BIRDWATCHING 15 days

01. Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the hotel. Have a free morning.
Afternoon (13:30 hrs from the hotel) you will leave for Geferssa Reservoir, some 20 kms of West Addis Ababa, where one can see the Blue-winged Goose, black-headed siskin, Abyssinian Long Claw and Wattled Ibis.
Return to Addis Ababa in the early evening. Overnight Hotel.

02. Leave early and drive north through the Sululta plain to Debre Libanos and the Jemma River Gorge, about 110 km. from the capital. Debre Libanos is an important monastic center for the Ethiopian orthodox Christianity.
For keen Birders the journey can take up to 6 hours, as we pass through the Sululta plain where we will see Black winged plovers, Wattled ibis, Blue winged geese, common cranes, wheat ears and Larks.On Arrival at Debre-Libanos, we will first stop at the Jemma River gorge. The Jemma
river is one of the tributaries of the Nile , and there is a drop of nearly 1000 to the Valley below. 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 Winged cliff chat, the White backed black tit,
white cheeked Turaco and Hemprich’s hornbill. We will also see one of Ethiopia’s endemic mammals, the Gelada (or the bleeding heart) baboon. In the gorge we will see a variety of vultures- Lameregayer’s , Ruppell’s and Lappet faced Vulture. We will leave Debre Libanos around 5 pm,returning to Addis Ababa early evening. Overnight Hotel.

03. After Breakfast leave for Menagesha forest, about 50 km from Addis Ababa.
The Abyssinian Cat bird, Banded Barbet, Golden backed wood pecker, Blacked headed forest Oriole and Wattled Ibis are some of the endemic species which have been recorded in this relatively small but dense, indigenous forest.
Picnic lunch and return to Addis Ababa in the late afternoon. ON Hotel.

04. After breakfast depart for the Bilen Lodge near Awash National Park. Here around the lodge there are many interesting birds. Night at Lodge.

05. Breakfast at Bilen Lodge and drive to the National park to have some interesting birds and your overnight will be at Awash Falls (Fafate) lodge inside the National park. See also different mammals and also crocodiles and hippos.

06. Morning drive in to Lake Langano with picnic lunch on the way. Africa pygmy Geese, yellow billed storks, collared pratincoles, lesser Jacanas, African Jacanas, white Pelicans, Fish Eagles, Crowned and common cranes are some of the species to be seen her in impressive numbers. We leave Zeway mid afternoon, continuing to Lake Langano for an overnight at Bishangari lodge, situated on the shores of the lake and near to Munessa forest. You’ll see also lot of colubus monkeys; overnight in Savana Lodge.

07. After breakfast we drive a short distance to the Shalla and Abiyata National Parks, and passing the tame ostriches at the gate , we first go to Shalla Lake , the deepest in the Ethiopian Rift. Next to the Lake are a number of hot springs. Some of which are so hot that local boil maize in them. Then on to Abiyata where one can see thousands of both lesser and greater Flamingo’s, African pachard, Avocet, Gull billed tern and Pintail, Ruff and a variety of ducks are among other species to be seen. We leave Shalla Abiyata National Park around lunch time for an hour’s drive to Lake Awassa and chek-in to Haile Resort or Lewi hotels. Lake Awassa is rich in Bird life and also has hippos. Boats can be hired on the lake , and the Malakite King fisher, Spur-winged Plover, pygmy geese, the endemic Black winged Lovebirds, Bruce’s green pigeon, Red breasted wryneck and Bare-faced Go-away bird are some of the species to be seen.
Dinner & overnight Resort.

08. Before Breakfast we go to the fish Market where we can get really close to birds well used to human company. After breakfast in the Hotel we leave for Wondo Genet, about an hour’s drive. Wondogenet has Hot mineral Springs and a natural heated pool in a lush , forested mountain setting.
After lunch we will climb through juniper plantations – the endemic yellow fronted parrot, the Black headed Forest Oriole and the Abyssinian Wood-pecker ( Golden – blacked) can be seen , along with the Redwing starling. Grosbeak Weaver, Mounting wagtail and Black rough wing Swallow.
Ovenight at hotel.

09. We set off early for the magnificent Bale mountains National Park, with its forest , volcanic lakes and trout filled streams. About 14 endemic birds have been recorded here, plus some endemic mammals like the mountain Nyala, Simien Fox and Menilik’s bushbuck. In the Bale Mountains National Park we expect to see the following endemic birds: the Spot breasted Plover, Rouget’s Rail, Abissinian cat bird, Black headed Siskin, Blue winged Goose, wattled Ibis, White collared pigeon and Black Winged love bird.
Overnight Hotel.

10. Full day birding in the amazing Afro-Alpine setting of the Sanete Plateau, home to the endemic Ethiopian Wolf and the beautiful Spot- breasted plover. We should also be able to see the rear Wattled crane. Picnic lunch, returning to Goba late afternoon.
Overnight hotel.

11. Breakfast at Goba Wabe Shebelle Hotel, picnic on the way to Negele. When traveling from the Goba you will have much opportunity to see the different birding on the way to Negelle; overnight hotel.

12. Day trip will dedicated to Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco area. One of the most rarest birds in the world but very colorful and impressive birds that only found in Ethiopia along the banks of the Nigele River.
Lunch box; dinner & overnight hotel.

13. In the early morning you will drive to Yabello and over there you will
have a sightseeing tour of Birding and your overnight will be at Yabello Motel.

14. You will have full day birding in Yabello and on the way you can also visit the ElSod crater (where from a marshy lake Borena men extract salt for their cattle), the singing wells and Bore people culture. Continue driving to Aregashe Lodge in Yergalem.
Lunch on the way; dinner & ON lodge

15. Drive back to Addis Ababa with visiting along the Great Rift Valley Lakes and have birding on the way. In the late afternoon arrival in Addis Ababa. Invited to a traditional dinner with folkloristic dances. After dinner transfer to airport for departure