Day 14: Bale Mountains
Saturday 21st February 2015
Bale National Park - Gaysay Plain and Dinsho area We picked up our local park guide in Dinsho and set off across the Gaysay Plain in search of mammals. We left the coach and took a long, circular walk across the grassy plain, where we found dozens of Reedbuck, several Mountain Nyala, Warthog and two Golden Jackals. Next, we drove to the edge of a steep ravine where, with the help of a local teenager, we eventually located a roosting Cape Eagle Owl which was well hidden in the lower branches of a large conifer. The more intrepid amongst us climbed down the rocks to get a better look! Those who remained on top had ample time to admire the Rock Hyrax that were sitting right out in the sunshine. Better still, whilst looking for the owl, we saw three Egyptian Mongoose running around the rocky landscape below us. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch at the Dinsho Lodge, which is superbly located in the middle of a scenic, wooded area of the national park. A park guide took us out for a short walk to see both African Wood Owl and Abyssinian Owl. Also in the vicinity of the lodge were good numbers of Mountain Nyala and Bush Duiker. In addition, we saw Mantled Guereza and a Menelik's Bushbuck. Late afternoon saw us back on Gaysay Plain, where Abiy soon spotted another Serval as it disappeared into a small area of dense bush. We all descended from the coach but despite the fact that Abiy knew exactly where it was, we simply could not see it. Mohamed, our local guide, set off to circle the bushes when the Serval broke cover and ran across open grass before disappearing into more bushes. We felt privileged to have seen our second Serval in two days, and this time right out in the open! When we recovered our composure, we also noticed several Mountain Nyala, including two impressive males.
Bale National Park - Gaysay Plain and Dinsho area We picked up our local park guide in Dinsho and set off across the Gaysay Plain in search of mammals. We left the coach and took a long, circular walk across the grassy plain, where we found dozens of Reedbuck, several Mountain Nyala, Warthog and two Golden Jackals. Next, we drove to the edge of a steep ravine where, with the help of a local teenager, we eventually located a roosting Cape Eagle Owl which was well hidden in the lower branches of a large conifer. The more intrepid amongst us climbed down the rocks to get a better look! Those who remained on top had ample time to admire the Rock Hyrax that were sitting right out in the sunshine. Better still, whilst looking for the owl, we saw three Egyptian Mongoose running around the rocky landscape below us. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch at the Dinsho Lodge, which is superbly located in the middle of a scenic, wooded area of the national park. A park guide took us out for a short walk to see both African Wood Owl and Abyssinian Owl. Also in the vicinity of the lodge were good numbers of Mountain Nyala and Bush Duiker. In addition, we saw Mantled Guereza and a Menelik's Bushbuck. Late afternoon saw us back on Gaysay Plain, where Abiy soon spotted another Serval as it disappeared into a small area of dense bush. We all descended from the coach but despite the fact that Abiy knew exactly where it was, we simply could not see it. Mohamed, our local guide, set off to circle the bushes when the Serval broke cover and ran across open grass before disappearing into more bushes. We felt privileged to have seen our second Serval in two days, and this time right out in the open! When we recovered our composure, we also noticed several Mountain Nyala, including two impressive males.