Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the Sanetti Plateau and down into the Harenna Forest while a 4km side road brings you to
Tullu Deemtu's summit.
Whether you're driving or riding the bus, it's best to leave early; pay park fees in Din-
sho the day before. The long climb takes about 30 minutes from Goba and if you reach the
plateau by 7am, you're almost guaranteed to see Ethiopian wolves while they are out
searching for food. They're also usually visible from 3pm to 5pm.
Guides aren't needed here, unless you plan to get out and walk, but they're good at
spotting wolves so you may want to bring one anyway.
Trekking
Most trekking is fairly gentle and undemanding, following well-trodden paths. But don't
forget to factor in the altitude, and review the Safety Guidelines for Trekking (
Click here
) and Responsible Trekking (
Click here
)
boxed texts before lacing up. The routes in-
cluded here are just recommendations. Your guide can put together a trek of any length to
any place.
PLANNING
Entry fees must be paid and treks arranged at
park headquarters
( 0221-190758;
www.balemountains.org
; admission Birr90, vehicles Birr20; 8.30am-5.30pm)
, which
sits 1km from Dinsho village. All fees are good only for a single day (not the normal 24
hours) and include entry to the small
museum
( 8.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri)
. A new
trekking map and the dated
Bale Mountains: A Guidebook
are available at the museum or
from your guide. There are banks in all three gateway towns, but no ATMs.
A few stores in Dinsho and Robe sell the basics (instant noodles, pasta, rice, tomato
paste, canned sardines, jam, biscuits etc), so if you're planning elaborate menus stock up
in Awasa or Addis Ababa. Guides supply their own food (as do the horse handlers), but
they'll often agree to be your cook if you feed them. Professional cooks can be hired for
Birr150 per day. Water is available in various places on the mountain, but it should be
treated.
Some guides hire out tents, sleeping bags and camping stoves, but there aren't many to
go around so it's best to bring your own. They can also fix you up with rods for trout fish-
ing.
GUIDES, HORSES & HANDLERS
Organising the 'team' (guide, horse and horse handler) is done through the
Nyala Guide
Association
( 8.30am-6.30pm)
at park headquarters and should be arranged the day
before you plan to start. Guides for anything other than a stroll around the headquarters
are compulsory and cost Birr250 per day. They have a good reputation.
