16-Day Comprehensive Birding & Wildlife Expedition Tour

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

Addis Ababa to Awash National Park

Depart Addis Ababa in the morning and drive southeast toward Awash National Park (approximately 230 km). Enjoy scenic views across the Ethiopian Great Rift Valley with volcanic landscapes and roadside lava formations. Stop at Lake Beseka for birdwatching, a major birding site with species such as pink-winged pelican, African fish eagle, and saddle-billed stork (season and water levels permitting). Continue to Awash National Park for an afternoon game drive, targeting Beisa oryx, Soemmerring’s gazelle, greater and lesser kudu, warthog, olive and hamadryas baboons, and colobus monkeys. If conditions are favorable, attempt sightings of large predators. Visit Awash Falls for dramatic scenery. Overnight in/near Awash National Park.

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

Show more

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:

Doho Lodge & Hot Springs

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Awash National Park to Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve to Doho Hot Springs

Begin with an early morning game drive in Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve, an open grassland habitat supporting diverse wildlife. Target sightings include Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Soemmerring’s gazelle, olive baboons, and waterbucks, and (when possible) birds such as kori bustard and Arabian bustard. After the drive, continue to Doho Hot Springs. Relax in the mineral-rich geothermal hot springs in the afternoon. Optionally, visit a nearby Afar village if time allows and community arrangements are confirmed. Overnight at Doho Lodge.

Main Destination:

Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve

Accommodation:

Doho Lodge & Hot Springs

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Doho Lodge to Debre Zeit (Bishoftu) to Lake Ziway (Langano)

Doho Lodge to Debre Zeit (Bishoftu) to Lake Ziway (Langano)
Enjoy a relaxed morning at Doho Lodge. Start the return journey toward Addis Ababa, routing via Debre Zeit/Bishoftu. En route, make stops at the area’s crater lakes and take advantage of habitats that support excellent birding. Continue to the Lake Ziway/Langano area. Overnight at Lake Ziway/Langano.

Main Destination:

Bishoftu (City)

Accommodation:

Sabana Beach Resort

• Mid-range resort located at Lake Langano

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Fly Addis Ababa to Yabelo

Fly Addis Ababa to Yabelo
Transfer and fly to Yabelo. After arrival, begin birding near the airport area and surrounding habitats with productive scrub where a wide variety of woodland and edge species can be found. Expect opportunities for birds such as Nubian and cardinal woodpeckers, yellow-bellied eremomela, red-tailed shrike, red-bellied parrot, speckled and blue-naped mousebirds, rosy-patched bushshrike, and weavers, starlings, and other passerines. Overnight in Yabelo.

Main Destination:

Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Accommodation:

Yabello Motel

• Budget hotel located near Yabello WS (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Yabelo (Mega)

Yabelo (Mega)
Start early and travel approximately 100 km southeast to Mega. Bird at a scenic gorge beyond Mega, searching for specialty species including black-fronted francolin. Continue exploring additional productive birding areas around Mega and back toward Yabelo. Key targets include endemics such as Stresemann’s bushcrow and white-tailed swallow, plus black-capped social weaver, crested francolin, crowned lapwing, cut-throat finch, pale prinia, purple grenadier, and tawny eagle. Mammals may include vervet monkey, olive baboon, common warthog, greater and lesser kudu, and Guenther’s dik-dik. Overnight in Yabelo.

Main Destination:

Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Accommodation:

Yabello Motel

• Budget hotel located near Yabello WS (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Yabelo (Meta Gafersa)

Depart early and drive approximately 80 km east to the forested Meta Gafersa area. Focus on the endemic Ruspoli’s turaco, searching in productive woodland where it is regularly encountered. After breakfast, continue birding for the endemic Salvadori’s seedeater (more elusive but regularly recorded). Possible additional highlights may include pygmy falcon and white-crowned starling. In the late afternoon and early evening, bird in nearby scrubland until dusk in search of mammals such as plains zebra, which may sometimes approach closely. Overnight in Yabelo.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Accommodation:

Yabello Motel

• Budget hotel located near Yabello WS (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Yabelo to Arba Minch

Depart Yabelo early and travel northwest toward Arba Minch (approximately 200 km). Stop for birding in Borana National Park, targeting starling species including golden-breasted and magpie starlings, the striking vulturine guineafowl, and scrubland birds such as parrot-billed sparrow. After breakfast at Kanta Lodge, continue with a cultural visit to a local Segen people’s village near Konso/Karat (timing dependent). Then travel from the Konso uplands down into the Rift Valley, passing lush agricultural areas with extensive banana plantations. Arrive at Arba Minch and settle in for the next two nights. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Main Destination:

Arba Minch (City)

Accommodation:

Mora Heights Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Arba Minch (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Arba Minch (Lake Chamo)

After breakfast, go south to board a boat for an excursion on Lake Chamo for hippo and crocodile watching, including Nile crocodiles that can reach impressive sizes. Bird targets include African fish eagle, African marsh harrier, great white pelican, goliath heron, and spur-winged plover. Return to land for additional birding and look for wire-tailed swallow, several kingfishers, northern carmine bee-eater, African woolly-necked stork, and dragonflies including different regional species (depending on season). Enjoy lunch and keep the afternoon flexible to follow up on any missed key species. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Main Destination:

Nechisar National Park

Best Time To Go November to March (Little rainfall)

High Season October to January (The park is never busy)

Best Weather

Accommodation:

Mora Heights Hotel

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Nechisar NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Arba minchi to Lake Hawassa

Travel west to Lake Hawassa with short birding stops en route. The lake’s scenery and shoreline habitats offer strong birding opportunities, including the potential to see hippo, colobus (black-and-white), grivet monkeys, and olive baboons around the lake area. Major bird targets include the localized African spotted creeper, the near-endemic Abyssinian crimsonwing, and the endemic thick-billed raven. Additional possible sightings at Hawassa may include goliath heron, yellow-billed stork, hadada ibis, knob-billed duck, African pygmy goose, long-crested eagle, grey kestrel, Eurasian moorhen, African swamp-hen, and other resident and seasonal passerines and waterbirds. If conditions permit, attempt western banded snake eagle. Spend two nights in Hawassa.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Accommodation:

Oasis Int. Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Awasa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Lake Hawassa (Wondo Genet)

After breakfast, travel to Wondo Genet and take a forest walk with a local guide, focusing on forest specialties such as Narina trogon, white-cheeked turaco, tambourine dove, and raptors including crowned eagle and black (great) sparrowhawk. Search for the endemic yellow-fronted parrot. After lunch back at the hotel, bird in Amora Gedel Park (lakeside park), targeting species such as grivet monkey, Nile monitor, and (if present) spotted hyena. Birding highlights may include black crake and African spotted creeper, with excellent opportunities for close views of African fish eagle, Ethiopian bee-eater, double-toothed barbet, and the near-endemic banded barbet in late afternoon light. Overnight in Hawassa.

Main Destination:

Wondo Genet (Town)

Accommodation:

Oasis Int. Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Awasa (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Drive to Bale Mountains (Dinsho HQ) / Arrival

Drive from Hawassa to the Bale Mountains with arrival at Dinsho headquarters. Start hiking around the HQ area and continue through the nearby habitats to look for endemic and endangered mammals such as Menilik’s bushbuck, mountain nyala, warthog, reedbuck, gray duikers, and baboons. Birding targets in the juniper woodlands may include Abyssinian flycatcher, wattled ibis, and Abyssinian catbird. Continue driving from Dinsho to Sodota (via the Web Valley scenery) toward the area around Fincha Habera waterfall, where you’ll have first chances for Ethiopian wolf, as well as raptors, rock hyrax, and endemic birds such as blue-winged goose (where present). Arrive at the campsite, with a coffee/tea break on arrival. Overnight at Habera waterfall campsite (~3500 m).

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

Show more

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:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trek to Wassema

Trek to Wassema through stunning highland landscapes and views, passing through Mararo Valley where lammergeyer and Verreaux’s eagles may nest. Maintain chances for Ethiopian wolf and other endemic bird activity. Trek duration is approximately 5–6 hours covering around 18 km. Overnight at Wassema campsite (~3900 m).

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Trek to Sanneti Plateau

Trek to Sanneti Plateau
Start the day trekking through Wasama and onward to the Sanneti Plateau, the highest plateau in Africa. Continue through Worgona Valley, watching for raptors and possible Ethiopian wolf presence. Move through Afro-alpine moorland and plateau scenery including lakes on the plateau. Overnight at Sanneti campsite (~4100 m).

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Plateau Drive and Hike (Tullu Dimtu) to Robe

After breakfast, meet your vehicle and start with a drive across the Sanneti Plateau. Look for falcons, raptors, ducks, geese, and possible Ethiopian wolf, including potential sightings of the giant mole rat where habitat allows. Continue with exploration around the plateau and then hike toward the second-highest mountain in Ethiopia, Tullu Dimtu (4,377 m). After exploration, drive back toward Robe to end the trip. Overnight in Robe.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Nurobe Hotel

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

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Robe to Lake Langano (Relaxation & Exploration)

Robe to Lake Langano (Relaxation & Exploration)
Drive from Robe to Lake Langano through scenic Rift Valley landscapes. Upon arrival, enjoy a relaxing swim (where conditions permit), followed by a walk on nearby hills and nature trails to observe local birdlife. Have dinner at a lakeside restaurant while watching the sunset. Overnight at a lodge on Lake Langano.

Main Destination:

Lake Langano

Accommodation:

Sabana Beach Resort

• Mid-range resort located at Lake Langano

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Abijatta-Shalla National Park & Lake Ziway

Abijatta-Shalla National Park & Lake Ziway
Begin with a visit to Abijatta-Shalla National Park, known for striking lakes and diverse birdlife. Look for antelopes, warthogs, pelicans, flamingos, and migratory birds. Relax at natural hot springs (where available/operational). Continue to Lake Ziway, known for ecological richness and birding opportunities. Take a boat tour to Bird Island for waterbird viewing and enjoy the lakeside environment. Return to Addis Ababa to conclude the journey.

Main Destination:

Abijatta-Shalla National Park

Best Time To Go October to February (Flocks of flamingo)

High Season October to January (The park is never busy)

Best Weather

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

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