Bale Mountains 3-day tour from Addis Ababa: Wildlife & Sanetti Plateau

Sanetti Plateau, endemic wolves, and the second-highest peak in Ethiopia in one long weekend

A 3-day tour from Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains National Park with round-trip domestic flights, English-speaking guide and mid-range accommodation. Day one flies you to Goba and takes you up to Sanetti Plateau at 4,000 meters to spot endemic Ethiopian wolves in the Afro-Alpine moorland. Day two hikes Dinisho to watch for Menelik's bushbuck and mountain nyala. Day three flies back to Addis Ababa for the National Museum, Entoto Mountain, Merkato market and a farewell dinner with traditional dancers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains Excursion

• Arrive in Addis Ababa early morning
• Take morning flight to Goba
• Excursion to Sanetti Plateau
• See afro-alpine moorland and Ethiopian wolf
• Observe giant lobelia and Tulu Dimtu peak
• Enjoy picnic lunch in Bale Mountains NP

Day 2: Hike and Wildlife Spotting in Dinisho

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Drive to Dinisho headquarters
• Leisurely hike spotting endemic mammals
• Observe various bird species
• Drive back to Goba
• Enjoy picnic lunch in Bale Mountains NP

Day 3: Return to Addis Ababa and City Tour

• Fly back to Addis Ababa
• Visit National Museum
• Explore Entoto Mountain
• Visit Merkato market and Orthodox Church
• Attend farewell dinner with folkloric dancers

The experience

The Bale Mountains rise above 4,000 meters and hold the largest Afro-Alpine habitat in Africa. This tour strings together three days that most visitors skip: a flight from Addis Ababa to Goba, an afternoon excursion to Sanetti Plateau where the air thins and the endemic mammals appear, and a full day hiking the Dinisho area where Menelik's bushbuck and mountain nyala move through the high grassland. The guide is local and speaks English, and the pace lets you move slowly enough to watch for birds: the Blue-Winged Goose, the Wattled Ibis, and a dozen others that nest only at this altitude.

The third day reverses the journey: a morning flight back to Addis Ababa, then a walk through the city's layers. The National Museum holds the fossil remains of Lucy, the hominid skeleton that rewrote human prehistory. Entoto Mountain overlooks the capital from the north. Merkato, the largest open-air market in the country, sprawls across the old quarter in a tangle of stalls and voices. The day ends at a traditional restaurant where you eat injera and watch folkloric dancers perform. The farewell is built in.

Two domestic flights, the guide, all park entrance fees, accommodation in mid-range hotels and meals during the days in the mountains are included. You arrive in Addis Ababa early in the morning and are picked up from your hotel or guesthouse. The tour departs the same day. The altitude on Sanetti Plateau is high, so the itinerary moves at a deliberate pace, but the operator notes the tour suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Car and driver.
• English-speaking local guide.
• two domestic flights between Addis Ababa and Goba.
• all national park entrance fees and licenses.
• mid-range hotel accommodation with twin or double beds.
• meals and water during the days in the mountains.
• farewell dinner with traditional dancers in Addis Ababa on the final evening.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Eyayaw Tours Ethiopia

Is this one for you?This tour is shared with a small group and led by a local guide at a deliberate pace suited to the high altitude, so it works well if you want the mountains explained and the wildlife pointed out rather than navigating on your own. The fixed itinerary and included flights mean the logistics are settled before you arrive. You show up in Addis Ababa and the rest unfolds on schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What wildlife will I actually see on Sanetti Plateau?

The endemic Ethiopian wolf is the main draw on Sanetti Plateau, and the high moorland at 4,000 meters is where they hunt. Giant lobelia plants grow here to 12 meters tall, and the plateau stands under Mount Tulu Deemtu at 4,377 meters, Ethiopia's second-highest peak. The air is thin and the light is clear, but the animals move on their own schedule, so sightings are never guaranteed.

How much time do I spend hiking versus driving on this tour?

Day one is mostly travel: arrival in Addis Ababa, a flight to Goba, then an afternoon excursion to Sanetti Plateau. Day two centers on a leisurely hike around Dinisho, the park headquarters, where you walk the grassland looking for mountain nyala and bushbuck. You drive back to Goba in the evening. Day three is travel again: a morning flight to Addis Ababa, then walking the city's sites on foot.

Do I need to arrange my own flights to Ethiopia, or are they included?

Your international flight to Ethiopia is your own booking. The two domestic flights (Addis Ababa to Goba and back) are included in the tour price and are timed to the itinerary. The operator bases the pricing on arrival by Ethiopian Airlines, so confirm your international carrier when you book.

What is included in the accommodation, and where do I stay in Addis Ababa?

Mid-range hotels with twin or double beds are included for the two nights in Goba and the nights in the mountains. Accommodation in Addis Ababa on your arrival night is not included, so you'll need to book a hotel separately for that first evening or arrange to stay with someone in the city.

Is the guide the same person for all three days?

The tour includes an English-speaking local guide for the full 3 days. The guide leads the hikes, explains the wildlife and the landscape, and accompanies you through Addis Ababa on the final day. A driver operates the vehicle throughout.