Epic journeys
Insurrance
All drink included
Lunch in restaurant
All tickeds museum
Tour guide
Travel Insurance
Tour Overview
Day 1
Arrive Addis Ababa
Day 2
Debra Libanose
Early start for Debra Libanose Monastery about 110 km on the northwest direction via Sululta plains where we have a short stop (after 20km) for few birds like Black- winged Plover, Red breasted Wheatear, Tawny eagle, Pectoral- patched Cist cola and some others. Around the monastery and the gorge, we expect a few endemics like the White-billed starling, Abyssinian woodpecker, Black-headed forest Oriole, Rupell’s and white-winged cliff chats. The river gorge itself is so productive for the birds of prey. The Lammergeyer, Verreaux's eagle, Egyptian and White-backed Vultures, Lanner Falcon, and Peregrine are one of the few listed. Overnight stay Ethio-Germen lodge (Debra Libanose)
Day 03
Jimma valley
Proceed to Jimma valley for the localized endemic Harwood’s Francolin. Here in the valley we also looking for the Foxy Cisticola, Lesser kestrel, white-throated seedeater, White winged Cliff chat, White-billed Starling, Erckel’s Francolin, Lammergeyer and different raptors. Then, late afternoon, drive to Debra Brehan. Overnight stay Eva Hotel
Day 04
Ankober
A full day birding around Ankober and Melka Jebdhu for the localized endemics Ankober serine and Yellow-throated seedeater. Overnight stay (see Day 3)
Day 05
stay at Awash Falls lodge
Drive to the Awash National Park (200 km) via Addis Ababa as the trail between Ankober-Dulacha-Awash is not accessible by now. O/n stay at Awash Falls lodge
Day 06
Bilen Lodge
Full day bird watching and game viewing in the superb acacia wood land and the thorny bushes of Awash. It provides a great numbers of bird species like Martial and Imperial Eagles, Arabian Bustard, Rosy patched Shrike, Red wing bush Lark, Bearded wood Pecker, Grey wren warbler, Ashy Cisticola, Red and Yellow Barbet, Somali Golden breasted Bunting and Green winged Pytilia. O/n stay at Bilen Lodge
Day 07
Lake Langano Resort
eave Awash for Lake Langano (260 km) and en rout stopping at Koka Dam and Lake Ziway for more birding. Lake Ziway is one of the best birding sites of the Ethiopian Rift Valley, and it provides species like the Lesser Jacana, Common Snipe, Black Heron(the Umbrella bird), Black crowned Crane, Saddle billed Stork, different Kingfishers,, Great black-headed Gull and Lesser Moorhen. O/n stay at Lake Langano Resort
Day 08
Lakes Abijata
This morning we spend more time in the acacia woodland between Lakes Abijata and Shalla, and a long the shore of Lake Abijata. The Von de Dickens’s Horn bill, Banded Barbet, Spotted Eagle Owl, Klaus’s and Dederic Cuckoos, Black-checked Waxbill, Gabar Goshawk, Boran and Rattling Cisticola are amongst the species we are expecting to see in the surrounding area of the acacia wood land. Lake Abijata, the feeding site for a great numbers of Lesser and Greater Flaming, is also providing a large numbers of migratory birds. Overnight stay (see Day 7)
Day 09
Goba Wabe
Drive to Bale Mountains (210 km) for three nights staying. En route stopping at Dinsho, park headquarters, where we see the endemic mammals like the elegant Mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck. Then, proceed to Goba. O/n stay at Goba Wabe Shebelle Hotel
Day 10
Sanattie
A full day bird watching on the scenic plateau of Sanattie (90 km round trip) and forest near Goba. Here, we expect birds like the Cinnamon- breasted Warbler, Mountain Buzzard, Abyssinian wood Pecker, White-backed black Tit, Bale Parisoma, Slender-billed Starling, Moor land & Chestnut Francolins, African Snipe, Golden Eagle, Rufus Sparrow hawk, Watteled Crane, Rouget’s Rail and Lanner Falcon. Apart from the birds, Sanattie plateau also guarantees good supplies of the rare and beautiful Ethiopian Wolf. O/n stays (see Day 9)
Day 11
Negelle Borena
Proceed to Negelle Borena (some 285 km) via Harenna forest. En route, stop at Ganalle River for the rare and localized endemic species of Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco. Our day drive to Negelle brings us to great varieties of the low land species like Shelly’s & Golden-breasted Starlings. O/n stay at Negelle NOC Motel
Day 12
Negelle Borena
full day is bird watching around Negelle area. The localized Sidamo Lark is our target bird for today. O/n stays (see Day 11)
Day 13
Yatbello
rive to Yabello (265 km) with many roadside stops. The Red-napped Shrike, Black caped Social Weaver, Lesser Kestrel, eastern violet backed Sunbird, the endemics White-tailed Swallow and Steersmen’s Bush Crow are one of the best birds we are looking for along this productive route. O/n stay at Yabello Motel
Day 14
Yatbello
full day is birding in the thorny bushes of Yabello area. It accommodates a great numbers of excellent birds. The Gray headed Social weavers, Banded Parisoma, D'Arnaud's Barbet, Abyssinian Scimitar bill, Black breasted Barbet, Shelly's and Golden breasted Starlings, Rufus Sparrow, Pale Flycatcher, Bare faced Go-away bird, the endemic White tailed Swallow. Vulturine Geanifowl, Black caped social weavers, White crowned starlings, Orange bellied Parrot, Martial Eagle, Yellow Rumped Serine, Yellow necked spur foul, Red fronted Barbet and African Black headed Orioles are some of an excellent bind species. Overnight stay (see Day 13)
Day 15
Lake Awassa
Continue to Lake Awassa. This afternoon we may have an opportunity of seeing a few species along the lakeshore.
Giant kingfisher, Painted snipe, Lesser moorhen, Allen s Gallinule, Banded Snake Eagle, Iranian, Little weaver, Grey kestrel, Spotted creeper, Grey headed kingfisher, African and common snipes are some of an excellent birds we shall see in Awassa area. Overnight stay United Africa (Shebelle) Hotel
Day 16
Lake Awassa
In the morning bird watching in and around Lake Awassa. At a mid day, we drive to Wondo Genet for an afternoon birding; these degraded forests were once (are) home to the endemic species like the beautiful Yellow- fronted Parrot, Abyssinian wood Pecker and Banded Barbet. Apart from the endemic species, the forests produce and excellent birds like Narina’s Trogon, African hill Babbler, Crowned Eagle, Broad-billed Roller, Half-collared Kingfisher, and Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey cuckoo Shrike, Lemon Dove and Double-toothed Barbet Overnight stay Wondo Genet Resort
Day 17
Waliso
Drive to Waliso via Butajira with en route birding. Overnight stay in Waliso, Negash lodge
Day 18
Waliso
full day birding in the superb Ghibe Gorge, for the western Ethiopia's specialties like Egyptian Plover, Black faced Firefinch, Abyssinian waxbill, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Moustached Grass Warbler, Bar-breasted Firefinch and Exclamatory paradise Whydah and some other good species. Overnight stay (see Day 17)
Day 19
Addis Ababa
Drive back to Addis Ababa and evening fly back home (end of the trip) or stay in Addis Ababa
