Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How much experience in horse riding is necessary?
Many of our visitors have never ridden a horse before and come back highly satisfied with their newly acquired skills. It takes only minutes to learn the essentials for being able to let oneself be carried by a horse. Trotting and galloping can be avoided to make you feel safe. Otherwise you can still opt for walking which is just as fast as riding but rather more exhausting. For groups it is a practical option to take fewer horses than there are members for some to walk and some to ride alternatively.
- For how many days should we stay?
Only one or a couple of nights can be a pleasure in the Bale Mountains if you are planning on staying at the Dinsho lodge or in Goba and making day trips to enjoy the sights and splendours of the park. For foot and horse trekkers, anywhere from 1 or more nights can be spent in the mountains. If you have enough time, then spending every night in a each of the eight wilderness camps makes for a wonderful journey, in which case the trek will last for 8 nights and 9 days. The minimum should be two days with one night spent in a wilderness camp of your choice. Alternatively you can stay in the Dinsho lodge for the duration of your visit in the park and make day trips to different corners of the park.
- Do the guides speak foreign languages?
The guides speak good English as a foreign language well enough to be able to communicate with you. Some basic knowledge of English is required on your side.
- Can we go for a mountain trip on our own without guide?
Even if you buy our trekking map and have a GPS with you for navigation it is not possible to set out on a trek without a guide (nor is it recommended). Security is not a problem; however, hiring of a guide from Nyala Guides Associations is compulsory. The role of the guide is to guide and help visitors interact with assistants and local people (who do not all speak English), see to the improvement of their services, sort out with them eventual complaints and cater as much as possible for any unforeseen needs.
- Is it possible to see wild animals?
The Bale Mountains are home to a variety of wild animals and sightings of many of these species (the endemic mountain nyala, Ethiopian wolf, Menelik’s bushbuck, colobus monkeys and many more) are virtually guaranteed. If you are lucky there is a possibility of spotting leopard, lion, wild dog and Bale monkey in the Harenna forest.
- How soon do we have to make bookings?
The facilities and guides are used to full capacity during the peak seasons of Christmas and Easter. At all other times booking is not really required. If you arrive impromptu in Dinsho during the afternoon all arrangements can be made for the next day.
- What kind of eating places are there in Dinsho town?
There are many local restaurants in Dinsho offering the standard range of Ethiopian dishes at a very low price. Otherwise come prepared to cook your own food at the Dinsho lodge or campsite. Bottled water can be purchased in the shops in town.
- Apart from the mountain trips what else can we do there?
Day walks or horseback rides are easily undertaken around the Dinsho lodge itself or into the Gaysay Valley where wildlife is abundant and easily seen in the grasslands and woodlands. Mountain trekking can be combined with trout fishing or trips to places further afield such as Sof Omar cave, the breathtaking Gassera Gorge and the Holy Shrine of Diree Sheikh Hussein.
- Is it possible to trek in BMNP combining the Adaba-Dodola trekking routes?
Adaba-Dodola Eco tourism trekking and Bale mountains National park are located in the same chain of mountains. The mountain huts in Adaba-Dodola stretch all the way to Dinsho (The Bale Mountains National Park Head Quarter) it is possible to make a combined trekking route in either way. Be aware that in all cases it needs arrangements in advance with either the Nyala Guides Association office at Dinsho, Park Head quarters or the Adaba-Dodola tour Guides office.
- Is it possible to Drive to Harar from Bale?
It is possible to drive to Harar from Bale. A new road inaugurated in December, 2007 leads from Sheik Hussein to Mechara where it links up with the main road to Harar.
- Is it possible to drive onward to Negele Borena?
It is also possible to drive on to Negele Borena, the road going from Goba through Delo Mena to Genale where the localized endemic Prince Ruspoil`s turaco is most easily seen. And onto Negele Borena, or vice versa, is a wonderful trip
Visitor Terms in the Bale Mountains National Park
1.Payment is to be made directly to the service providers, but you may arrange with the local tour guide to handle it for you. All prices are expressed in Ethiopian Birr
| Park Entrance Fee | |
| International visitors | 50/48 hours |
| (under 12 years) | 25/48 hours |
| Residents | 30/48 hours |
| (under 12 years) | 10/48 hours |
| Camping Ground Fee | |
| International visitors | 20/48 hours |
| (under 12 years) | 10/48 hours |
| Residents | 10/48 hours |
| (under 12 years) | 5/48 hours |
| Vehicle Entrance | |
| Up to 5 seats | 10/48 hours |
| 6-12 seats | 15/48 hours |
| Over 12 seats | 20/48 hours |
| Local Guide | 120. – per day |
| Horse assistant | 50. – per day |
| Riding horse with gear or pack horse | 35. – per day |
2.Hiring of a guide is compulsory from Nyala Guides Associations. The role of the guide is to guide and help visitors interact with assistants, and local people (who all do not speak English), see to the improvement of their services, sort out with them eventual complaints and cater as much as possible for any unforeseen needs.
3.Food and accommodation of the guide and assistant(s) are not at the charge of the visitors. Only if visitors decide to rent horses, the horse to be used by the guide is at their charge.
4.If horses are taken, they have to be ordered at the latest the day before
5.Generally, the horses are taken back to their place of origin after arrival at the final destination. If your plan is to be fetched by your own car from somewhere other than your place of origin (ie. Sanetti plateau or the Harenna forest) it will take two to three days to return the horses to their original place. For taking horses back at least one assistant per two horses is needed, and this needs to be paid for in advance.