Experience Highlights
- Duration: Half-day (flexible)
- Type: Group Experience
Your guide and driver will meet you after breakfast at Bale Mountain Lodge. Travel in your private, air-conditioned 4-wheel drive vehicle from Harenna Forest up the escarpment to the Sanetti Plateau, passing through the altitudinally varying vegetation bands as you ascend.
Once up on the plateau, you will drive slowly along the road on mostly flat terrain, examining the fragile Afro-alpine moorlands for resident wildlife, star attraction of which is the Critically Endangered Ethiopian wolf. The largest remaining population of the world's rarest canid, occurs here. Globally the population of these wolves is now around 440 individuals. The wolves are often seen hunting for prey such as the endemic Big-headed or Giant mole-rat, which looks like a comical gopher.
You may also see Starck's hare and an assortment of endemic birds including Rouget's rail; groups of Spot-breasted lapwing and at puddles along the road, Blue-winged goose. Adventurous travellers with a reasonable level of fitness, can enjoy a hike up the 4,377m Tulu Dimtu.
After driving around the Roof of Africa, return back down the escarpment to Bale Lodge where you stay overnight.
Derek Schuurman
Travel Specialist