Location: Oromia Region Map
Area: 2220 km²
Bale Mountains National Park is a biosphere preserve in Oromia Region in South Central Ethiopia. You can get here by taking a bus from Addis Ababa, Ethiopian capital, to Robe, largest city in the region. It costs about 48 Birrs and over 12 hours of glamorous ride without air condition. Additionally it is possible to rent 4 by 4 in Bale Mountains National Park, but you have to know all the gas stations in the region. They are very rare and somewhat strange looking. It covers an area of 2220 km². This protected reserve contains over 280 species of birds and over 60 species of mammals. Many are endemic to the region. Bale Mountains National Park is one of the few national parks that where you can come and fish for several species of trout that are abundant in the rivers. Bale Mountains National Park contains several ethnic groups of indigenous people that follow predominantly Islam. Other faiths include Orthodox Christians, Protestants and traditional pagan cults.