6-Day Harar Old Town, Awash & Bale Wildlife Adventure

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

Flight from Addis Ababa to the Historic Walled City of Harar via Dire Dawa

Begin your journey with a morning flight from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred by vehicle to the historic city of Harar, about a one-hour drive. Explore the winding streets of this 16th-century walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the fourth holiest city in the Islamic world. Discover its vibrant markets, ancient houses, and stunning Islamic architecture. In the evening, witness the unique tradition of feeding the wild hyenas that gather nightly just outside the city—a fascinating spectacle that has captivated visitors for generations.

Overnight: Grand Gato Hotel, Harar.

Main Destination:

Harar (Town)

Accommodation:

Grand Gato Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Harar (Town)

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Harars Culture & the Lively Babile Camel Market

After breakfast, embark on a morning drive to Babile to experience the famous Babile Camel Market, held every Monday and Thursday. Witness the vibrant trade where Somali and Hadere Oromo semi-nomadic communities bring their magnificent camels for sale, offering a rare glimpse into traditional Ethiopian pastoral life. Buyers arrive from Jijiga, Harar, and surrounding areas, making it a truly bustling and colorful market scene.

In the afternoon, return to Harar and explore its rich cultural heritage. Visit the home of French poet Arthur Rimbaud, stroll through the colorful Islamic market, and discover the Harari National Museum and the historic house of Ras Mekonnen, father of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Overnight: Grand Gato Hotel, Harar.

Main Destination:

Harar (Town)

Accommodation:

Grand Gato Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Harar (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Harar to Awash National Park – Wildlife & Birdwatching Adventure

Itinerary Description:
After breakfast, depart Harar and drive approximately 6 hours (300 km) to Awash National Park, one of Ethiopia’s most visited and scenic parks. Along the way, enjoy the changing landscapes as you approach this wildlife-rich destination.

Upon arrival, explore the park, home to over 460 bird species, including the rare yellow-throated seedeater and somber rock chat. Wildlife enthusiasts will delight in spotting Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s gazelles, dik-diks, kudus, warthogs, and black-and-white colobus monkeys. Predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and jackals also roam the park.

After a full day of wildlife viewing and birdwatching, return to your lodge for a relaxing evening.

Overnight: Doho Lodge, Awash.

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

+10 Photos

+9 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Scenic Drive to Bale Mountains National Park – Gateway to Ethiopias Highlands

After an early breakfast, depart Awash and set out on a full-day scenic drive to Bale Mountains National Park, one of Ethiopia’s most breathtaking natural areas. As you approach from Dodola, marvel at dramatic ridges and fortress-like escarpments that rise above rolling valleys. The journey itself offers remarkable wildlife spotting opportunities in the Gaysay Grasslands, home to Ethiopia’s densest concentration of large mammals.

Upon arrival, check in to your lodge and take some time to relax while soaking in the serene highland landscapes. The Bale Mountains, with their alpine lakes, waterfalls, and vast vistas, provide an unforgettable introduction to Ethiopia’s highland wilderness.

Overnight: Bale Mountain Lodge.

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

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Sanetti Plateau & Harenna Forest – Trekking Ethiopias Wildlife Highlands

Today, embark on an exciting excursion to the Sanetti Plateau in Bale Mountains National Park, soaring over 4,377 meters above sea level. This high-altitude wonderland is home to Ethiopia’s rarest wildlife, including the endangered Ethiopian wolf, Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, and the unique Bale Monkey. Birdwatchers will delight in spotting numerous endemic species, making the plateau one of Africa’s premier birding destinations.

Continue your exploration with a trek through the Harenna Forest, Ethiopia’s second-largest tropical forest and the country’s only cloud forest. Discover moss-draped trees, giant heather woods, and a rich diversity of wildlife including colobus monkeys, baboons, warthogs, and occasionally elusive large carnivores like lions, leopards, and wild dogs. The day offers a perfect blend of trekking, wildlife viewing, and immersive natural beauty.

Overnight: Bale Mountain Lodge.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Bale Mountain Lodge

• Luxury lodge located inside Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Bale Mountains to Addis Ababa – Departure

After breakfast, transfer from your lodge to Bale Goba Airport to catch your domestic flight back to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Bole International Airport for your departure flight home. Reflect on the unforgettable experiences of your journey, from the historic streets of Harar to the wildlife-rich landscapes of Awash and the breathtaking highlands of Bale Mountains.

End of Tour.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

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