14-Day Birding in Ethiopia and Wildlife Tour

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

Addis Ababa -Debre Libanos Birding Tour

Drive north from Addis Ababa to Debre Libanos, one of Ethiopia’s most rewarding birding destinations and an excellent introduction to the country’s highland birdlife. Along the route, we will make several stops at suitable habitats, cliffs, agricultural areas, and open highland landscapes to search for a variety of resident and endemic species.

Our main targets include Malachite Sunbird, Tacazze Sunbird, Brown Parisoma, Lanner Falcon, and Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), with the dramatic cliffs and escarpments around Debre Libanos providing particularly good opportunities for observing soaring raptors.

We will also keep an eye out for some of Ethiopia’s distinctive highland species and endemics, including Blue-winged Goose, Ethiopian Cisticola, Black-headed Siskin, Wattled Ibis, Erlanger’s (Blanford’s) Lark, and Abyssinian Longclaw. Depending on the season and local conditions, additional highland birds and passing migrants may add to the day’s bird list.

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)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Addis Ababa to Ankober Expedition

Drive towards the historic town of Ankober, the former capital of the Shewan Kingdom, enjoying several birding stops along the way. The route passes through a variety of highland habitats, cultivated valleys, woodland, and riverine areas, offering excellent opportunities to observe both resident species and seasonal visitors.

A key stop will be around the Melka Ghebdu area, where we will explore suitable habitats for some of the region’s distinctive birdlife. Our target species may include the Yellow-throated Seedeater, Half-collared Kingfisher, and Eastern Plantain-eater, while keeping an eye out for additional sunbirds, barbets, flycatchers, raptors, and other highland species.

We will make several short stops along the route whenever promising habitats are encountered, allowing time for careful scanning, photography, and adding new species to our growing bird list. The changing landscape also provides excellent opportunities to appreciate the transition.

Main Destination:

Ankober (Town)

Activities:

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

Accommodation:

Ankober Palace Lodge

• Mid-range hotel located in Ankober (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Ankober - Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve

Drive east towards Awash National Park, passing through changing landscapes from the Ethiopian highlands into the drier lowland habitats of the Rift Valley. Along the way, we will make several birding stops in suitable areas, particularly around open grasslands, acacia woodland, rocky slopes, and agricultural landscapes. One of our main targets for the day will be Harwood’s Francolin, a sought-after species of the Ethiopian highlands and escarpment region.

Continue towards the Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve, located approximately 70 km from Awash National Park. The reserve provides a dramatic change in habitat and is an excellent area for observing both birds and wildlife. We will spend time exploring the open plains and semi-arid bushland, looking for a variety of bustards, larks, sandgrouse, coursers, wheatears, raptors, and other dry-country species. The wide-open landscapes also make it easier to scan for birds in high and observe species moving across the grasslands.

Main Destination:

Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve

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)

Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve - Awash National Park

Proceed to Awash National Park. Many species of birds are found here: African Orange-bellied Parrots, Bustards, Weavers, Hoopoe, Yellow-throated Serine, Red-fronted Barbet, Pygmy Batis, Lesser-striped Swallow, and the House Martin. The park also boasts a variety of mammals: the Anubis Baboon, Colobus Monkey, Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Egyptian Mongoose, Warthog, Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Lesser Kudu, Salt’s Dikdik, etc.​.

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

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)

Awash National Park - Lake Langano

Drive towards Lake Langano, making several birding stops along the way at Koka Dam, the Awash River, and Lake Ziway. These wetlands, riverine habitats, and surrounding woodlands provide excellent opportunities to observe a wide variety of Ethiopian birdlife.

At Koka Dam, we will explore the shoreline and nearby vegetation for waterbirds, raptors, and woodland species. Continuing towards the Awash River and Lake Ziway, we will look for species such as African Pygmy Goose, Black-billed Woodhoopoe, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Black Tit, Little Weaver, and Yellow-billed Stork.

The wetlands around Lake Ziway are particularly productive, with opportunities to see Collared Pratincole, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, White Pelican, African Fish Eagle, and both Crowned and Common Cranes, sometimes gathering in impressive numbers.

Continue to Lake Langano, enjoying additional birding stops along the way and the changing scenery of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley.

Main Destination:

Lake Langano

Activities:

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

Accommodation:

Bishangari 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)

Lake Langano

Continue birding around Lake Langano and Abiyata—Shalla National Park. Over 300 species can be seen around Lake Abiyata, such as: Yellow Wagtails, Ibis, Cormorant, Pelicans, Ducks, Egrets, Herons, Flamingos, Storks, Swallows, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Rollers, Wheatear, African Marsh Harrier, etc.

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)

Lake Langano -Wondo Genet - Bale Mountains

Drive from Langano to the Bale Mountains National Park, rated by the African Bird Club as the number 4 birding destination in Africa. Over 300 species of birds live here, six are endemic to Ethopia. Arrive at the park headquarters in the afternoon in time for a leisurely afternoon hike, possibly spotting two endemic mammals that frequent the area: Menelik's Bushbuck and the Mountain Nyala. Birds in this area include the Blue-Winged Goose, the Spot-Breasted Lapwing, the Abyssinian Long Claw, the Wattled Ibis, the Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail, and numerous other species.

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

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 Mountains National Park

Continue exploring Bale Mountains National Park and drive further into the interior. Spot birds such as Chestnut-naped Francolin, Ground Thrush (of the distinctive, endemic species Simensis), the secretive Abyssinia Ground- thrush, the vocal Abyssinian Catbird, and the endemic White-backed Black-Tit. If we are very fortunate, we will see a pair of the endangered Wattled Crane in the moist grasslands or spot a Cape Eagle- Lapwing, Thekla Lark, Red-breasted Wheatear, and Moorland chats. On the Senetti Plateau, (the largest continuous area of its altitude in Africa) look for the endemic and rare Ethiopian Red 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)

Bale Mountains National Park - Negeli Borena

Drive towards Negele Borena, making numerous birding stops along the way as the landscape gradually changes from dry woodland to the open plains of southern Ethiopia. The route offers excellent opportunities to explore different habitats and observe a wide variety of birds, so we will take time to stop whenever promising areas are encountered.

Our main targets include the colorful Turacos and the striking Golden-breasted Starling, one of the most spectacular birds of Ethiopia’s southern drylands. We will also search carefully for the endemic Sidamo Lark, a highly sought-after species restricted to the southern Ethiopian region.

As we approach the Negele Plains, we will explore the open grassland and semi-arid habitats in search of the Somali Short-toed Lark and, with some luck, Heuglin’s Bustard. These expansive plains also support numerous other larks, wheatears, raptors, and dry-country species, providing excellent opportunities to add new birds to our growing list.

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)

Expedition to Negeli Borena

Spend the morning birding around Negele, searching for the Degodi Lark if not yet sighted. We will also look for the prized White-winged Dove, Juba Weaver, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark, and Scaly Chatterer.

A special target will be the secretive Sidamo Lark, a localized Ethiopian endemic with a very restricted range. We will carefully explore suitable open plains and scrubland, while watching and listening for additional larks, starlings, raptors, and other dry-country species.

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)

Negeli - Yabello Borena

Drive to Yabello. Search for the endemic White-tailed Swallow and Stresemann’s Bushcrow. You should spot the Swallow threading its way through the termite chimneys and groups of Bushcrows in the thorn bushes. For the entire day explore the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve; species to look for include: Somalian Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Martial Eagle, Grasshopper Buzzard, African Pygmy Falcon, Vulturine Guineafowl, Kori Bustard, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar, Star-spotted Nightjar, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous-crowned Roller, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Red and Yellow Barbet, Short-tailed Lark, Northern Grey Tit, Shelley’s and White-crowned Starlings, Abyssinian Grosbeak Canary, Somali Sparrow, Black-capped Social Weaver, Grey-headed Silverbill, Taita Fiscal, and Somali Golden-breasted Bunting. Other possibilities include: Coqui Francolin, Somali Courser, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Little Spotted Woodpecker, Pringle’s.

Main Destination:

Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Activities:

Game drives (Normal 4x4 vehicle) & Canoe/Mokoro safaris

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 Yabello

Continue birding around Yabello Borena, exploring the dry acacia woodland, open plains, and bushland surrounding the area. The region is one of southern Ethiopia’s most rewarding birding destinations, particularly for localized species and birds of the drylands.

We will search for key targets such as the Degodi Lark, Stresemann’s Bush-crow, White-tailed Swallow, and Temminck’s Courser, while also looking for Garganey, Northern Pintail, and other waterbirds where suitable wetlands are available.

We will revisit productive habitats and explore new areas to search for species that may have been missed on the first day. Additional opportunities may include larks, starlings, wheatears, raptors, sandgrouse, and other characteristic birds of the Borena region.

Continue birding throughout the day, taking advantage of the cooler morning and late-afternoon hours when bird activity is generally highest, before returning to Yabello for the evening.

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 Yabello Borena - Hawassa

Drive towards Hawassa, making several birding stops along the way as we travel through a changing landscape of woodland, farmland, wetlands, and Rift Valley habitats. The route offers excellent opportunities to add a wide variety of species to our growing bird list.

Along the way, we will look for Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Rouget’s Rail, Marabou Stork, African Pygmy Goose, and Spur-winged Goose, as well as a variety of egrets, herons, ibis, swallows, and other water-associated species.

We will also keep an eye out for colorful kingfishers, including Woodland Kingfisher and Malachite Kingfisher, particularly around rivers, lakes, and areas of suitable vegetation. The surrounding wetlands and agricultural areas can produce additional surprises, including raptors and seasonal migrants.

Continue towards Hawassa, enjoying further roadside birding opportunities and the scenic Rift Valley landscapes. Arrive in Hawassa in the afternoon.

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)

Hawassa - Addis Ababa

Drive back to Addis Ababa, with an optional birding stop at Lake Ziway depending on time and conditions. Continue to Addis Ababa and enjoy a traditional Ethiopian farewell dinner, featuring local cuisine, music, and cultural dances representing the country’s diverse ethnic groups.

After dinner, transfer to Bole International Airport for your late-night departure. An additional hotel night can be arranged upon request.

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 & dinner (Lunch 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.