The idea came from my cycling mate, Jan Bakker. This was our third year in a row doing a bikepacking trip around this time, so I immediately agreed to join. It was also a great chance for me to gain more experience in both bikepacking and trekking, especially with someone as experienced as Jan.
The Bale Mountains are located in southeastern Ethiopia, in the Oromia Region, within Bale Mountains National Park—approximately 400–450 km from Addis Ababa (a 10–12 hour drive, depending on the route and road conditions). The elevations reach over 4,000 meters, special preparation was required, both in terms of equipment and physical conditioning. After several detailed phone calls, we created a plan and a schedule for each day in the mountains.
March falls in the dry season, which allowed us to reach remote parts of the mountains by bike—far away from cell signal and the comforts of civilization.
This is a 5-day bikepacking trip with a day of trekking to the second highest summit in Ethiopia (Tulu Dimtu, at 4,377 meters). See details in the next section.
Day 1 Dinsho to Finch Habera Camp
Our journey began in Addis Ababa, where the team gathered and stocked up on food and essentials. With bikes strapped onto a rugged Land Rover, we headed out toward Dinsho Camp. Darkness was closing in as we arrived so we set up our tents and called it a night.
Day 2 Finch Habera to Gunde Mtn
The night was crisp cold, a reminder that we were truly in the highlands. As the first light broke over the horizon, we packed up our tents, prepped the bikes, and hit the road toward Finch Habera Camp. The ride was smooth. The ride took us through some truly beautiful and wild terrain. When we got to the camp, we set up our tents, collected water from a nearby spring, cooked a simple dinner with coffee and watched the sunset. As night came, we sat by the fire for a while soaking in the quiet of the mountains before going to sleep.
Day 3 Finch Habera to Goba
It was another cold night, with frost covering our tents by morning. After coffee and a quick breakfast, we set off on our bikes across rough and rocky terrain, heading to the base of Mount Gunde (4070m). We left the bikes at the bottom and hiked to the summit. The climb was tough, but we made it. Standing at the top felt amazing. After the climb, we made our way back down and cycled back to Finch Habera Camp. It was a physically exhausting day with almost an empty tank. After dinner we crawled into our tents, and didn’t wake up for 12 hours.
Day 4 Back to Goba Camp
I was on my way to fetch water from a nearby spring when I noticed Jan standing still, pointing silently toward the hillside. He signaled for me to stay quiet. At first, I wasn’t sure what he was looking at—then I saw them. A pack of Ethiopian wolves, maybe 15 in total, had come near our camp. They were no more than 30 to 50 meters away. The moment felt surreal. We stood in silence, barely breathing, just watching. It was one of those moments that remind you why you come to places like this. A true privilege to witness wildlife like that, up close in their natural habitat.
We packed up camp and rode our bikes all the way to Goba. It was a full day of riding—an amazing experience through beautiful landscapes, remote villages, and some very tough roads. As the sun began to set, we arrived in Goba—dusty, hungry, and ready to rest.
A cold St. George beer was the perfect recovery after a long day in the saddle. We had a big dinner, shared stories from the ride and called it a night.
Day 5 Sanetti Plateau Camp to Tulu Dimtu 4377m and to Goba
This was the most demanding day of the trip. I rode from the Sanetti Plateau all the way to the highest point—Tulu Dimtu, standing at 4,377 meters. The climb was tough, and at some sections, we had to hike our bikes due to the steep and rough terrain. But the views from the summit made every effort worth it. After a short break to catch our breath and take it all in, we began the long descent back to Goba. The ride down was thrilling but still challenging. By the time we reached the town, we were ready for dinner and rest, completely filled with the satisfaction of an incredible adventure. We spent the night in Goba, reflecting on the journey before heading back to Addis Ababa the next morning.
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