Bird Watching Ethiopia Tour
7 Days: Bird Watching Ethiopia Tour
8 Days: Bird Watching Tour
12 Days: Birding Tour
14 Days: Birding Tour
17 Days: Photography Tour
7 Days Bird Watching Ethiopia Tour
Day 1: Arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Meet and greet your Scenic Ethiopia Tours representative at exit of luggage claim and transfer you to the hotel.
Day 2: Excursion to Menegash Suba Forest
After breakfast, drive to Menegash Suba Forest (50 Km from Addis). Spot birds and endemic species such as White-winged Flufftail, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Abyssinian Catbird, and wildlife like Gureza Monkey, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Baboon, Common Duiker, and Serval Cat. Packed lunch in the bush. Return to Addis Ababa for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Drive to Jemma Valley
Early breakfast and drive to Jemma Valley escarpment (180 Km from Addis). Birdwatching includes Harwood’s Francolin, Egyptian Vulture, White-billed Starling, White-winged Cliff Chat, Tacazze Sunbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Banded Barbet, and more. Packed lunch in the bush. Evening check-in at lodge, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 4: Drive to Ankober via Denba-Medida-Debre
Breakfast and drive to Ankober via Denba-Medida-Debre Berhan with birdwatching en route. Lunch in Debre Berhan (190 Km). Continue to Ankober (30 Km). Evening walk for bird spotting including Yellow-crowned Canary, Alpine Swifts, Lammergeyer, and Augur Buzzard. Overnight at lodge/hotel.
Day 5: Birding around Ankober looking for Ankober Serin
Breakfast and sightseeing in historical Ankober, looking for endemic Ankober Serin and other birds of prey. Evening return to lodge, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 6: Drive to Awash National Park
Early breakfast and drive to Awash National Park (250 Km via old coffee caravan route). Explore the park with over 460 bird species, including two globally threatened species. Evening check-in at lodge, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 7: Birding in Awash National Park
Full day birding at Ilala Sala Plain, Awash River Waterfalls, and acacia thickets. Spot Grey Hornbill, Somali Fiscal, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Blue-naped Mousebird, Kori Bustard, Yellow-necked Francolin, Drongo, Red-winged Lark, Woodland and Striped Kingfishers, Robins, and birds of prey. Mammals include Oryx, Lesser Kudu, Hamadryas Baboon, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Salt’s Dik-dik, and more. Evening return, dinner, overnight stay. End of tour.
8 Days Bird Watching Tour
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa
Meet representative at airport, transfer to hotel. Visit National Museum, Trinity Cathedral, and Entoto Hill. Overnight at standard hotel.
Day 2: Addis Ababa – Awash National Park
Drive to Awash National Park, enjoy walking and driving around the park. Overnight at standard hotel in Awash.
Day 3: Full day game drive and bird watching in Awash National Park
Explore Awash National Park for birds and wildlife such as Beisa Oryx, Kudu, Defassa Waterbuck, Soemmering's Gazelle, Warthog, and Baboon. Overnight at standard hotel in Awash.
Day 4: Awash NP – Langano
Morning birdwatching at Awash NP, then drive via Abijata Shalla National Park to Langano. Overnight at standard lodge.
Day 5: Langano – Wondo Genet
Drive to Wondo Genet for forest birdwatching. Overnight at standard hotel.
Day 6: Wondo Genet – Goba
Drive to Bale Mountains National Park (Dinsho). Explore surroundings. Overnight at standard lodge.
Day 7: Dinsho – Goba – Sanetti – Goba
Explore Bale Mountains, Harena Forest, look for endemic species including Ethiopian Wolf. Overnight at standard lodge.
Day 8: Goba – Addis Ababa
Return to Addis Ababa with stops at Ziway and Debre Zeyit. Farewell dinner with cultural buffet. Transfer to airport. End of tour.
12 Days Birding Tour
Day 01: Addis Ababa – Awash National Park
Drive to Awash National Park. Spot birds including Red-bellied Parrots, Bustards, Weavers, Hoopoe, Yellow-throated Serine, Red-fronted Barbet, Pygmy Batis, Lesser-striped Swallow. Mammals include Anubis Baboon, Colobus Monkey, Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Egyptian Mongoose, Warthog, Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Lesser Kudu, Salt’s Dikdik.
Day 02: Awash National Park
Birding continues in Awash NP and Alledeghi Plains to spot bustards, larks, sandgrouse, etc.
Day 03: Awash NP – Lake Langano
Drive to Lake Langano with stops at Koka Dam, Awash River, and Lake Ziway. Spot African Pygmy Goose, Black-billed Woodhoopoe, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Black Tit, Little Weaver, Yellow-billed Storks, Collared Pratincole, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, White Pelicans, Fish Eagles, and cranes.
Day 04: Lake Langano
Continue birding around Lake Langano and Abiyata–Shalla National Park. Over 300 species possible including Yellow Wagtails, Ibis, Cormorant, Pelicans, Ducks, Egrets, Herons, Flamingos, Storks, Swallows, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Rollers, Wheatear, African Marsh Harrier.
Day 05: Lake Langano – Wondo Genet – Bale Mountains
Drive to Bale Mountains NP. Possible sightings include Blue-Winged Goose, Spot-Breasted Lapwing, Abyssinian Long Claw, Wattled Ibis, Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail. Endemic mammals: Menelik's Bushbuck and Mountain Nyala.
Day 06: Bale Mountains National Park
Explore interior of Bale Mountains. Birdwatch for Chestnut-naped Francolin, Ground Thrush, Abyssinia Ground-thrush, Abyssinian Catbird, White-backed Black-Tit, Wattled Crane, Cape Eagle-Lapwing, Thekla Lark, Red-breasted Wheatear, Moorland Chats. Look for Ethiopian Red Wolf.
Day 07: Bale Mountains NP – Negeli Borena
Drive with birding stops. Spot Turaco, Golden-breasted Starling, Sidamo Lark, Somali Short-toed Lark, Heuglin’s Bustard.
Day 08: Negeli Borena
Morning birdwatching for Degodi Lark, White-winged Dove, Juba Weaver, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Chestnut-headed Sparrow-lark, Scaly Chatterer, Sidamo Lark.
Day 09: Negeli – Yabello Borena
Drive to Yabello. Spot White-tailed Swallow, Stresemann’s Bushcrow, 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, Abyssinian Grosbeak Canary, Somali Sparrow, Black-capped Social Weaver, Grey-headed Silverbill, Taita Fiscal, Somali Golden-breasted Bunting. Mammals: Burchell’s Zebra, Aardvark, Grant’s Gazelle, Thompson’s Gazelle, Lesser-spotted Genet.
Day 10: Yabello Borena
Continue birding: Degodi Lark, Bush Crow, White-tailed Swallow, Corsar, Garganey Pintail, and others.
Day 11: Yabello Borena – Hawassa
Drive to Hawassa with en route birding: Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Roget's Rail, Marabou Stork, Black and White Egrets, African Pygmy Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Swallows, Ibis, African Fish Egret, Woodland Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher.
Day 12: Hawassa – Addis Ababa
Return to Addis Ababa with optional stop at Lake Ziway. Farewell dinner at traditional Ethiopian restaurant. Transfer to airport. End of tour.
14 Days Birding Tour
Day 01: Arrival and drive to Debre Zeit Craters
Transfer to Debre Zeit. Explore crater lakes for water birds. Paddleboat trip at Babogaya Crater Lake.
Day 02: Debre Zeit – Wolisso
Morning birdwatching for ibises. Drive to Wolisso (165 km). Lodge check-in, view birds and monkeys from terrace.
Day 03: Day excursion to Wenchi Crater Lake
Hike to northern crater lake (4–5 hours). Optional ride. Short boat trip through valley. Chance to spot Lammergeyer.
Day 04: Wolisso – Jimma
Early drive to Jimma, western Ethiopia. Walk along Gibe river banks to spot birds. Travel: ~245 km.
Day 05: Jimma – Bonga: Kaffa Biosphere Reserve
Short travel to Bonga (120 km). Explore market and mountain rainforest. Stop at cave along route.
Day 06: Day trip in Reserve to Alem Gonna & Barta Waterfall
Morning birdwatching at Alem Gonna wetlands. Visit Barta Waterfall. Learn honey production from local beekeepers. Travel: ~30 km.
Day 07: Return to Jimma and flight to Addis Ababa
Drive to Jimma, fly to Addis Ababa (~0:55 min). Evening free time.
Day 08: Flight Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar: Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve
Flight to Bahir Dar. Meet NABU staff for introduction. Walk along bird-filled lakeside promenade.
Day 09–10: Nature and Culture at Lake Tana
Boat trips to monastery islands and remote birdwatching sites. Observe cranes during winter migration.
Day 11: Bahir Dar – Gondar – Kossoye
Drive to Gondar, visit ancient palaces, continue to Kossoye viewpoint lodge (210 km).
Day 12: Simien National Park: Hiking
Debark, explore Simien NP, observe Lammergeyer, Thick-billed Raven, Walia Ibex. Picnic and return to Simien Lodge. Travel: ~100 km.
Day 13: Simien NP – Gondar
Excursion in Simien NP, visit Jinbar Waterfall (500 m), watch Gelada Baboons. Return to Gondar. Travel: ~130 km.
Day 14: Flight Gondar – Addis Ababa, market, and departure
Morning transfer to airport, flight to Addis Ababa. Souvenir shopping and traditional Ethiopian dinner. End of tour.
17 Days Photography Tour
Day 1: Arrival to Addis Ababa
Meet team at Bole Airport, transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner with fellow travelers.
Day 2: Flight to Gondar – Simien Mountains
Fly to Gondar, drive to Simien Mountains NP. Afternoon photography session from lodge.
Day 3–4: Explore Simien Mountains National Park
Photograph jagged peaks, valleys, endemic wildlife (Ethiopian Wolf, Gelada Baboon, Walia Ibex, Thick-billed Raven, Wattled Ibis). Visit Chenek guard post for Walia Ibex and Ethiopian Wolf. Chance to spot Klipspringer, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Bush Duiker, and raptors.
Day 5: Drive to Gondar
Visit Gondar castles and Debre Birhan Selassie Church.
Day 6: Flight to Addis Ababa, then Dire Dawa and Harar
Morning flight to Dire Dawa, drive to Harar, explore city, evening session with ‘Hyena Men’. Overnight at Wonderland Hotel.
Day 7: Harar City
Explore Harar medina and fortifications (Jugal). Photograph Yellow-billed Kites with Kite Men. Evening session with Hyena Men.
Day 8: Drive to Alideghe Wildlife Reserve
Drive to Awash Valley, photograph wildlife including Hamadryas Baboon, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Beisa Oryx, Northern Gerenuk, Salt’s Dikdik, Arabian Bustard, Somali Ostrich, Lappet-faced Vulture, Tawny Eagle, Pygmy Falcon, and more. Overnight at Doho Lodge.
Day 9: Drive to Awash National Park
Game drives and hikes at Awash NP. Wildlife includes Salt’s Dik-dik, Lesser Kudu, Warthog, Hamadryas Baboon, Olive Baboon, Black-backed Jackal, Spotted Hyena, Abyssinian Hare, Aardwolf, Aardvark, Grivet Monkey, Nile Crocodiles, and various birds.
Day 10: Drive to Lake Ziway
Drive to Lake Ziway, photography of water birds including Great White Pelicans, Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana, Goliath Heron, Hamerkop, African Fish Eagle, Saddle-billed Stork, Whistling Ducks, Egyptian Geese, and more.
Day 11: Drive to Sankalle Wildlife Reserve
Photograph wildlife and birds at Lake Langano and Senkelle Wildlife Sanctuary including Swayne’s Hartebeest, White-bellied Bustard, Northern Carmine Bee-eater. Continue to Awassa for overnight stay.
Day 12: Drive to Bale Mountains
Photography at lakeshore and then drive to Bale Mountains for four nights at Goba. First session in the mountains.
Day 13–15: Explore Bale Mountains National Park
Photograph Ethiopian Wolf, Mountain Nyala, endemic rodents (Blick’s Grass Rat, Black-clawed Brush-furred Rat, Giant Mole Rat), and other wildlife. Explore Sanetti Plateau and Bale Mountains NP headquarters at Dinsho.
Day 16: Drive to Awassa
Return to Awassa for overnight. Photograph Guereza Colobus Monkeys, Grivet Monkeys, and birdlife near the lake.
Day 17: Flight to Addis Ababa
Farewell dinner at traditional Ethiopian restaurant with dancers and musicians. Transfer to airport for international departure. End of tour.
“Discover Ethiopia through its skies — where every flutter tells a story and every bird is a treasure.”