7-Day Rift Valley and Bale Mountains National Park
Overview
Tour Overview
Ethiopia Safari: Perfect for exploring Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley and Bale Mountains. You'll visit Addis Ababa, relax at Langano and Hawassa lakes, and discover
Day by Day
Itinerary
Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour
Day 1Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be met by an Ethio Wildlife Tours representative and taken to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options: Mount Entoto: Offers the best views of the capital. Institute of Ethiopian Studies: View artifacts from different regions that reflect the history and culture of Ethiopia. National Museum: See the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy. Holy Trinity Cathedral: The burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots, this cathedral is magnificently adorned with carvings, mosaics, and other artistic works. The Mercato: The largest open-air market in Africa. Main Destination: Addis Ababa (City) Accommodation: The Grand Palace Suites-Hotel Luxury hotel located in Addis Ababa (City) Meals & Drinks: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Addis Ababa – Lake Langano (200 km)
Day 2Addis Ababa – Lake Langano (200 km) Addis Ababa – Lake Langano (200 km) After breakfast, you'll drive to the Hara Langano Lodge on the shores of Lake Langano (approx. 4 hours). Hara Langano Lodge is a beautiful eco-lodge nestled within preserved nature. You'll relax on the beach (swimming is possible), take a walk through the lodge, and encounter wild animals like warthogs or olive baboons in front of your bungalow. The lodge offers various activities, including trekking, mountain biking, bird watching, fishing, hippo spotting, and horse riding. Main Destination: Lake Langano Accommodation: Rosetta Marina Beach Resort Mid-range resort located at Lake Langano +2 Photos Meals & Drinks: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Lake Langano – Bale Mountains National Park (250 km)
Day 3Lake Langano – Bale Mountains National Park (250 km) Lake Langano – Bale Mountains National Park (250 km) Morning: You'll drive from Langano via Shashamane to the Bale Mountains National Park headquarters in Dinsho, where you will take a gentle but interesting walk and encounter a variety of animals and birds, particularly the endemic mountain Nyala. Afternoon: You'll continue driving into the Bale Mountain National Park, Ethiopia's second national park, on its way to becoming a UNESCO World Natural Site. You'll explore the highest all-weather road in Africa, leading to the largest moorland tract in Africa, the Senetti plateau. With a little luck, you might spot the endemic Ethiopian Wolf and its favorite prey, the Giant Mole Rat. In addition to the Senetti Plateau, you'll explore the Harena escarpments and their equatorial rainforests. Main Destination: Bale Mountains National Park Best Time To Visit November to February (Little rain) High Season October to January (Park is never busy) Best Weather November to February Wildlife in Bale Mountains NP Ethiopian Wolf Common Mountain Nyala Common Warthog Common Menelik'sBushbuck Occasional Guereza Monkey Occasional Show more Olive Baboon Occasional Bohor Reedbuck Occasional Starck's Hare Occasional Giant Mole-rat Occasional Bale Monkey Rare Giant Forest Hog Rare Golden Jackal Rare Gelada Monkey None Walia Ibex None Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Bale Mountains NP Meals & Drinks: All meals i
Bale Mountains- Full-Day Wildlife Spotting & Walking Adventure
Day 4Bale Mountains- Full-Day Wildlife Spotting & Walking Adventure Bale Mountains- Full-Day Wildlife Spotting & Walking Adventure You'll enjoy a full day in the Bale National Park. The Bale Mountains Lodge is surrounded by wildlife, with marked walking routes for exploring the forest. Activities include bird watching, a trip to the Sanetti Plateau (home to the Ethiopian Wolf), and forest walks where you can see Bale Monkeys, other primates, birds, rare cats, and unusual plants. Main Destination: Bale Mountains National Park Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Bale Mountains NP Meals & Drinks: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Journey from Bale Mountains to Hawassa – 280 km of Scenic Beauty
Day 5Journey from Bale Mountains to Hawassa – 280 km of Scenic Beauty Journey from Bale Mountains to Hawassa – 280 km of Scenic Beauty After breakfast, you'll drive to Hawassa, the capital of the Southern Peoples ' Region (about 5 hours). Known as "The town of endless Love," Hawassa offers relaxation in the 4-star resort owned by famous Ethiopian runner Haile Gebre Selassie. You'll enjoy saunas, steam baths, beauty treatments, and stunning sunsets over Lake Hawassa. Main Destination: Awasa (City) Accommodation: Haile Resort Hawassa Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City) +6 Photos +5 Photos Meals & Drinks: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Hawassa - Yirgalem (40 km)
Day 6Hawassa - Yirgalem (40 km) Hawassa - Yirgalem (40 km) You'll visit the Hawassa fish market early in the morning and then head to Aregash Lodge in Yirgalem, a beautiful nature retreat with its own forest, vegetable gardens, and fruit or chards. Keep an eye out for Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, and a variety of bird species. Don't miss the hyena feeding at dusk near the lodge. Main Destination: Yirga Alem (Town) Accommodation: Aregash Lodge Mid-range lodge located in Yirga Alem (Town) +3 Photos Meals & Drinks: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Yirgalem - Addis Ababa (320 km)
Day 7Yirgalem - Addis Ababa (320 km) Yirgalem - Addis Ababa (320 km) After breakfast, you'll drive back to Addis Ababa (about 6 hours), arriving in the afternoon. A day room is available until 6 pm. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with cultural songs, dances, and traditional food. After dinner, you'll be transferred to Bole International Airport for your departure or back to your hotel if you're continuing your stay in Ethiopia. Main Destination: Addis Ababa (City) Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour) Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Non-alcoholic drinks End of tour (See Getting There for more details)End of tour (See Getting There for more details) Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport. Interested in This Tour? Request a Quote We advise requesting quotes from 3 operators (Learn why) Requests are sent directly to the tour operator If preferred, you can contact the tour operator directly Next: Overview Next: Day by Day Next: Rates Next: Inclusions Next: Getting There Next: Offered By Best price guarantee Your request will be sent directly to the operator If preferred, you can contact the operator directly Next: Request a Quote Request a Quote Disclaimer This tour is offered by Ethio Wildlife Tours, not SafariBookings. This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings. If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates wil
What's covered
Included & Excluded
Included
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
- What is included in this tour
Not Included
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
What travellers say
Verified Reviews
A very good tour operator. Great communication, fair price, and everything was high standard: hotels, cars, and guides. But what I loved most was their helpfulness—when I missed my domestic flight and when I got sick, they helped...
My tour to the Danakil Depression was truly unforgettable. Danakil is one of the most extraordinary places on Earth, and experiencing it with such a professional, attentive, and highly organized team made all the difference. I am very...
I contacted several tour operators in May 2025 hoping to join a group tour of the Simien mountains but since it is a slow tourist season there were none available. Ethio Wildlife were able to organize a private tour for me at a reasonable...
My journey included 3 days in the stunning Simien Mountains, followed by another 3 days exploring the incredible Danakil Depression and 5 Days Omo Valley Tribes, along with a fantastic city tour of Addisabeba The Simien Mountains are...
Great tour through an amazing landscape. Tour was perfectly organized, no complaints. Somewhere my shoes got lost but when I came back in Addes they were waiting for me in the hotel. Their service goes beyond. Thanks for that
Frequently Asked Questions