Ethiopia

Bale Mountains National Park

WHS Score 3.01 Votes 9 Average 3.67

Bale Mountains National Park covers a variety of landscapes, most notably Africa’s largest area of afro-alpine habitat above 3,000m with glacial lakes and volcanic peaks.

The park has several distinct and unique habitats, such as the Northern Grasslands (Gaysay Valley), Northern Woodlands (Park Headquarters), Afro-alpine Meadows (Sanetti Plateau), Erica Moorlands, and the Harenna Forest (a moist tropical rainforest). It holds endemic mammals such as Mountain Nyala and Bale Monkey, and has the most important remaining population of Ethiopian Wolf. The area serves also as a genetic reservoir for Wild Forest Coffee.

Community Perspective: Wojciech enjoyed the diversity of the landscapes on offer and recommends spending a day or two.

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Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Bale Mountains National Park (ID: 111)
Country
Ethiopia
Status
Inscribed 2023 Site history
History of Bale Mountains National Park
WHS Type
Natural
Criteria
  • vii
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article
  • Oct. 31, 2023 news.mongabay.com — World Heritage Site listing for Ethiopian park leads to eviction of farming community

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Natural landscape: Mountain
Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
View all (14) .
Connections of Bale Mountains National Park
Ecology
  • Lions
    "The nominated property houses globally threatened species and conserves important large mammals, such as Lion" (AB ev)
  • Over 300 bird species
    "363 recorded bird species, out of which 170 are migratory whilst six are endemic to Ethiopia" (AB ev)
  • Critically endangered fauna species
    Harenna Shrew (Crocidura harenna, CR); the Bale Mountains Tree Frog (Balebreviceps hillmani, CR) and the Bale Mountains Frog (Ericabatrachus baleensis, CR) (AB ev)
  • Rainforests
    moist tropical rainforest
  • Endemic Bird Species
    "Bird species richness includes approximately 363 bird species, 18 of which are endemic to Ethiopia." (AB ev)
  • African Wild Dog
    "houses globally threatened species and conserves important large mammals, such as .........the endangered African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus, EN)." (AB eval)
World Heritage Process
Human Activity
  • Coffee
    "The forests of the Bale Mountains serve as a genetic reservoir for Wild Forest Coffee" (AB ev)
  • Honey Collection
    Although not dwelling there permanently, honey gatherers have been active in the Harenna Forest for a long time and continue to do so. (nom file)

    See balemountains.org

WHS on Other Lists
  • Alliance for Zero Extinction
    "The property also stands out due to the presence of thecHarenna Shrew (Crocidura harenna, CR); the Giant Mole Rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, EN); Malcolm’s Ethiopian Toad (Altiphrynoides malcolmi, EN); the Bale Mountains Tree Frog (Balebreviceps hillmani, CR) and the Bale Mountains Frog (Ericabatrachus baleensis, CR), which are only found in the Bale Mountains, leading to the recognition as an Alliance for Zero Extinction site." (AB ev)
  • WWF Global 200
    Terrestrial, Montane Grasslands and Shrublands:(102) Ethiopian Highlands

    See web.archive.org

  • Centres of Plant Diversity
    Af60 Bale Mountains - "Bale Mountains National Park is home to 1,660 documented species of flowering plants, 177 of which are endemic to Ethiopia and 31 exclusively to the Bale Mountains."
Visiting conditions
News
news.mongabay.com 10/31/2023
World Heritage Site listing for Et…
Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.

Community Reviews

Show full reviews
First published: 06/02/24.

Wojciech Fedoruk

Bale Mountains National Park

Bale Mountains National Park (Inscribed)

Bale Mountains National Park by Wojciech Fedoruk

Site visited in January 2024.

It took almost 45 years to finally inscribe this place on the list and I am wondering why. After my visit I think the site definitely has OUV. Anyway, the park administration is so happy with the inscription that already 4 months later there are new billboards advertising Bale as a world heritage site. There is no commemorative plaque or UNESCO logo, or at least I couldn’t find it.

The park is in many respects unique and important for three countries - rivers starting here supply water to Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. And they have something to power them with, because the rainy season here lasts 9 months.

The park is known for its biodiversity - from mixed forests through forests with the spectacularly blooming Hagenia abyssynica species to heathlands and a completely barren landscape in the highest parts. And in the southern part - Harren's Forest - truly tropical vegetation reigns. The fauna is no less rich, only a small part of which we were able to see, and even less of which we were able to photograph.

The symbol of the park is the mountain nyala, a huge antelope that lives in the northern part of the park. It can be seen entering the park through its headquarters in Jinsho, just off the main road from Shashamane to Bale Robe. We visited the reserve in the late afternoon and I do not recommend this solution - we saw a …

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