Bale Mountains Tour: 6 Days with Ethiopian Wolves

6-Day Bale Mountains & Rift Valley Journey

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6 Days / 5 Nights Private & customizable Easy to moderate

Tour overview

Discover one of Africa’s great wildlife landscapes on this six-day private journey from Addis Ababa to the Bale Mountains and the Rift Valley.

Begin with an introduction to Ethiopia’s capital on a private city tour, followed by our walking food tour through Addis Ababa’s neighbourhood restaurants.

Fly south to Robe and travel into Bale Mountains National Park with a specialist nature guide. The park has four distinct eco-zones, from highland grassland to the high-altitude moorland of the Sanetti Plateau and the cloud forest of Harenna. It is the last stronghold of the endangered Ethiopian wolf, with around half of the world’s remaining wolves living here, as well as mountain nyala and many endemic birds.

After two nights in the mountains, travel to the lakeside town of Hawassa before returning to Addis Ababa through the scenic Rift Valley lakes.

Tour Highlights

Private Addis Ababa city tour and walking food tour
Scenic flight from Addis Ababa to Robe
Search for the endangered Ethiopian wolf on the Sanetti Plateau
Mountain nyala and endemic birds
Explore the Harenna Forest
Relax by Lake Hawassa and visit its fish market
Drive through the Rift Valley lakes

Good to know

The Sanetti Plateau lies at around 4,000 metres, one of the highest plateaus in Africa. Days can be bright and sunny, but mornings and nights are cold, so bring warm layers, a hat and a waterproof jacket.

How we plan Bale trips

We reach the park by flying to Robe or by the main road from the Rift Valley side, and we check the route with local contacts before every trip.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, Addis Ababa City Tour and Food Tour

Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel to refresh.

At around 9:30 AM, begin a private city tour. It normally includes Mount Entoto, the National Museum (home of Lucy), Shola Market and Holy Trinity Cathedral. Your guide will share practical tips and a few useful Amharic words. The timing is flexible, and you can take a short break before the evening tour.

From 4:00 PM, join our walking food tour, using Ethiopian cuisine as a window into Ethiopian culture. Expect 3–4 stops, so come hungry.

Overnight: Addis Ababa

Day 2: Fly to Bale and Cross the Sanetti Plateau

Take a morning flight from Addis Ababa to Robe, where your Land Cruiser and specialist Bale Mountains guide will be waiting.

Drive into Bale Mountains National Park and along the length of the park, crossing the Sanetti Plateau at around 4,000 metres. The drive is spectacular, so we allow plenty of time for wildlife spotting along the way.

Continue to your lodge in the Harenna Forest, deep in the wilderness.

Overnight: Bale Mountains

Day 3: Sanetti Plateau and Harenna Forest

Enjoy a slow morning at the lodge, then spend the day exploring the Sanetti Plateau on foot, using the vehicle to move between the best areas.

Look for Ethiopian wolves, mountain nyala and endemic birds, and learn about the park’s four distinct eco-zones. Your head guide will shape the day around conditions and the latest wildlife sightings.

Overnight: Bale Mountains

Day 4: Drive to Hawassa

After breakfast, drive to the lakeside town of Hawassa, a journey of about five hours.

After a late lunch, spend the afternoon relaxing at your resort by the lake.

Overnight: Hawassa

Day 5: Hawassa to Addis Ababa via the Rift Valley Lakes

After breakfast, visit Lake Hawassa and its lively fish market.

Then drive north through the Rift Valley, passing a chain of lakes and stopping near Ziway along the way. The drive back to Addis Ababa takes about five hours.

Overnight: Addis Ababa

Day 6: Departure

Transfer to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport for your departure flight.

Included

Domestic flight from Addis Ababa to Robe
Private Land Cruiser and experienced driver
Specialist Bale Mountains nature guide
Bale Mountains National Park fees
Private Addis Ababa city tour
Addis Ababa food tour
Accommodation: bed and breakfast in Addis Ababa, full board in the Bale Mountains and Hawassa
Airport transfers
Drinking water

Not included

International flights
Visa
Insurance
Other meals and drinks
Tips

Traveller reviews

What our travellers say

Tripadvisor ★★★★★

“Took a 12-day trip with three friends all around Ethiopia with New Ethiopia Tours and would highly recommend them. Bre was professional, communicative, and easy-going. He was willing to work with us to fulfill all our requests, to pivot when unexpected issues popped up, and was just a generally great person to have on our trip with us. He went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing trip even when the weather and health issues had other plans for us. Throughout the trip, I felt safe and respected. This was my first time in Ethiopia and I am glad I went with Bre and New Ethiopia Tours. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to book a tour in Ethiopia.”

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Google ★★★★★

“Great car, great guide, and customised the trip for me. Thank you very much.”

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“Recently spent 9 days visiting Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gonder, Simien Mountains and Lalibela, all organised by New Ethiopia Tours.

Birhanu and the team took care of every detail, were able to answer any questions and attentive to any special requests eg. vegetarian meals! Accommodation was all a high standard, transport all felt very safe and was impressed by how smooth everything went.

A special mention to our guide for the whole trip Henok, who was exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of this unique and fascinating country!

A reliable and professional tour operator and would highly recommend!”

“The guid Ebraham was very helpful and tried his best to make my trip wonderful. I would recommend him for everyone.”

“I recently spent almost two weeks in Ethiopia (Addis, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, and the Danakil Depression). Everyone from accommodation, currency exchange, local guides/transportation, and domestic flights was organised by Birhanu and his team. I was very impressed at how smoothly everything went, and Birhanu was always extremely helpful and communicative. Would absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to visit Ethiopia.”

“Title: Birhanu and Solomon - The Perfect Guides to Ethiopia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re planning a trip to Ethiopia, Birhanu and Solomon from New Ethiopia Tours are exactly who you want leading the way. They’re incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and generous, making every moment of the journey memorable.

From the start, they made us feel welcome, like we were exploring with friends rather than guides. Their deep understanding of Ethiopia’s culture and history, paired with their warm sense of humor, kept the trip both educational and fun.

Whether it was helping us navigate bustling markets, sharing fascinating stories, or going out of their way to ensure everything ran smoothly, they truly went above and beyond. Each stop felt thoughtfully planned, yet they still managed to keep things flexible and relaxed.

If you want a seamless and enriching experience, Birhanu and Solomon are the perfect choice. Highly recommended!”

“Very good experience with this local tour operator. Very reattive to my messages and professional during and after the booking Process i did the city tour and dankil depression. Happy for the services and timing. I reccomend this company as reliable and organised. Thanks”

“Thanks to Mule and Birhanu, we had an amazing experience in Addis and the surrounding areas. They helped us truly connect with the people, landscapes, and local customs in a way we could never have done on our own. They’re super professional, friendly, and know every little corner. If you’re thinking of exploring Ethiopia for real, don’t hesitate—reach out to them. Booking their services was the best decision of our trip. Highly recommend!”

“It was such a wonderful experience! The tour guides are very elaborate and patient with the different questions. They were also recommended very nice restaurants for us 👌🏾”

“We were honored to have had an amazing and hospitable tour guide experience during SHAPE Africa event. Birhanu is amazing. He takes good care of you, ensuring that everything goes smoothly and eloquently.”

6-Day Bale Mountains & Rift Valley Journey