National Parks Africa » Bale Mountains National Park

The road to the Bale Mountains National Park takes you 250 kilometres (155 miles) on tarmac south down the Rift Valley to Shashamene, and then 150 kilometres (93 miles) due east on a good gravel road across the high wheat-growing plateau and up into the mountain massif. Alternatively you can take the Nazareth road towards Awash, turn south to Asella, then take the gravel road south to the mountains. It is worth doing a circuit, going one way, returning the other, and taking in Awash and Abijatta-Shalla Lakes national parks in the process.

You first encounter the park as you ascend the mountains, travelling along part of its northern boundary. A steep juniper-filled valley, rising through giant heather (Erica arborea) moorlands and topped by volcanic plugs and dykes, forms the gateway to the moun- tains. After climbing to 3,600 metres (11,800 feet), visitors drop into the Gaysay valley and cross the small area of montane grasslands that form the northern extension of the park. The village of Dinsho nestles against the mountains here, and houses the park’s headquarters, campsite, self-help lodge and museum.

Dinsho is located right in the north of the park with the bulk of the mountains lying to the south. To reach these, you can either go by vehicle 20 kilometres (12 miles) south into the Web valley along the Simbirro track, and continue by foot or on horseback to the central peaks area, or you can continue east by vehicle to Goba, the capital of the Bale region. Here the excellent Goba Ras Hotel provides a good base for exploration of the main part of the park.