8-Day Ethiopia Birding Paradise Expedition

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Addis Ababa – Awash

Depart from Addis Ababa and drive toward Awash National Park through the scenic Rift Valley. Enjoy birding stops along the way in acacia woodlands and open plains. Arrive in the park area and begin spotting early dryland bird species. Look for hornbills, bee-eaters, rollers, and other colorful savannah birds. Overnight near Awash surrounded by natural sounds.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Best Time To Visit October to February (Little rain and less hot)

High Season September to April (The park is never busy)

Best Weather October to February

Wildlife in Awash NP

Olive Baboon Abundant

Beisa Oryx Common

Soemmerring's
Gazelle Common

Hamadryas
Baboon Common

Salt's Dik-dik Common

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Lesser Kudu Occasional

Desert Warthog Occasional

Defassa Waterbuck Occasional

Nile Crocodile Occasional

Spotted Hyena Occasional

Guereza Monkey Rare

Ethiopian Wolf None

Gelada Monkey None

Walia Ibex None

Accommodation:

Genet Hotel Awash

• Mid-range hotel located less than 1hr drive from Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Awash National Park

Spend a full day exploring Awash National Park, one of the best birding sites in Ethiopia. Search for species such as ostriches, secretary birds, vultures, kestrels, and Abyssinian rollers. Visit different habitats including river valleys, savannah plains, and Awash Falls. Enjoy guided birdwatching walks with opportunities for photography. Overnight stay in the Awash area.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Accommodation:

Genet Hotel Awash

• Mid-range hotel located less than 1hr drive from Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Awash – Lake Langano

Drive south to Lake Langano through changing Rift Valley scenery. Stop along the way for birding opportunities in wetlands and farmland areas. Arrive at the lake and begin shoreline birdwatching. Spot pelicans, fish eagles, herons, and flamingos in large numbers. Relax at your lodge while enjoying sunset birding over the lake.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Accommodation:

Sabana Beach Resort

• Mid-range resort located at Lake Langano

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Langano – Bale Mountains

Continue your journey to Bale Mountains National Park, one of Africa’s richest birding destinations. Arrive in Dinsho or Goba and explore forest edges and grasslands. Look for highland species such as Abyssinian catbird, white-backed black tit, and bush-shrikes. Enjoy cooler weather and dramatic mountain scenery. Overnight in the Bale highlands.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit November to February (Little rain)

High Season October to January (Park is never busy)

Best Weather November to February

Wildlife in Bale Mountains NP

Ethiopian Wolf Common

Mountain Nyala Common

Warthog Common

Menelik's
Bushbuck Occasional

Guereza Monkey Occasional

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Olive Baboon Occasional

Bohor Reedbuck Occasional

Starck's Hare Occasional

Giant Mole-rat Occasional

Bale Monkey Rare

Giant Forest Hog Rare

Golden Jackal Rare

Gelada Monkey None

Walia Ibex None

Accommodation:

Nurobe Hotel

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains National Park

Spend a full day birdwatching in Bale Mountains National Park across different ecosystems. Explore moorlands, forests, and alpine grasslands rich in endemic species. Search for blue-winged goose, wattled ibis, and other rare Ethiopian endemics. Enjoy peaceful walking trails with expert birding guidance. Overnight stay surrounded by nature.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Nurobe Hotel

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Sanetti Plateau – Harenna Forest

Drive across the high-altitude Sanetti Plateau with wide open landscapes and alpine bird species. Continue into the dense Harenna Forest, a hotspot for forest birds. Spot turacos, woodpeckers, pigeons, and rare endemic species. Experience a dramatic change from cold highlands to lush rainforest. Overnight in the Bale region.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Nurobe Hotel

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains – Hawassa

Depart Bale and drive to Hawassa, a beautiful lakeside city. Enjoy birdwatching at Lake Hawassa, known for large gatherings of waterbirds. Spot kingfishers, storks, herons, and pelicans along the shoreline. Visit the fish market area for close-up bird encounters. Overnight stay in Hawassa.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Hawassa

• Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)

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+5 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Hawassa – Addis Ababa

Start the day with early morning birding at Lake Hawassa for final sightings. Look for waterbirds and migratory species feeding along the lake. Drive back to Addis Ababa through scenic Rift Valley views. Enjoy birding stops along the way if time allows. Arrive in Addis Ababa for departure or city relaxation.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.