
Semen Mountain Red fox
No list of things to do in Ethiopia can fail to acknowledge the country’s bounteous wildlife, including opportunities to get ‘up close and personal’ with endangered species.
A visit to the Sanetti Plateau in the Bale Mountains National Park provides the best chance of seeing an Ethiopian wolf, whose numbers have dwindled to around 500 in the wild. The area is also home to equally endangered black-maned lions, Honey Badgers and various species of monkeys. Keep your eyes out for Bleeding Heart Monkeys (the gelada baboon).
Exploring the Bale Mountains involves a 200-mile drive from the country’s capital, Addis Ababa. To say it’s worth it is a vast understatement. The journey sweeps you past the lakes of the Rift Valley, authentic African villages buzzing with Tuk-Tuks and lush bamboo forests.