A Detailed 19-Day Ethiopia Birding Itinerary

Day 1: Addis Ababa

Upon your arrival at Bole International Airport, your driver will meet you just outside the airport building and take you to the luxury Sheraton Hotel. Freshen up at the hotel before taking your first steps in the bustling capital city, Addis Ababa (meaning ‘New Flower’). The city is the diplomatic capital of Africa and is located in the middle highlands at an altitude of 2,700 meters above sea level.

Founded in 1887 by Emporer Menilik II, it is currently home to nearly 3 million people and a portfolio of remarkable museums, historic landmarks, churches and enormous markets. Mercato is the largest open market in Africa and the Entoto hills surrounding it give dramatic views over the whole city.

Entoto Hills is the nicest entrance to Addis. Mount Entoto is the highest peak around the capital, and from its summit you get spectacular views over the city and surrounding country. These were the initial settlements of the city when Menelik II erected his palace in 1887. A unique area which gives a fascinating view of the history of Ethiopia’s peculiar culture. On top there is Menelik II’s palace, the Ethiopian artefact museum and the Entoto Mariam church all within the compound. Driving up the hill you notice a dramatic change in temperature and the air is thick with the smell of the Eucalyptus trees that flank the route.

Roadside booths provide fresh Ethiopian coffee, the greatest in the world. If you are interested in Ethiopian traditional costumes, if time permits, it could be feasible to pop into Shero Meda Market which has a great range of exquisite textiles, shawls, scarves, dresses, tops and jewellery, fantastic ideas for gifts.

After lunch you will visit the famous open-air market in Africa, Mercato, which covers several square miles and employs an estimated 13,000 people in 7,100 company units.

Overnight at Ghion hotel which affords the opportunity to see Ruppell’s and Hooded Vultures, and the Peculiar endemic Thick-billed Ravens, plus less obtrusive species such as Brown rumped seed eaters, Grey-headed Sparrows, Baglafecht’s Weavers, Abyssinian Slaty and Dusky Flycatchers, Africa Rock Martins, Tacazze Sunbirds, Red-eyed and Dusky Turtle Doves, and endemic Wattled Ibises and White collared pigeons.

Day 2: Addis Ababa

After breakfast drive a short way to Gafersa Reservoir just outside Addis. This is a stunning and fascinating area where a range of bush and wetland species can include as many as a quarter of Ethiopia’s 29 endemic birds. The endemics include the Blue-Winged Goose, the Wattled Ibis, Rouget’s Rail, the Abyssinian Long claw, the Banded Barbet and the Black-headed Siskin.

As the evening draws in, return to Addis for overnight stay.

Day 3: Ankober

Today we drive North East out of Addis to the small village of Ankober, site of Ankober resort, a basic resort situated between spectacular scenery with tremendous trekking and birding possibilities.

Anokober town has spectacular views over the escarpment and for ornithologists there is the potential to see the very rare Ankober Serin as well as 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.

Apart from the birds, there is lots of other wildlife to be seen in Ankober including Leopard (rarely seen), Colobus and Vervet Monkeys, Gelada Baboon, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Klipsringer and Rock Hyrax, which although small in size is a distant relative of the elephant.

Overnight at Ankober Lodge.

Day 4: Awash National Park

After breakfast in the lodge we go to Awash National park, one of the best birding destinations in whole East Africa.

Some of the bird species you are likely to see include: Augur Buzzards, Long-crested Eagles, Carmine Bee-eaters, Abyssinian and Rufous-crowned Rollers, Ostriches, Buff-crested, White-billed Kori and even Arabian Bustards, Lichtenstein’s and Chestnut-billed Sand grouse, Rosy-patched and other Shrikes, and many species of hornbills, Weavers, Woodpeckers Vultures, doves, Pigeons, guinea fowl, glossy starlings, parrots, bee-eaters, barbets, mouse birds and finches, and the endemic Yellow throated seed eater.

Overnight at Doho Lodge, a well-designed lodge situated in a thick of the national park.

Day 5: Awash National Park

Today I spent the whole day birding in Bilen. Over 440 species of bird have been reported in the Bilen area including uncommon species such as the Yellow Throated Serin, Sombre Chat and Arabian Bustard.

Return to Doho lodge as the sun sets.

Day 6: Langano

Leaving Awash National Park behind we travel for the Great Rift Valley.

Drive down to the shores of Ziway Lake and then to Langano (~4 hrs) where vast numbers of water birds congregate. African Pygmy Gees, Yellow-billed and marabou Storks, Lesser and Greater Jacanas, African Jacanas White Pelicans, Fish Eagles, Crowned and Common Cranes are some of the species to be seen here in great numbers.

Overnight at Hara Langano Lodge.

Day 7: Langano

After breakfast tour lakes Abijatta and Shalla, two lakes which with the surrounding woodland form the Abijatta-Shalla National Park.

These vast lakes are home to massive numbers of birds. Spend the morning enjoying this display of colour, and looking closely amongst the flamingoes, pelicans, cormorants, storks, herons and waders for uncommon vagrants In the distance, to the east and west, rise the huge cliffs of the Rift Valley.

Return to Hara Langano Lodge.

Day 8: Wondo Genet

After breakfast head to Wondo Genet home of sunbird, wood peckers, Silver-cheeked Hornbills, White-browed Robin Chats, Double-toothed Barbets, African Fire finches and a lot of other species.

In the nearby forested valley can be found four endemics: Black-headed Forest oriole, yellow-fronted parrot, white-winged Cliff Chat, and Golden-backed Woodpecker. Other specialities of the region include Half-collared Kingfishers, Spotted Creepers, African Hobbis, Crowned Eagles and Olive Pigeons.

Overnight at the simple Wabe Shebelle Hotel.

Day 9: Bale Mountains National Park

In the morning we head to Bale Mountains National Park which is one of the most visually spectacular and fascinating national parks in the country.

As you near the park the surroundings grow more and more mesmerising. Deep valleys are draped in magnificent trees; lofty peaks, rocky outcrops, pinnacles and ridges penetrate horizons; and moorlands, meadows and peaty lakes are lodged in plains and hollows.

Dinsho (sometimes called Gurie) is a settlement in South-central Ethiopia, the Park Headquarters. It is situated in the center of the Bale Mountains, Bale Zone of Oromia Region and at an altitude of 3207 meters.

Afternoon opportunity to stroll around and see some of the indigenous creatures such as Menelik’s Bushbuck or Mountain Nyala Dinsho. If time allows you can explore the Geysay Valley where you can see several different species of birds: Blue-winged geese, Spot-breasted lapwing, Abyssinian long claw, Wattled ibis, Black-headed siskin & Rouget’s rail.

There are many birds in the highlands, such as Abyssinian Long-eared owl, White-backed black Tit, Abyssinian catbird, Black-winged Lovebird, Golden-backed woodpecker and, if you are extremely lucky, you might even see a Black-headed Siskin or two.

These include eleven of Ethiopia’s 29 endemics: Blue winged Goose, Rouget’s Rail, Spot-breasted plover, white-collared pigeon, Black-winged Lovebird, Golden-backed woodpecker, Abyssinian Long claw, Abyssinian Catbird, White-backed Tit, Black-headed Siskin and Thick-billed Raven.

Your accommodation in the Bale Mountains is the beautiful Bale Mountains Lodge. Nestled into the Harenna Forest, this lodge has a romantic cabin feel, with wood burning fires in the rooms and beautiful views of the forest all around.

Day 10: Bale Mountains National Park

After breakfast at the lodge, you will spend the day exploring the park with your guide. The Bale Mountains have the greatest area of high moorland in Africa. They are almost uninhabited, very pristine and were declared a national park to preserve the rare Mountain Nyala.

The Bale Mountains are extraordinarily beautiful and charming, like the Scottish Highlands. They are lush and large with steep peaks and crags, many little lakes, vast heathland, spectacular cloud forests and bogs. In the park is Mount Batu which is one of the tallest mountains in Ethiopia at 4307m. The true star of the show is the Ethiopian Wolf, and this area is a frequent sighting ground.

On the Sanetti Plateau, Mount Tulu Dimtu, Ethiopia’s second highest peak, rises to a dizzying 4377m.

Explore the high-altitude Sanetti Plateau, home to the biggest population of endemic Ethiopian Wolves in Ethiopia. The route is flanked with the orange bloomed Lenontis and in the wet season the red hot pocker (Kniphofia) is flowering beneath the trees and attracting the dazzling iridescent Tacazza and Malachite sunbirds. You might witness birds of prey like the Aquila eagles, and you can often see practically all of the Ethiopian vulture species.

After the morning on the plateau go back to your lodge and visit the beautiful Harenna Escarpment where there are some great vistas. Bird watchers can spot rare birds including the white-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian catbird, Black-winged Lovebird, Golden-backed wood pecker and Black-headed Siskin.

Return to the lodge for dinner over the roaring fire.

Day 11: Bale Mountains National Park

Take a day journey from the lodge to the amazing but little known vast subterranean cave system of Sof Omar. The cave system was formed when the Web River changed its course in the distant past and created a new channel through lime stone foot hills. The cave system is remarkable not just for its geology but for the wealth of bird life in the vicinity.

Return to the lodge and spend the evening at leisure.

Day 12: Negele

Easy morning at the resort before we head off to Negele, a great birding area in the Rift Valley.

Overnight at Turacho Hotel.

Day 13: Negele

Full day birding around Negele today. You will drive from central Negele via Wadera and beyond to the Liben Plains.

Look out for roadside Coqui Francolin on the way — it’s a rare and localised bird in Ethiopia. It can camouflage itself as well as the Sidamo Lark. At dusk the grassland is teeming with starlings. Above us were flocks consisting of at least three species.

As the sun edges towards the horizon, return to Turaco Hotel.

Day 14: Yabelo

Between Negele and Yabello is a stretch of rough savanna broken up by the slightly lusher vegetation of the Dawa River basin. On the way see the group of Magpie Starlings, White-winged Dove, Black-bellied Sunbird and Salvadori’s Weaver, Bare-eyed Thrushes and the more surprising male Black Cuckooshrike. African Pied Wagtails hop upon the stony shores of the river.

As you approach Yabello you come within range of two of Ethiopia’s most sought-after species, Stresemann’s Bush-Crow and White-tailed Swallow. The first of these species met with is the Bush-Crow—a tiny flock. Moving a little closer to Yabello, spot a tiny flock of White-tailed Swallows — the last sight of a fantastic day in the wilds of southern Ethiopia.

Overnight at Borena Lodge.

Day 15: Yabelo

From our base at Borena Lodge we venture out to Mega. Here you will see various species including Red-naped Bush-Shrikes singing from the tops of acacia bushes, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Rufous Chatterer, White-bellied Canary, White-tailed Swallows, Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow. A night drive showed a similarly lively population at night. Fantastic numbers of nightjars, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjars and numerous African Scops-Owls.

Return to Borena Lodge.

Day 16: Awassa

Drive to Arba Minch with halt at a huge local lake, home to the Black Egret, the White-headed Vulture and the African Cuckoo-Hawk.

Arba Minch (Forty Springs) is the largest town in the Southern Region of Ethiopia. Take a boat tour on Lake Chamo and get close to hippos and crocodiles. This site is known as Azo-Gebeya, Crocodile Market, and it’s one of the most amazing huge crocs showrooms in Africa.

Overnight stay at Haile Resort, a great lakeside resort on the shores of Lake Awassa. The resort has great lakeview rooms.

Day 17: Awassa

Today is a full day of birding in Nech Sar National Park, one of the best birding parks in the country. There are 342 species of birds documented in this park.

In the late afternoon, retrun to Haile Resort for sundowners.

Day 18: Addis Ababa

After breakfast at the resort, drive back to Addis where you will spend your last evening in the nation.

Tonight you will spend a superb cultural evening in one of the fantastic cultural restaurants in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia is a patchwork of people with over 80 languages, varied lifestyles, clothes and ethnic dances. Take the opportunity to participate in some of these cultural dances and traditional dinners with a drink of Tej, a type of wine created from Honey.

Overnight at the lovely Capital Hotel and Spa.

Day 19: Addis Ababa

Services in Addis and transfer to the airport for your international trip home.

End of the 19-Day Ethiopia Birding Itinerary Rift Valley and Southern Highlands