Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
afternoon the fog can last for days. Negative temperatures are normal at night on the
Sanetti Plateau, whose name means 'Where strong winds blow' in Oromo.
The park stretches over 2400sq km and ranges in altitude from 1500m to 4377m. It
covers the largest area above 3000m in Africa. The Harenna Escarpment splits the park in
two, running fracture-like from east to west. North of the escarpment lies the high-altitude
plateau known as the
Sanetti Plateau
(4000m), which is dotted with several peaks, in-
cluding Tullu Deemtu (4377m), the second highest in Ethiopia. To the south, the land falls
away from the plateau, and a thick heather belt gives way to the 4000-sq-km Harenna
Forest.
Ecology
The park can be divided into three main ecological zones. The northernmost area, the
Gaysay Grassland, near the park headquarters at Dinsho, consists of grassy, riverine plains
and bushland. From 2500m to 3300m, woodland of mainly
Hagenia abyssinica
and
Juni-
perus procera
is found. The abundant wildflowers in the area include geranium, lobelia
and alchemilla. Higher up, montane grassland gives way to heather, which here rarely
grows tall.
The second zone, the Sanetti Plateau, is home to the continent's largest swathe of Afro-
alpine plants, some of which have adapted to the extreme conditions by either remaining
very small or becoming very large. The best known is the curious-looking giant lobelia
(Lobelia rhynchopetalum),
which can soar to 9m in height. The silver
Helichrysum
('ever-
lasting' flowers) are the dominant wildflowers. Keep an eye out for the indigenous
Abyssinian rose.
The third habitat, the moist, tropical Harenna Forest, is the second-largest remaining
forest in Ethiopia, and its only cloud forest. It's little explored and scientists are still re-
vealing new species. It's home to some enormous podocarpus and fig trees and wild cof-
fee still grows in their shadows. At its highest reaches, around the Harenna Escarpment,
the giant heather stands, with twisted trunks draped in 'old man's beard' lichens and thick
moss, and with cloud swirling around, the forest is straight out of a Grimm brothers
fairytale.
Wildlife
Seventy-eight mammal species reside here, but none excites like the Ethiopian wolf;
sightings are almost guaranteed on the Sanetti Plateau. The rare mountain nyala is also
likely to be seen. Other common sightings include Menelik's bushbucks, Bohor reed-
bucks, grey duikers, spotted hyenas, warthogs and black-and-white colobus. The area
