13-Day Ethiopian Bird watching Specialist Tour

You will depart from Addis Ababa and drive to Awash National Park, a prime destination for birdwatchers. The park is home to diverse bird species such as Red-bellied Parrots, Bustards, Weavers, Hoopoes, Yellow-throated Serins, Red-fronted Barbets, Pygmy Batis, and Lesser-striped Swallows. Additionally, various mammals inhabit the park, including Anubis Baboons, Colobus Monkeys, Black-backed Jackals, Bat-eared Foxes, Egyptian Mongooses, Warthogs, Beisa Oryx, Soemmerring’s Gazelles, Lesser Kudu, and Salt’s Dikdik. Overnight at Doho Lodge and Hot Springs.

You will continue birdwatching in Awash National Park before heading to the Alledeghi Plains, located around 70 km away. This area offers excellent opportunities to observe bird species such as bustards, larks, and sandgrouse. Your overnight stay will be at Doho Lodge.

Depart for Lake Langano, stopping for birdwatching at Koka Dam, the Awash River, and Lake Ziway. These locations host a variety of birdlife, including 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 various species of cranes. Sabana Resort

Spend the day birdwatching around Lake Langano and Abijatta-Shalla National Park, where over 300 species can be observed. Look for Yellow Wagtails, Ibises, Cormorants, Pelicans, Ducks, Egrets, Herons, Flamingos, Storks, Swallows, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Rollers, Wheatears, African Marsh Harriers, and more. Overnight Sabana Resort

Travel to Bale Mountains National Park, one of Africa’s top birding destinations and ranked #4 by the African Bird Club. With over 300 bird species, six of which are endemic to Ethiopia, this park is a haven for birdwatchers. Upon arrival, take a scenic hike while looking for Menelik's Bushbuck and the Mountain Nyala, along with bird species such as Blue-Winged Goose, Spot-Breasted Lapwing, Abyssinian Longclaw, Wattled Ibis, Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail, and more. Overnight at Nu Goba Hotel.

Venture deeper into the Bale Mountains, searching for endemic birds like Chestnut-naped Francolin, Ground Thrush (Simensis subspecies), Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Abyssinian Catbird, and White-backed Black-Tit. With some luck, you may spot the rare Wattled Crane in the grasslands, along with species like Cape Eagle-Lapwing, Thekla Lark, Red-breasted Wheatear, and Moorland Chats. The Sanetti Plateau, the largest continuous high-altitude area in Africa, is also home to the rare Ethiopian Wolf. Overnight at Nu Goba Hotel.

Spend another day discovering the diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity of Bale Mountains National Park. As you explore different sections of the park, observe a variety of bird species, including endemics like the Abyssinian Catbird, Spot-Breasted Lapwing, and Blue-Winged Goose. Explore the Sanetti Plateau, home to the rare Ethiopian Wolf, and search for high-altitude bird species such as the Wattled Crane, Thekla Lark, and Moorland Chat. In the dense Harenna Forest, listen for the calls of the Abyssinian Ground Thrush while keeping an eye out for the elusive Menelik’s Bushbuck. Overnight at Nu Goba Hotel.

Depart from Bale Mountains National Park and embark on a scenic drive toward Dilla, a town known for its rich coffee-growing culture and archaeological significance. Along the way, make several birdwatching stops to observe diverse avian species inhabiting the region’s varied landscapes. As you leave the high-altitude grasslands of Bale, you will descend into transitional zones where forests, woodlands, and agricultural fields create a mix of habitats. Watch for species like the White-cheeked Turaco, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, and Yellow-fronted Parrot, as well as various sunbirds, hornbills, and raptors soaring above. Overnight at Nu Goba Hotel.

Journey to Yabello, a renowned birding hotspot. Search for the White-tailed Swallow and Stresemann’s Bushcrow, both endemic to Ethiopia. Spend the day exploring Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary, where you may spot Somali Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture, Martial Eagle, Grasshopper Buzzard, African Pygmy Falcon, Vulturine Guineafowl, Kori Bustard, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar, Star-spotted Nightjar, Yellow-billed Hornbill, and Lilac-breasted Roller. The park is also home to mammals such as Burchell’s Zebra, Aardvark, Grant’s Gazelle, and Lesser-spotted Genet. Overnight Yabello Hotel

Spend the day birdwatching in the Yabello region, continuing to observe the unique bird species and diverse wildlife that call this beautiful area home. Enjoy the vivid landscapes and the safari experience this region offers. Overnight Yabello Hotel