Mac OS X is built on Unix BSD and thus offers terminal and bash for good old scripting. To add gdal and its executables (gdal_translate, gdal_merge.py etc.), go first downloading the framework prepared by KyngChaos http://www.kyngchaos.com/software:frameworks and download Gdal Complete.dmg.

The adaptation done for Mac OS X  is just perfect! To make it run: mount the dmg, then double click on the installation package. Once the installation is done, you must set the PATH variable for bash.

Launch Terminal, then type

export PATH=/Library/Frameworks/GDAL.framework/Programs:$PATH

This command adds /Library/Frameworks/GDAL.framework/Programs to the search PATH.

If you want to save this setting, edit the hidden file .bash_profile in your home directory, and add the above command line; then save. For beginners: the dot ‘.’ before bash_profile corresponds to a hidden file. To immediately set the path, type

source .bash_profile

Anyway, .bash_profile will be read again next time you run a terminal.

Enjoy!