Bale Mountains National Park

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Ethiopia.

To see many of the sought-after Ethiopian endemics, you need to go to Bale Mountains National Park. It is the most reliable place to encounter the Ethiopian wolf, Africa’s most endangered carnivore, and the graceful mountain nyala. The wolves raise their pups communally, and watching the social interactions at a den site is a very special experience.

Ethiopian wolf Common

Gelada monkey None

Walia ibex None

Mountain nyala Common

Bale monkey Rare

Menelik's
bushbuck Occasional

Guereza monkey Occasional

Warthog Common

Olive baboon Occasional

Bohor reedbuck Occasional

Starck's hare Occasional

Giant mole-rat Occasional

Giant forest hog Rare

Golden jackal Rare

Wildlife Highlights

Primate-lovers are in for a treat when visiting Harenna forest, covering the south of the park. You’re likely to see olive baboons and acrobatic guereza monkeys swinging between trees high in the canopy. With a bit more effort, you might also encounter the endemic Bale monkey, which lives in isolated bamboo patches, and was discovered as recently as 1902.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in Bale Mountains National Park is good throughout the year. January to March (the middle and end of the Dry season) is perhaps the best time for seeing wildlife, but the scenery is most beautiful during and after the rains from May to December.