9-Day Wild Wonders of Ethiopia Birding Tour

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

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Welcome to Ethiopia! Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Origin Abyssinia representative and specialist birding guide before being transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a relaxing walk through nearby gardens where several Ethiopian highland bird species can often be observed. Your guide will introduce the itinerary, review the target bird checklist, and provide an overview of the remarkable birdlife you will encounter across Ethiopia's diverse ecosystems during the coming days. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Capital Hotel & Spa

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Lake Ziway & Abijata-Shalla National Park

Depart Addis Ababa and drive south into the Great Rift Valley, stopping at Lake Ziway, one of Ethiopia's finest birdwatching destinations. Observe large gatherings of pelicans, herons, cormorants, storks, kingfishers, and numerous waterbirds along the shoreline. Continue to Abijata-Shalla National Park, home to the contrasting alkaline Lake Abijata and the deep volcanic Lake Shalla. Explore the lakeshores with your specialist guide while searching for greater flamingos, spot-billed pelicans, sacred ibises, African spoonbills, and many other Rift Valley bird species. Overnight near the park.

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:

Bishangari Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Lake Langano

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Hawassa Birdwatching Experience

Continue south to the lakeside city of Hawassa, one of Ethiopia's premier birdwatching locations. Spend the day exploring the shores of Lake Hawassa, where African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, grey herons, marabou storks, great white pelicans, and numerous other species are regularly observed. Visit the lively fish market, where pelicans and marabou storks gather alongside local fishermen, creating outstanding opportunities for bird photography. The combination of abundant birdlife and beautiful lakeside scenery makes Hawassa one of the highlights of Ethiopia's Rift Valley.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Hawassa

• Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Transfer to Awash National Park

After breakfast, travel east toward Awash National Park, where the landscape changes dramatically from lakes and wetlands to dry acacia woodland and open savanna. Upon arrival, begin your first birdwatching excursion through the park, exploring habitats that support hornbills, bee-eaters, bustards, rollers, raptors, and numerous woodland species. In addition to exceptional birdlife, the park is home to Beisa oryx, greater kudu, Soemmerring's gazelle, warthogs, and olive baboons, providing excellent opportunities for wildlife observation during your afternoon exploration.

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:

Awash Falls Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Full-Day Birdwatching in Awash National Park

Spend a full day exploring the diverse habitats of Awash National Park, one of Ethiopia's richest birdwatching destinations. Accompanied by your specialist birding guide, visit acacia woodlands, open grasslands, volcanic plains, and the riverine forests along the Awash River in search of a remarkable variety of bird species. Look for colorful bee-eaters, hornbills, rollers, weavers, bustards, secretary birds, vultures, and numerous birds of prey that thrive in this unique ecosystem.

The park also offers excellent opportunities to observe wildlife including Beisa oryx, greater kudu, Soemmerring's gazelle, olive baboons, warthogs, and crocodiles along the Awash River. As the afternoon light softens, continue birdwatching before returning to your lodge for another peaceful evening in the park.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Accommodation:

Awash Falls Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Awash Falls & Journey to Bale Mountains National Park

Begin the morning with another rewarding birdwatching session in Awash National Park when bird activity is at its peak. Visit the spectacular Awash Falls, where the Awash River plunges dramatically into a rocky gorge, attracting numerous bird species to the surrounding cliffs and riverbanks. After exploring the falls, begin the scenic drive south toward Bale Mountains National Park, passing through diverse landscapes that highlight Ethiopia's remarkable geographical variety.

Arrive in the Bale Mountains region in the evening and settle into your lodge, surrounded by pristine forests and cool mountain air in preparation for tomorrow's high-altitude birding adventure.

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:

Bale Mountain Lodge

• Luxury lodge located inside Bale Mountains NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Sanetti Plateau Birdwatching

Today, explore the spectacular Sanetti Plateau, one of Africa's highest drivable plateaus at over 4,000 meters above sea level. This unique Afro-alpine ecosystem is home to several endemic and near-endemic bird species found nowhere else in the world. Accompanied by your specialist guide, search for high-altitude specialists while enjoying breathtaking panoramic views across the Bale Mountains.

The Sanetti Plateau also provides one of the best opportunities to observe the endangered Ethiopian wolf, Africa's rarest carnivore, together with mountain nyala, giant mole-rats, and other unique wildlife adapted to this remarkable alpine environment. Return to your lodge after an unforgettable day of birdwatching and wildlife observation.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Bale Mountain Lodge

• Luxury lodge located inside Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Harenna Forest Birdwatching & Return to Addis Ababa

After breakfast, descend into the lush Harenna Forest, one of Ethiopia's largest remaining cloud forests and a biodiversity hotspot renowned for its rich birdlife. Walk quietly through towering trees, wild coffee forests, and dense vegetation while searching for forest specialists and endemic bird species rarely found elsewhere in Ethiopia. The cool, misty environment provides a striking contrast to the open Afro-alpine habitats explored the previous day.

In the afternoon, begin the scenic drive back to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening reflecting on the incredible diversity of Ethiopia's birdlife and landscapes experienced throughout your journey.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Capital Hotel & Spa

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Departure

Enjoy a relaxed morning depending on your international departure schedule. If time permits, you may take a short walk near your hotel for one final opportunity to observe some of Addis Ababa's highland bird species or browse local shops for souvenirs and handicrafts.

At the appropriate time, your Origin Abyssinia representative will transfer you to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport for your onward flight. Your remarkable birdwatching journey through Ethiopia's Rift Valley lakes, savanna woodlands, and Afro-alpine mountains comes to an end, leaving you with unforgettable memories of one of Africa's richest birding destinations.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

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