Ethiopia is a vibrant & exciting bird-rich country that has become one of Africa`s leading birding destinations since in recent years. Ethiopia shelters more than 800 species of birds, of which 29 are endemic to Ethiopia. Most the endemic birds are found in the southern part of Ethiopia to the Jima river valley, the rift valley lakes, the hot spring of Wondogenet area, in the Bale mountain area, the Awash national park. Yabello, the Nech sar park and in the north to the Debre Birhan, the Nile gorge Debre Libanos area and the lake Tana areas. Our bird watching itineraries can be mixed with historical route or Omo valley tour programs. However, the programs here under are the most know bird watching tour program including in the search of Ethiopian Endemic birds.

Here is the list of Ethiopian endemic birds: – Blue-Wing Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera), Harwood’s Francolin (Francolinus harwoodi), Ankober Serin (Carduelis ankoberensis), Red-billed Pytilia (Pytilia lineata), Spot-breasted Lapwing (Vanellus melanocephalus), Yellow-fronted Parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons), Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco (Tauraco ruspolii), Nech sar Nightjar (Caprimulgus solala), Degodi Lark (Mirafra degodiensis), Sidamo Lark (Heteromirafra sidamoensis), White-tailed Swallow (Hirundo megaensis), Abyssinian Longclaw (Macronyx flavicollis), Abyssinian Catbird (Parophasma galinieri) and Stresemann’s Bush-crow (Zavattariornis stresemanni)

Tour Code: DLE 021
Title: Special Birding Tour in Ethiopia
Duration: 10 Nights/ 11 Days
Transportation: Drive
Highlights: Around Addis Ababa, Debrelibanos Monastery, Awash National Park, Lake Langano, Wondo Genet, Lake Hawassa

Day 1: Arrive Addis Ababa, afternoon drive to Geferssa Reservoir. Here, we expect to see some of the endemic birds like the Wattle Ibis, Rouget’s Rail, black-headed Sis- kin, Abyssinian Long claw, the white collared pigeon and Blue-winged Goose. The African-black Duck, Ortolan bunting, Red-breasted Wheatear, Three-banded plover; African Marsh Harrier and African Fish Eagle are one of the species that we do see this afternoon. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: Early start for Debre-Libanos monastery about 110 km north of the capital via Sululta Plain, the Red-rumpled and Lesser-striped Swallows, Pectoral-patched Cist cola, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, common Buzzard and Black winged Lapwing are some of the birds that would be seen along the road. Around the monastery we expect to see some of the endemic birds like the Black-headed Forest Oriole, Banded Barbet, the White-billed Starling, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Rappel’s chat, the White-backed Black Tit and Abyssinian slaty Flycatcher. The Lammergeyers, Egyptian Vulture, Lanner Falcon, Verreaux’s Eagle and the White-checked Turaco are seen at the escarpment. Late afternoon drive back to Addis. Overnight in hotel.
Day 3: Leave Addis Ababa for Awash National Park, this morning we stop at Chalaklaka wetland near Debre-Zeit. The White-backed Duck, Tufted Duck, little stint, Ruff, African Spoon bill, Yellow billed stork, Common and crowned cranes, White-winged Black Tern and others are expect to be seen. Then we will have a short stop at lake Hora for more birding. Lunch will be at Nazareth. After lunch proceeding to Awash, one of the best birding sites in Ethiopian Rift valley. Overnight in hotel.
Day 4: Full day birding in the Park, The Arabian Bustard, Kori Bustard, White bellied Bustard, Buff crested Bustard, the Rosy-patched Shrike, Swallow tailed Kite, Bristle Crowned Starling, different woodpeckers, Grey-headed and Sulpher breasted Bush Shrike, Gabar Goshawk, Shirk, Crested Francolin, Common Quail, Harlequin Quail, Palm Swift, Orange-bellied Parrot, Martial Eagle, different wood Doves, Yellow billed Hornbill, Crested Lark, Singing Bush Lark, Red wing Bush Lark, Somali Golden-breasted Bunting, Little Rock Thrush, Grey-headed Batis and Spotted Flycatcher are one of the important birds that we are planning to see for today. Overnight in hotel.
Day 5: Drive to Langano, before lunch we will have short stops at Koka Dam (Awash River Bridge) for more aquatic and woodland birds. Then, we continue to Lake Zeway where we stop for lunch and an afternoon birding. Lake Zeway is one of the important areas of the Ethiopian Lakes. The Black Heron, Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, Pink backed and White Pelicans, Crowned Crane, Black-headed Gull, Great-black headed Gull, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Green Shank, Wood Sandpiper, common and African Snipe, Red breasted Wryneck, Masked Weavers, Beautiful Sunbird and some others would be seen. Overnight in hotel.
Day 6: Early birding around the Hotel garden and the cliff near the lake. Shallow’s Wheatear, Red bill and Von de Deckins Horn bill, Diedderik Cuckoo, Slender-tailed Nightjar, woodland Kingfisher, striped Kingfisher, Little and Blue-breasted Bee-eater, the endemic Black winged Love bird, Red-headed Weaver, Fan tailed Raven, Hemp Rich’s Hornbill, Brubru, Bearded Woodpecker, Bare faced Go away bird and Marico sunbird are one of the species we expect this morning. After breakfast we drive to the Abijata-Shalla lakes national park for more birding. The Saddle bill stork, Goliath Heron Golden Plover, Grassland pipit, lesser and Greater Flamingos, and hundreds of other water birds could be easily seen. Overnight in hotel.
Day 7: Full day birding in the forest of Wondo Genet, it is the site for some the endemic birds like the Yellow-fronted Parrot, Thick-billed Raven, the Abyssinian Wood pecker and Banded Barbet. In addition, We expect to see the Red -shouldered and Black Cuckoo shrikes, Grey Cuckoo shrike, Marin’s Trogon, White-checked Turaco, Double Toothed Barbet, Scaly and Lesser Honey guide, Crowned Eagle, Aria’s Hawk Eagle, Silvery checked Horn bill, Hadada Ibis, Banded Wattle eye, Sharpest starling, Broad billed Roller, Black billed Barbet, Lemon Dove, Mountain Buzzard and Half-collared Kingfisher. Overnight in hotel.
Day 9: set off for Lake Awassa. The spotted creeper, African pygmy kingfisher, Bruce’s Green pigeon, Violet-backed Starling, Grey Kestrel, Giant Kingfisher, Klaasa’s Cuckoo, Tree pipit, Allen’s Gallenue, Lesser Moorhen, Painted Snipe, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Grey kingfisher, Banded snake Eagle, the African and common snipe, purple and Goliath Heron, Greater Honey Guide, Grosbeak weaver, Red-breasted Wryneck, African Harrier Hawk and Greater spotted Eagle are one of the birds have been recorded in Awassa. Overnight in hotel.
Day 10: drive back to Addis Ababa. En route looking for the species that haven’t been in the previous days of our trip, afternoon city tour in Addis Ababa. Overnight in hotel.
Day 11: Departure

Tour Code: DLE 022
Title: Fourteen Nights Special Birding Tour in Ethiopia
Duration: 14 Nights/ 15 Days
Transportation: Drive
Highlights: Around Addis Ababa, Debrelibanos Monastery, Menagesh State Forest, Around Nazareth and Mojo, Around Awash, Lake Langano, Zeway lakeshore, Wondo Genet, Lake Hawassa, Tullu Dimtu, Harena Forest

Day 1: Arrive Addis Ababa, transfer to the hotel.
Day 2: excursion to Debre Libanos monastery, through the Sululta plain to Debre Libanos and the Jima River Gorge, about 110 km from the capital. Sululta plain is a wide shallow valley, ringed by mountains, with many rivers draining into it and forming extensive wetlands for much of the year. En route through the plain we can expect to see Black-winged and Spot-breasted Plover, Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged Goose, Rouget’s Rail, Abyssinian Long claw, Abyssinian Catbird, Common Crane and Wheat Ear. It is currently the only known location in Ethiopia for the exceptionally rare White-winged Flufftail. We will make a small detour from the main road to take in the very attractive 200 m Aleltu Falls, where we can expect to see White-billed Starling, Ruppel’s Chat, Bearded Vulture, Verreaux’s Eagle, Lanner and Peregrine Falcon. Overnight in hotel.

Day 3: Drive in the morning to the Ambo Road for Menagesha State Forest, about 50 km from Addis Ababa. The Emperor Zera Yacob (1434-1468), noticing the degradation of the forest around Mount Wechecha, initiated what was perhaps the first reforestation and conservation measure in the region by having Juniper trees planted. We will take a picnic lunch, making our way up through the forest towards the top of Mount Wechecha. We can expect to see the Abyssinian Catbird, Banded Barbet, Golden-backed Woodpecker, Black-headed Forest Oriole, Wattled Ibis, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Black-winged Lovebird, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Crowned Eagle and Narina’s Trogan. Among the wildlife species recorded here are: Menelik’s Bushbuck, Leopard, Colobus Monkey, Serval, Grey Duiker, Hyaena, Warthog, Porcupine and Civet Cat. We will return to Addis by the Jima Road, to the south of the forest. Overnight hotel.
Day 4: Drive to the Ethiopian Rift Valley, turning east at Mojo towards Awash. We will be birding along the way, and will stop for lunch in Nazareth. For the rest of this day’s activities and for the species we can expect to see, Over 460 species of bird have been recorded in this area including: the Abyssinian Roller, Abyssinian Ground Horn Bill, the endemic White-tailed Swallow, Buff Crested Bustard, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Honey Guide, Woodland Kingfisher, Kori and Arabian Bustard, Black-shouldered Kite, White and Crowned Rosy Patch Shrike, Carmine Bee Eater, Orange-billed Parrot, Lilac Breasted Roller, Lappet faced and Ruppell’s vulture. We will also see a variety of different animals, including Greater and Lesser Kudu, Wart Hog, Dik Dik, Gerenuk, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Soemmering gazelle, Hamadryas baboons, and crocodiles. Overnight in hotel.

Day 5: The day is dedicated birding in the different habitats of the area, the plains, cliffs, wetlands and riverine forest by the Awash. We can return to the camp for lunch. Camel trekking can be arranged to some of these sites – one gets a great view from on top of a camel, and can also get closer to birds and wildlife. Overnight in hotel.

Day 6: Today we retrace our steps towards Mojo, birding along the way, and stopping to see the hippo in the pools near Nazret. Than drive to Zeway lakeshore where huge numbers of water birds are congregated. African Pygmy Geese, Yellow-billed and Maribou Storks, Collared Pratincoles, Lesser and Greater Jacanas, African Jacanas, White Pelicans, Fish Eagles, Crowned and Common Cranes are some of the species to be seen here in impressive numbers. Than we will drive to lake Langano Overnight in hotel.

Day 7: Lake Langano is one of Ethiopian salty and suitable for relaxing and also where someone can swim. The day is dedicated to visit the Shalla and Abiyata National Park, where we can see different birds including flamingos. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 8: Drive Lake Langano to Wondo Genet hot set among forested hills. Here we will see the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-cheeked Turaco, and Yellow-fronted Parrot. In the evening we will explore the juniper forests behind the hotel, where we can see the Black-headed Forest Oriole, the Golden-backed Woodpecker, Redwing Starling, Grosbeak Weaver, Mountain Wagtail and Black-roughing Swallow. We will also see Colobus monkey, Anubis baboon and bushbuck. Overnight in hotel.

Day 9: The day is dedicated to walk in the forests around Wondo Genet, for more birds and if someone wants to stay relaxing in the hot spring swimming pool this is a really ideal place for a day relaxing. Overnight in hotel.

Day 10: Drive Wondo Genet to Awassa birding along the shores of Lake Awassa. In composition this fresh water Lake is different from the alkaline lakes of Abiyata and Shalla. The Black forest near the lake is an additional and interesting birding site. Overnight in hotel.
Day 11: Early morning visit the fish Market in the lakeshore of Awassa, than drive to the Bale Mountain National Parks. Overnight in hotel.
Day 12: The day is dedicated birding in the stunning Afro-Alpine setting of the Sanetti plateau, with its striking Afro-Alpine flora, such as the Giant Lobelia and Red Hot Poker. It is the best place in Ethiopia to see the Simien Wolf, the rare caned in the world, while the huge rodent population, including the endemic Giant Mole Rat, supports a variety of raptors. The rare Wattled Crane is often seen, while there are a good number of the Spot-breasted Plover. Tullu Dimtu at 4377 m is the second highest mountain in Ethiopia and we can drive all the way to the top. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 13: The day is dedicated birding in Harena forest where at the southern boundary of the park the altitude is 1700 m. The Forest supports a woodland avi-fauna including the African Cuckoo Hawk, Yellow-fronted Parrot and Brown-backed Honey guide. Wildlife includes Klipspringer, Serval, Bushpig, Giant Forest Hog, Grey Duiker, Colobus Monkey, Lion and Leopard; although visitors are less likely to see the latter two and afternoon drive to Goba. Overnight in hotel.
Day 14: Drive Goba to Addis Ababa via the rift valley lakes. Overnight in hotel.
Day 15: Departure