.
Day 01: Arrival Addis Ababa
Up on arrival at Bole international airport and met by your representatives and transfer to hotel. After check in to hotel, you will have a city tour of Addis. It includes; the newly opened Unity, Entoto/ Mount panoramic view point at the highest peak in Addis with an altitude of 3200 meter above sea level and Sheger parks, National Museum which is the home of the famous complete hominid fossil remain of Lucy dates 3.2 million years back,Trinity Cathedral, a beautiful church with a baroque style of European architecture unique to both Ethiopia and Africa, Ethnographic Museum and Merkato (the largest open air market in Africa). Overnight in your hotel

Day 2: Addis-Ethiopian Rift Valley – Dinsho

After breakfast drive through Ethiopian Great Rift Valley en-route enjoying the beautiful Rift Valley Lakes and the spectacular mountain scenery. The rest of the day, walk around the Juniper forest around the park headquarter and explore the area where high concentration of the Bale Mountains Nayal, Minilik Bush Buck and other mammals are found. Overnight camping /Lodge

Day3: Dinsho – Geysay Valley – Dinsho

Trekking time: 5-6 hrs. Trek to Geysay Valley, to the northerly extension of the park. Here, while trekking in the indigenous forest, it’s possible to spot the endemic Minilik Bush Buck and Mountain Nyala and other mammals including the endemic Ethiopian Wolf. Overnight camping/Lodge

Day 4: Dinsho – Weib Valleys-Fincha Abera

Trekking time: ~6 hrs. Trek and pass through the stunning Weib Valley and the finally reach at the beautiful waterfall of Fincha Abera. Overnight camping

Day 5: Fincha ábera-Merero-Wasmea- Garba Guracha

Trekking time: 8 hrs. Trek beneath the peaks of Merero; see and taste the strange mineral springs before making the steep ascent out of the head of the valley onto the Sanette Plateau. Climb Batu (4203 m), and then trek on across the arms of the Batu horseshoe, to camp beside lovely Garba Guracha Lake-set beneath towering cliffs in the head of the Tegona Valley. Overnight camping

6: Garba Guracha – Sanetti Plateau- Goba

We trek for 5 hrs to the highest peak in the Bale Mountains, Tullu Deemtu (4377m, 14357ft) which is part of the Sanetti Plateau. The vistas are simply unbelievable and so photogenic. Here you will find small alpine lakes and typical afro-alpine vegetation that includes the Giant Lobelia and shrubs such as ‘Everlasting’. Vistas reach out to the strange pinnacles of Chorchora Peak and across the sheer-sided Tegona River Gorge. There are views to the steep-sided volcanic plug of Konteh Tullu and the long, craggy ridges of Mount Batu. The car will meet us here and drive us down to Goba town and overnight in hotel/lodge

Day 7: Goba- Harena-Goba

Morninig, drive to Harena. The Harenna Forest is one of the few remaining natural forests in the country. The Harenna Forest is known for its mammals, amphibians and birds, including many endemic species. The Harenna Forest was once habitat to packs of the endangered Painted Hunting Dog, Lycaon pictus. Overnight in your hotel/lodge
Day8: Drive to Sof Omar

After breakfast drive to the spectacular largest underground caves in Africa. Inside the Sof Omar caves, the only living creatures arc bats and fish. Crocodile are to be found in the river nearby but, fortunately, seem to shun the caves themselves. The countryside abounds with wildlife – dik-dik and kudu, serval cat, rock hyrax, giant tortoises, snakes, and lizards, as well as more than fifty species of birds. Early in the afternoon drive to Goba. Overnight in your hotel
Day 9: Goba- Langano