By Bona Oromia

BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, Oromia — Good morning from Gesse Grassland, where the sun rises over one of Ethiopia’s most spectacular and ecologically significant landscapes—the UNESCO-recognized Bale Mountains National Park.

A Land of Origins

The Bale Mountains, located in the Oromia region of southeastern Ethiopia, are part of the Ethiopian Highlands and represent one of the country’s most important natural treasures. The park is home to the largest continuous area of Afro-alpine habitat on the African continent, covering approximately 2,200 square kilometers of stunning landscapes ranging from cloud forests to glacial lakes and vast grasslands like Gesse.

Ethiopia, often called the “Land of Origins,” is the cradle of humankind and a country of extraordinary natural and cultural diversity. The Bale Mountains embody this identity—a place where ancient landscapes meet modern conservation efforts, and where the richness of Oromia’s natural heritage is on full display.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 2023, the Bale Mountains National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its outstanding universal value. The park is home to an extraordinary array of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth, including:

• The Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis)—the world’s rarest canid, with more than half of its global population living in the Bale Mountains
• The mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni)—a large antelope species endemic to Ethiopia
• The Bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis)—a rare primate found only in the bamboo forests of the Bale Mountains
• Giant lobelias and other Afro-alpine plant species that create surreal, otherworldly landscapes

The park is also a critical water source, feeding rivers that supply water to millions of people in Ethiopia and neighboring countries.

Gesse Grassland: A Place of Beauty and Biodiversity

Gesse Grassland, where this morning’s greeting originates, is one of the park’s most iconic landscapes. The open grasslands, framed by volcanic peaks and dotted with grazing livestock and wild herbivores, offer visitors a chance to experience the African highlands in their most pristine form. It is a place where the silence of the mountains is broken only by the calls of birds and the rustle of the wind—a reminder of what the world looked like before modernity reshaped so much of the planet.

Ethiopia’s Abundance

Ethiopia is a country of remarkable abundance—not only in its wildlife and landscapes but in its cultural heritage and the diversity of its peoples. The Oromo people, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, have inhabited these lands for centuries, developing a deep relationship with the natural world that is reflected in their culture, traditions, and indigenous governance systems like the Gadaa.

The promotion of tourism in Oromia and Ethiopia more broadly is part of a larger effort to share this abundance with the world—to invite visitors to experience the Land of Origins firsthand, while also supporting conservation and community development.

A Call to Visit

For travelers seeking adventure, natural beauty, and cultural richness, Ethiopia offers an unparalleled experience. From the Bale Mountains to the Simien Mountains, from the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to the ancient obelisks of Axum, from the Great Rift Valley lakes to the Danakil Depression—Ethiopia is a country of endless discovery.

Good morning from Gesse Grassland. Good morning from the Bale Mountains. Good morning from Ethiopia—the Land of Origins.

Visitoromia.org | Visitethiopia.et | Ethiopia: Land of Origins

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