13-Day Discover Ethiopia's Endemic Birds

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

Welcome to the capital and the Ethiopian highlands

Arrival In Addis Abeba– Debre LibanosYou will meet your guide at Addis Ababa airport and transfer immediately to the centre of the capital city where the Ghion Hotel is located. This is an old colonial style hotel which is a lovely start to your Ethiopian adventure. You'll be invited for a good buffet breakfast and then head to the beautiful garden which is a haven for birds with mature trees and beautiful planting, providing a great start to seeing some if the country's birdlife.

After a good cup of coffee you'll drive out of Addis Ababa in direction North to reach Debre Libanos, famous for the ancient and important monastery. But beside this religious highlight it also offers spectacular views into a huge gorge and wildlife: not only a variety of birds, but also interesting mammals like the Gelada Baboons.
Stay one night at Ethio German Park Debre Libanos.

Main Destination:

Debre Libanos Monastery (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Ethio German Park Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located Debre Libanos (Highlight)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Looking for the first highly localised endemic birds in the Jamma Canyon

Debre Libanos– Jamma Canyon – Debre Birhan. Today you’ll start early in the morning so that we can reach the bottom of the wide Jamma Canyon. Plenty of birds of prey and the endemic Harwood's Francolin are found here, but we need to be there on time before the temperatures are getting too high and birds are hiding in the bushes. After a couple of hours looking for the bird species, we make our way eastward through the wide plains of the Ethiopian highlands with more possibilities of spotting birds.
In the afternoon we’ll reach the city of Debre Birhan, spent the night in Getva Hotel Debre Birhan.

Main Destination:

Debre Birhan (City)

Accommodation:

Getva Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Debre Birhan (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Start discovering the Great African Rift Valley

Debre Birhan – Addis Abeba – Bishoftu. In the morning, you can spot some birdlife directly on the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, at a location known as Menelik's window. This is one of the best places in the world to see the endangered Ankober Serin.
We return to Addis Abeba via the Great African Rift Valley, which stretches across the African continent and is home to a diverse range of birds and wildlife. The Rift Valley, with its more than 400 bird species.
Our first stop in the Great African Rift Valley the city of Bishoftu situatied at seven crater lakes. You stop along the way at Chelekleka wetland with its populations of Marabou Storks, Cattle Egrets and Spur-winged lapwings. After some resting you will go on a kayak boat ride in the late afternoon on one of the crater lakes for some birding. Not only waterbirds are common here. The tree tops are often taken by Lapped-faced vultures and Yellow-billed Kites.
One night at the beautiful Kuriftu Resort & Spa Bishoftu.

Main Destination:

Bishoftu (City)

Accommodation:

Kuriftu Resort & Spa Bahir Dar

• Luxury hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Birding at Lake Ziway & Langano

Bishoftu – Langano. Starting from Bishoftu this morning your descent leads you to the Rift Valley lakes of Koka and Ziway. Not only the lakes but also Awash River are good places to spot birds.

African Fish Eagles soar overhead or utter their distinctive yodelling calls from prominent perches. Pied Kingfishers hover over the water surface and tiny Malachite Kingfishers cling to the papyrus stems, while emergent vegetation provides suitable habitat for Black Crakes and handsome African Jacanas balance on the floating lily pads. Where the local fishermen bring their catch ashore we can watch remarkably tame Marabou Storks and Hamerkops. Flocks of Great White Pelicans are frequently present. In the late afternoon you will arrive at your lodge in the riverside forest around the lake shore of Lake Langano.
Spent the night at Bishangari Lodge Langano.

Main Destination:

Lake Langano

Accommodation:

Bishangari Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Langano

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Excursion trip to Abijata Shalla National Park

Lake Langano & Abijata Shalla National Park. With the first sunlight you will go on a bird walk (1.5 h) along the lake shore and into the forest where Silvery-checked Hornbills and Hadada Ibises and the endemic Yellow-fronted Parrots are found.

There is a rich suite of specialities in this area, including such endemics and near-endemics as the gorgeous White-cheeked Turaco, the pretty little Black-winged Lovebird and White-rumped Babbler. Other special birds include the restricted-range Clapperton’s Francolin, the sought-after Red-throated Wryneck and the uncommon and localized White-winged Black Tit.
Return for breakfast in the lodge garden and set off for a half day excursion to the picturesque Abijata-Shalla national Park with its three lakes and a resident population of thousands of Lesser and Greater Flamingos. Amongst the shorebirds and other waterbirds present at the lake, we can expect to see Pied Avocet, Kittlitz’s Plover and Gull-billed Tern.
Stay the night Bishangari Lodge.

Main Destination:

Lake Langano

Accommodation:

Bishangari Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Langano

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

The dryland savanna of Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary

Lake Langano– Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary – Hawassa. Today’s journey lets you discover a rather more impressive savannah landscape in the Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary which lies along your way to the south. Famous for its endemic population of several hundred Swayne’s hartebeest antelopes, it is the only sanctuary over the country where this game still survives. Furthermore, the beautiful savannahs are another opportunity to discover more Rift Valley birds.

In the afternoon you continue your drive to the capital of the Sidama region Hawassa. The city lies directly on the lake and many birds can be seen in the area of the fish market which attracts a lot of other animals. We stay overnight in a nice resort where we can relax on the side of a swimming pool.
Spent the night at the luxurious Haile Resort, Hawassa.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Hawassa

• Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Tropical birds around Hawassa and the Wondo Genet hot springs

Wondo Genet And Hawassa. In the morning we set off to Wondo Genet, a hot spring resort (there is a naturally heated open air pool) set among forested hills. The springs are said to have curative properties and the Emperor Haile Selassie had a lodge here, now part of the hotel. In the gardens of the hotel you will see birds like the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill and Yellow-fronted Parrot. Behind the hotel there is a juniper forest, where you can spot the oriols, woodpeckers, starlings, swallow, and my others. You will also see some mammals like the Colobus monkey, Anubis baboon and bushbuck.

Back in Hawassa we will have a walk along the less visited shore to see the birdlife along the lakeshore.
Spent another night and relax at the luxurious Haile Resort, Hawassa.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Hawassa

• Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

The Bale Mountains National Park - one park, many worlds

Hawassa - Dinsho - Bale Mountains National Park. Today you will leave the Great African Rift Valley behind and enter the highland ecosystems. Bale Mountains National Park - one park, but many worlds - and one of the world's most diverse landscapes await you! The park also contains fourteen endemic Ethiopian birds and provides excellent birding opportunities in the Afro-alpine moorlands and highland forests
On your today’s long drive to the National Park, you will have the chance to make stops at its northern outposts in the Gaysay grasslands where we will stop to look for Red-chested and Grey-rumped Swallows. We will also stop at regular sites for African Black Duck and Red-knobbed Coot. We undertake a walk in the old juniper forests searching in particular for roosting nightbirds, such as the Cape Eagle-Owl, the poorly-known Abyssinian Owl and Montane Nightjar, and quite possibly also African Wood Owl and Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl
In the afternoon drive to Goba, stay at Wabe Shebele Hotel.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit Nov to Feb (Little rain)

High Season Oct to Jan (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:

Wabe Shebele Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located near Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

The afro-alpine Sanetti Plateau with its birds and the Ethiopian wolf

Sanetti Plateau And Harrena Forest. Bale Mountains National Park is home to some of Ethiopia's endemic bird species. Today's day trip will take you to the Sanetti Plateau and Harenna Forest for the entire day.
The Sanetti high plateau is Africa's highest and largest plateau landscape, and you will drive up to 4.100 masl to explore it today. Not only is it home to the largest Ethiopian wolf population (approximately 300 individuals), which has become extremely rare and endangered almost throughout Ethiopia, but it is also home to the endemic Rouget's Rail, Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged Goose, and Spot-breasted Plover, as well as migratory populations of Wattled Cranes. Sanetti's sparse landscapes will contrast with its abundant birdlife, and open landscapes with expansive views provide excellent opportunities to spot wildlife almost anywhere. Augur Buzzards are the most common birds of prey, but Steppe Eagles and Cape Eagle Owls are also common.
Stay one more night in Wabe Shebelle Hotel.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Wabe Shebele Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located near Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

On the way to the Awash National Park

Bale Mountain National Park– Awash National Park. After some days one of in Ethiopia’s highest mountain ranges you will return back to the Great African Rift Valley. A long day’s drive will bring you to Awash National Park which is considered one of the country’s best sites for birding with approx. 460 species recorded so far. Today’s drive will lead you from the Bale Mountains trough the Arsi Mountains slowly down to the Rift Valley again.
Along the way there will be short opportunities for stops before you reach your lodge located directly at some hot springs.
A night at Doho Lodge.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Best Time To Visit Oct to Feb (Little rain and less hot)

High Season Sep to Apr (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:

Doho Lodge & Hot Springs

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Game drives & birding in Awash National Park

From your lodge you will have one game drive and one bush walk today to discover the nature and wildlife of Awash National Park. The morning game drive leads you through the Southern part of the park crossing grasslands with Oryx Antelopes and Soemmerring Gazelles and to the Awash Canyon where your views will be overlooking the tiny Awash River that flows on its foot.

Birds of the park that we will be looking for this morning include the restricted-range Star-spotted Nightjar, the beautiful Rosy-patched Bush shrike, the restricted-range Red-winged Lark and Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit. If we are in luck we will encounter the lovely Scissor-tailed (or African Swallow-tailed) Kite or a Grasshopper Buzzard.
Return back for breakfast to the lodge and have a relaxed morning on your own along the river and the waterfall where Nile crocodiles wait for their prey before you set off with your guide on a bush walk in the riverside forest to discover some more birds.
Stay at Doho Lodge, Awash.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Accommodation:

Doho Lodge & Hot Springs

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Day excursion to Aledhegi National Park

Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve. Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve is the large expanse of grassland plains found on the foothills of the Asebot Mountain along the Awash-Arba asphalt road. It is almost 50 km long measuring from Awash-Arba towards the town of Gedamaitu. The climate is generally dry and arid conforming to the north-eastern parts of the Afar Triangle.

Notable bird species include Ostrich, Arabian Bustard, Hartulaub‟s Bustard, Kori Bustard, Grasshopper Buzzard and Carmine Bee-eater. Beside these and many other birds, the plains are home to a number of other wildlife including Grevy’s Zebra and Wild Ass. Both the Grevy’s Zebra and the Wild Ass are endangered species. Other larger mammals include Gerenuk, Salt‟s Dikdik and Warthog.
Spent your last day in Awash at Doho Lodge.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Accommodation:

Doho Lodge & Hot Springs

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Return to Addis Ababa and departure

Awash National Park– Addis Abeba. Today you will return back to the capital. Along the way we should have a good chance to see such endemics as Wattled Ibis feeding in the moister pastures. Other species during the journey are likely to include Augur Buzzard, Speckled Pigeon and Cape Crow.

In the afternoon, once in Addis Ababa, there might be a chance of doing some souvenir shopping before departure and you will be invited for a traditional farewell dinner with Ethiopian music and dancing. Transfer to the airport and departure.

Main Destination:

No major destination visited

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.