Today enjoy the upland birdlife, flora and fauna of Bale Mountain National Park which offers wonderful opportunities to view 11 of Ethiopia's 29 endemic bird species (over 260 bird species have been recorded here) as well as over 60 different mammals.
Depart early and ascend the Bale Massif on foot until you reach the high altitude Sanetti Plateau, which ranges between 12,500 and 14,360 ft (3,800 to 4,377 m). As you climb up the mountain you will see the vegetation changing from juniper forests to heather moorlands and alpine meadows, which at certain times of year are covered in an abundance of colourful wildflowers.
The Sanetti Plateau is a birding area of great importance, as it supports seven globally threatened species, including the Thick-billed raven, Wattled ibis, Blue-winged goose and Rouget's rail. It supports nearly all of Ethiopia’s highland biome species and is particularly good for raptor sightings.
This is also the best place to see the park's most celebrated resident - the Ethiopian wolf (also called the Simien fox). Watching these vibrantly coloured animals hunting giant mole-rats (another endemic species) is a truly wonderful wildlife experience. You can also see the endemic Mountain nyala, a magnificent antelope unique to these hills, the endemic Bale Mountains vervet monkey and other sepcies such as the Menelik bush buck, warthog, reed buck and gray duiker. If you are very fortunate, you may see the rare black-maned lion.