Bale Mountains National Park could easily be mistaken for a science-fiction novel. And that’s in a country that is consistently otherworldly. The word unique is trite today, but Bale exemplifies its definition. Try to get your head around these facts. UNESCO estimates that more mammal species would become extinct were the habitats of the Bale Mountains to decline, than if any other area of equivalent size on the globe were to disappear. The mountains are home to some of Ethiopia’s signature endemics: mountain nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck, the giant mole rat, mountain Nyala, of course, Africa’s most endangered canid, the Ethiopian wolf. In fact, 26% of the country’s endemic species (including one primate, one bovid, one hare, eight species of rodent, and the entire global population of the giant mole rat) reside in the park. Six of the 18 birds endemic to Ethiopia can be found in the Bale Mountains. The park hosts 3% of the entire African continent’s remaining bamboo forests, plus one of Ethiopia’s most extensive forests. Phew.

Needless to say, Bale is one of my top recommendations in Ethiopia. In Africa. Go now.
It’s a complicated and/or expensive journey to reach it, but the park is without question, worth a three-night stay, maybe more depending on your interests. Luckily the beautiful Bale Mountain Lodge (link), funded in part by AWF, will be awaiting your arrival and the lake-side Sabana Beach Resort (link) is en route, relatively speaking.