Package ID: 1017
Duration: 10 Days
Season: January- December
Activities: Bird watching Safari
Customize: This package can be customized
Accommodation: Mixed (Hotel and lodge)
About 860 species of birds live in the highlands, Lowlands, river
banks, wet lands, dams, lakes, forests, shrubs and grasslands of
Ethiopia. The number, diversity and color of birds found in the
country have power to interest even the non birders. With regards to
number of species Ethiopia stands next to South Africa, but the
country possess a higher number of endemics and semi-endemics which
it shares with Eritrea.
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa; meet your guide holding Addis Tours
sticker and transfer to hotel. After breakfast you will be fetched
by our tourist guide to be taken on the full day Addis Tour, Which
includes the National Museum and Trinity Church and at last Visit
the Entoto Mountains, with its view over the capital. Mt Entoto will
give the opportunity for diverse bird life. Here we expect the
Abyssinian wood pecker, Abyssinian catbird, Wattled Ibis (endemic),
Moorland Francolin, white-collared Pigeon, Black-winged Lovebird,
White-cheeked Turaco, mountain Nightjar, banded Barbet, White-winged
Cliff Chat, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Brown parisoma, White-backed
Black Tit, Abyssinian Black-headed Oriole and White-billed Starling.
Overnight Addis Ababa
Day 2: A scenic drive through the lush fertile valleys of Goha
Tsion, as we pass through the Sululta Plain we can see Black-winged
plovers, Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged geese, Common Cranes and Wheat
ears.
On arrival at Debre Libanos, we will first stop at the Jemma River
gorge. Here at the gorge (and in the forest around the church) we
can expect to see the Banded Barbet, the Black-headed Forest Oriole,
the White-billed Starling, the Red-billed Starling, the White-winged
Cliff Chat, the White-backed Black Tit, the White-cheeked Turaco and
Hemprich’s Hornbill. We will also see one of Ethiopia’s endemic
mammals, the Gelada or bleeding heart baboon. (In the gorge we will
see a variety
of vultures - Lamergeyer’s, Ruppell’s and Lappet faced vultures.)
Overnight Debrelibanos
Day 3: After a comforting cup of hot coffee at Ethio-German
Restaurant we leave on the exploration for the songs of morning
birds. We then enjoy the rest of the day by visiting the monastery
of Debre libanos. It is a religious center and monastery which was
established in the 13th century by Saint (Abune) Tekle-Haimanot. It
is famous for its miraculous spring. The new church that stands
beneath a cliff on the edge of the gorge has beautiful stained glass
windows and mosaic figures on the façade. Nearby is a bridge with
much similar to that of the Portuguese in Tis Abay. Experience the
breathtaking sweeping view of the Blue Nile Gorge. Return back to
Addis Ababa in the mid afternoon.
Overnight Addis Ababa
Day 4: After breakfast, start driving to Ankober, the 18-19th C
capital. From the town of Anokober, there are marvelous views over
the escarpment, and for ornithologists there is the chance of seeing
the very rare Ankober Serin, and other species such as Smith’s
Francolin, Yellow Throated Serin, White billed Starling,
Black-winged Love Bird, Lammergeyer, Mountain Buzzard, Peregrine,
Red-breasted Sparrow Hawk, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin and Blue Rock
Thrush. Wildlife recorded in the area includes: Leopard (rarely
seen), Colobus and Vervet Monkeys, Gelada Baboon, Menelik’s
Bushbuck, Klipsringer and Rock Hyrax, which despite its small size
is a distant relative of the elephant.
Overnight Ankober Lodge.
Day 5: After a comforting cup of hot coffee at sunrise we leave on
our morning bird watching trip returning for breakfast around 09h00
at lodge. After breakfast e departs for Addis. On the way we will
visit the old town of Debre Berhan, some 130 km from Addis Ababa on
the Asmara Road. The great Emperor Zera Yaqob (1434 - 1468) made his
imperial capital here, after seeing a “heavenly light” visitors also
see the church of Selassie which Emperor Menelik restored in 1906.
Overnight Addis Ababa
Day 6: After you get a nice sleep, Early in the morning drive to
Awash. Heading south down the Rift Valley we turn east at Mojo for
Awash and the Afar Region. We pass Lake Beseka and enter the Awash
National Park. On arrival we could take a leisurely walk passing
through the patch of natural forest at the northern end of Elalaytu
hill. On our way, we may encounter the following bird species: Black
Scrub Robin, Somali Golden Breasted Robin, Nile Valley Sunbird,
Lineated Pytilia, Yellow Throated Serin, Sombre Chat and Arabian
Bustard.
Overnight Awash Park, Lodge
Day 7: The next day we could do an early morning game drive - visit
the birds, which are found around the lodge, returning to the main
road and proceeding to Langano, Bishangari.
Overnight Bishangari Lodge
Day 08: Bishangari, which means 'Sweet water' in Oromo Dialect, is
situated adjacent to an ancient forest that remains intact due to
inaccessibility and it is blessed with five ecological zones. Here,
we expect Cliff chat, Nightingale, Warblers, Flycatcher, Laughing
Dove, Wood Owl, Abyssinian Nightjar, Glossy Ibis and Silver Bill can
be seen not far from the Lodge. Overnight Bishangari Lodge
Day 09: After an early break fast we drive to Shalla and Abijata
National Park. Shalla 270 mts in depth, the deepest in Ethiopian
rift, is an important breeding site for birds on its four of the
nine islands. We then drive through the Ostrich Farms on the west of
the main road. Proceed to Abijata lake, where thousands of both
lesser and greater Flamingo's congregate along the shores. African
Pochard, Avocet, Gull-billed Tern and Pintail, little Stint, Ruff
and a variety of ducks are among other species to be seen. Drive to
Wondo Genet (There is naturally heated open air pool) set among
forested hills. In the gardens of the hotel and juniper Forests
behind the hotel, we will see the silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White
-cheeked Turaco, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Black-headed Forest Oriole,
golden-backed Woodpecker, Red wing Starling, Grosbeak Weaver,
Mountain Wagtail and Black-roughing Swallow. We can also see
Columbus monkey, Anubis baboon and Bushbuck.
Overnight Wondo Genet Lodge
Day 10: leave Wodogenet after breakfast; enjoy spectacular views on
our way to Hawassa, which is a half hour drive from Wondo Genet.
Along the shores of the lake and in the adjoining forest we can
expect Saddle bill and Marabou Storks ,Malakite king Fisher,
Spur-winged plover, pygmy goose, Brown snake eagle, grey Kestral,
Green-backed Honey guide, Blue-headed Coucal, Spotted Creeper,
African Firefinch, Bruce's Green pigeon, Red-breasted Wryneck,
Bare-faced Go away bird and the endemic Yellow-fronted Parrot,
Black-winged Lovebird and Black-headed Forest oriole.
Overnight Hawassa
Day 11: Leave to Yabello where one finds the forest reserve with
over 200 species like; Abyssinian Bush crow, White- tailed Smallwo,
Abyssinian Grosbeak Canary, Black- capped social weaver, short-
tailed lark, Pringle’s puff- back, Northern Grey Tit, Somli Sparrow
and many others.
Overnight Yabello
Day 12: you sip your early morning coffee as you leave on your early
exploring of Birds followed by breakfast at 09h00 at hotel. The rest
of the day will be exploring the Yabello sanctuary searching for
birdlife and other animals.
Overnight in a hotel
Day 13: Drive to the town of Mega birding on the way; Golden
Breasted Starling Helmeted & Vulturine Guinea Fowl Superb Starling
Lilac Breasted Starling and others.
Overnight hotel
Day 14: On the way to Negele we explore the forest around the town
of Arero. In this forest, about 168 species have been recorded
including 2 endemics that are among most sought-after birds in
Africa: Prince Ruspoli's Turaco Salvadori's Seedeater.
Overnight Negele
Days 15 & 16: These two days are dedicated to explore the
diversified environment around Negele, expecting to see: Prince
Ruspoli's Turaco, Salvadori's Seedeater, Sidamo long-clawed Lark,
Somali short-toed Lark Red-napped Bush Shriek, White crowned
Starling, Tiny Cisticola, Heuglin's Bustard, Hunter's Sunbird,
Golden Pipit, Pygmy Batis, Rufus Sparrow, Coqui Francolin.
Overnight Negele
Day 17: Continue to Goba and the Sanetti Plateau, driving on the
highest road and moorland in Africa. On the way we look at; Golden
backed woodpecker, White backed Tit.
Overnight Goba
Day 18: Full day birding in Bale National Park and return to Goba
with a chance to see; Lemmergeyer and Abyssinian Catbird.
Overnight Goba
Day 19: Drive back Addis Ababa, Continue to Lake Ziway with some
stops to visit the Oromo villages. Lake Ziway is not only for its
scenic qualities, but also for the large congregations of
water-associated birds that are attracted to the redlined fringes by
a thriving tilapia population.
In the evening, you will have a Dinner invitation by Addis Tour.
Here you will enjoy and experience several tribal dance plus taste
Ethiopian traditional food.
Departure
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