16-Day Ethiopian Birding Tour & Wildlfie

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

Arrival and Leisure Time

Arrive at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. You’ll be welcomed by our tour representative and transferred to your hotel. This is a relaxed arrival day to unwind after your flight and prepare for the adventure ahead. Overnight: Hotel, Addis Ababa.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Triple-E Hotel and Spa

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

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Excursions to Debra Libanos Ethiopia

Depart north from Addis Ababa toward Debre Libanos, travelling through the beautiful and expansive Sululta Plains. The journey itself offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching, photography, and observing Ethiopia’s unique highland landscapes. Keep your eyes open along the route for endemic and highland species such as the Spot-breasted Lapwing and Blue-winged Goose, as well as groups of Gelada Baboons that can often be seen grazing and moving across the open grasslands.

Continue toward the dramatic escarpments surrounding Debre Libanos, where the landscape becomes increasingly rugged and spectacular. Upon arrival, explore the area around the monastery and surrounding cliffs, which provide excellent viewpoints for observing Ethiopia’s impressive birds of prey. Scan the skies and rocky slopes for Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier), Griffon Vulture, and other raptors soaring on the thermals above the escarpment.

Main Destination:

Debre Libanos Monastery (Highlight)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Triple-E Hotel and Spa

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Awash Nationl Park and Birding

Drive southeast to Awash National Park via Ethiopia’s first expressway and Lake Basaaka. Spot Augur Buzzard, Carmine Bee-eaters, Abyssinian Rollers, and more. Arrive at Awash Falls Lodge and enjoy a golden-hour search for Arabian Bustard, Buff-crested Bustard, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and other dryland species. Overnight: 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

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Doho Lodge & Hot Springs

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Awash National Park exploring and Birding

Full-day birding across the semi-arid woodlands and plains of Awash NP. Target species include Somali Ostrich, Chestnut Sparrow-Lark, Pale Flycatcher, Red-billed Quelea, Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Somali Fiscal, and African Collared Dove. Mammals may include Soemmering’s Gazelle, Warthog, Salt’s Dik-dik, and Anubis Baboon. Overnight: Awash National Park.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Doho Lodge & Hot Springs

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Lake Zieway

Drive 215 km to Lake Ziway. En route, stop at Lake Koka for flamingoes, African Spoonbill, and Great White Egret. Lake Ziway is known for its five islands, hippos, and prolific birdlife. Check in at Haile Resort Ziway, founded by legendary athlete Haile Gebrselassie. Overnight: Lake Ziway.

Main Destination:

Lake Ziway

Best Time To Go October to January (Little rainfall)

High Season October to January (It is busier)

Best Weather

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Ziway

• Mid-range hotel located at Lake Ziway

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Lake Langno and Birding

Morning birding around Lake Langano and surrounding fig forests. Spot endemic species like Banded Barbet, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Woodpecker, and Von der Decken’s Hornbill. Optional visit to Lake Abijata for a flamingo spectacle if time allows. Overnight: Lake Langano.

Main Destination:

Lake Langano

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Hara Langano Eco Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Lake Langano

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Hawessa

Drive approximately 75 km toward Lake Hawassa, enjoying the changing scenery and landscapes along the way. Upon arrival, spend time exploring the beautiful lakefront, one of the best areas in the region for observing a wide variety of bird species. The lakeshore and surrounding vegetation provide excellent opportunities for birdwatching and photography.

Keep an eye out for Yellow-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, Pygmy Kingfisher, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, and the colorful Shining Sunbird, along with many other resident and water-associated species. Take a leisurely walk along the lakefront while observing birds feeding, fishing, and moving between the trees and shoreline.

As the afternoon progresses, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere around the lake and watch the changing colors over the water. You may also have the opportunity to spot hippos offshore, particularly as they become more active toward the cooler hours of the day.

After exploring the lake and enjoying the sunset.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Hawassa

• Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Bale Mountain National Park

Early birding around Lake Hawassa before heading to Bale Mountains National Park. Climb through moorlands to reach the Goba Plateau. Bale offers chances to see endemic mammals like Mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck, and birds such as Spot-breasted Lapwing, Rouget’s Rail, and Abyssinian Longclaw.

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

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Wabe Shebelle Hotel Goba

• 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 mountain National park

Spend a full day exploring the spectacular Sanetti Plateau, one of Ethiopia’s premier high-altitude birding destinations and a remarkable landscape of open moorland, alpine vegetation, giant lobelias, and dramatic mountain scenery. The plateau offers excellent opportunities to search for Ethiopia’s highland specialties and endemic species while enjoying the unique environment of the Bale Mountains.

Throughout the day, carefully scan the grasslands and rocky slopes for Moorland Francolin, Chestnut-naped Francolin, Wattled Ibis, and the distinctive Abyssinian Catbird. Keep a close watch around wetlands and open areas for the elusive Wattled Crane, which may occasionally be seen feeding or moving across the plateau.

Take time to stop at scenic viewpoints and enjoy the vast mountain landscape, while continuing to search for birds and wildlife along the route. The combination of exceptional endemic birdlife, unique alpine vegetation, and the possibility of encountering an Ethiopia wolf.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Wabe Shebelle Hotel Goba

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Negele Borena

Descend gradually from the lush Harenna Forest, leaving the cool highland environment behind as the landscape transforms into the warmer and more open semi-arid savannah of southern Ethiopia. The drive toward Negele Borena offers a fascinating change in scenery, vegetation, and birdlife, with opportunities to stop along the way for birdwatching and photography.

As you travel through the woodland, scrub, and open savannah, keep an eye out for species such as the striking White-crested Helmetshrike, Pringle’s Puffback, and colorful Lilac-breasted Roller. The changing habitats provide excellent opportunities to observe both woodland and savannah species, particularly around areas of thicker vegetation and scattered trees.

Continue toward the Genale River, where the surrounding riverine vegetation and mature fruiting trees create an important habitat for a variety of birds. This is an exciting area to begin searching for the highly sought-after Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco.

Main Destination:

Negele Borana (Town)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Turaco Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Negele Borana (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Negele Borena and Birding

Spend the day birding across the Liben Plains, one of southern Ethiopia’s most important and rewarding birding areas. The vast open grasslands, seasonal wetlands, scattered scrub, and semi-arid habitats support a remarkable selection of specialized birds, including several species that are difficult to find elsewhere in Ethiopia.

Focus your search on the open plains for the distinctive Sidamo Lark and Somali Short-toed Lark, carefully scanning the grasslands and low vegetation for birds feeding on the ground or moving between patches of cover. With patience and favorable conditions, there is also the possibility of encountering the extremely rare and elusive Archer’s Lark, making any sighting particularly special for dedicated birdwatchers.

Main Destination:

Negele Borana (Town)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Turaco Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Negele Borana (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Yabello and Birding Tour

Begin a long drive south toward Yabello, travelling through the distinctive Borena Acacia savannah, where the landscape gradually changes into dry woodland, open grassland, and scattered acacia-covered plains. The journey provides excellent opportunities for roadside birding, with regular stops in suitable habitats to explore the diverse birdlife of this southern Ethiopian region.

As you travel through the savannah, carefully scan termite mounds, acacia trees, rocky areas, and open grasslands for some of the region’s most sought-after species. One of the main targets is the localized Stresemann’s Bushcrow, an Ethiopian specialty often associated with the dry acacia woodland around the Yabello region. Keep watch for groups moving between trees, termite mounds, and open ground. White-tailed Swallows may also be seen flying low over the grasslands and open savannah.

Main Destination:

Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Yabello Motel

• Budget hotel located near Yabello WS (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Meals & Drinks:

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

Yabella wildife Sanctuary and Birding

Spend a full day exploring the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary, one of southern Ethiopia’s most rewarding destinations for dry-country birding and wildlife observation. The sanctuary protects a mosaic of open grasslands, thorny acacia woodland, scrub, and semi-arid habitats, creating excellent conditions for a wide variety of specialized birds and mammals.

Begin the morning with an early birding drive, when temperatures are cooler and bird activity is at its highest. Carefully explore the woodland edges, open plains, and scattered acacia trees in search of key regional specialties. Target species include the striking Somali Fiscal, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Red-naped Bushshrike, Somali Courser, and Short-tailed Lark. Pay particular attention to the acacia trees and thorn scrub, where bushshrikes, barbets, and other woodland species may be active.

Continue through different sections of the sanctuary, searching the grasslands and dry scrub for Speckled Weavers and other savannah birds.

Main Destination:

Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Yabello Motel

• Budget hotel located near Yabello WS (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Arba Minchi and Birding Tour

Depart Yabello for Arba Minch, birding through Borena savannah, acacia woodland, grasslands, and farmland. Look for Golden-breasted Starling, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Steppe Eagle, and Boran Cisticola.

After arrival, enjoy an afternoon excursion in Nechisar National Park, searching for Bat Hawk, Lesser Kestrel, Black-bellied Bustard, and Yellow-throated Seedeater among its grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands.

Main Destination:

Arba Minch (City)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Arba Minch

• Mid-range hotel located in Arba Minch (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive to Nechisar National Park

Full day inside Nechisar National Park and around Lake Chamo. Target African Fish Eagle, Flamingos, Kingfishers, and numerous wetland migrants. Wildlife includes Burchell’s Zebra, Swayne’s Hartebeest, Vervet Monkeys, Anubis Baboon, and the elusive African Wild Dog.

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

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Arba Minch

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Retune back to Addis ababa

After breakfast, transfer to Arba Minch Airport for your retun o Addis Ababa. In the evening, enjoy a farewell cultural dinner with live dance and traditional cuisine before we escort you to the airport for your international departure. End of Tour.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

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.