Bird Waching

ORNITHOLOGICAL TOUR 15/14N BY SURFACE and TREKKING

DAY 1.  ARRIVAL AND ADDIS ABABA CITY TOUR

On arrival at bole international airport transfer to hotel and after a short break have City tour. Overnight stay hotel.

DAY 2. ADDIS ABABA – MENAGESHA – ADDIS ABABA  

 Early in the morning drive to the south western direction for about 35kms, Menagesha forest which is rich in bird life. Spot yellow- fronted parrot, Erlanger`s lark and white cheeked turaco. You can also enjoy the indigenous forest of the park (which aged over 400 years old) & spot the endemic mammal menelik`s bush buck. Back to Addis and O/N hotel.

DAY 3. ADDIS ABABA- DEBRELIBANOS - DEBREBREHAN

Drive to the northern direction to Debre Libanos area or sululta plains where aquatic birds can be seen easily. Proceed driving to the historic place of Debrebrehan enjoying the spectacular land  scap of Showa plateau. Overnight   stay hotel.

DAY 4. DEBREBEREHAN – ANKOBER

Early in the morning drive to Ankober, to spot birds like Ankober seed eater, white-throated seedeater and yellow- throated seedeater (all are endemic) and other common bird species. O/N  Ankober lodge.

DAY 5. ANKOBER – AWASH NATIONAL PARK

The next stop will be Awash national park, which hosts more than 450 bird species, and spot yellow- throated seed eater(endemic), Abyssinian wood pecker, banded barbet and white-winged cliff chat (shared/ semi endemic),African orange-billed parrots, Bustarteds, weavers, European Hoope somber rock chart, pygmy baits  and other common bird species can be seen easily. Overnight stay Hotel or Awash fall lodge.

 DAY 6.  AWASH NATIONAL PARK - LANGANO

Morning drive to ziway via Nazareth, en route aquatic birds on Lake Beseka could easily be scanned. Spot aquatic/ marsh bird spices around the swampy area of lake Ziway and continue to Abijata Shalla National Park, which hosts abundant acacia related bird species like ostriches and water birds such as; flamingoes, pelicans and continue to lake Langano, where over 300 bird species can be spotted (especially Ethiopian cliff swallow). Overnight night stay in Shebelle hotel.

DAY 7. LANGANO – ARBAMINCH

Early morning before driving more birding in Langano. Then proceed driving to Arbaminch via wolaita sodo with in the rift valley en-route visit the Dorze tribe. Overnight stay in Paradize Lodge or other similar hotel.

DAY 8. ARBAMINCH - ARBAMINCH

Driving and boat trip in Chamo lake to spot Coorocodial, hippos and some special birds. Proceed up to the way to the Nechsar National Park to spot francolin and other commen and endemic birds. Besides Big animals like Zebra and others will be easily scanned in the park.  Overnight stay hotel or Paradise Lodge.

DAY 9. ARBAMINCH – YABELLO

Early morning drive to Yabello wild life sanctuary, en- rout visit some of the South Omo Tribes and their villages. Over night stay Yabello Motel.

DAY 10. YABELLO - YABELLO

Early in the morning visit the wild life sanctuary of yabello & Spot white tailed swallow, Abyssinian bush crow & prince Raspoli`s Turaco. Enroute visit the singing wells if out off summer time.  O/N Yabello Motel.

DAY 11. YABELLO - AWASSA

Morning drive to Awassa to spot aquatic birds around Lake Awassa (king fisher’s, herons & storks) and the endemic one black- winged love bird. Over night stay hotel in Awassa.

DAY 12.  AWASSA – BALE NATIONAL PARK

Early morning after breakfast visit Awassa Lake for birding, proceed driving to Wondogenet, which is surrounded by dense forest, bird song & variety of larger wild life. Spot yellow- fronted parrot (endemic), white- backed tit (shared endemic) and other common bird species. Continue the journey to bale mountains for overnight stay at hotel or lodge.

DAY 13.  BALE NATIONAL PARK – BALE NATIONAL PARK

Full day you will stay around the Gassay valley and the head quarter area and spot Blue winged goose, spot breasted plover, Rougets rail, yellow fronted parrot, banded barbet, golden backed wood pecker, Abyssinian long clowand. Overnight stay hotel in Bale.

DAY 14. BALE NATIONAL PARK

Bale is a place of endemicity where 14 endemic birds could be spotted. After breakfast drive to the senatti plateau where Ethiopian wolf, and birds can easily be seen. Comical rouget`s rail, blue- winged goose, Spot-breasted plover, Banded barbet ,golden- backed wood pecker can be seen, Abyssinian long-claw (ground dwelling), White- winged cliff chat, Abyssinian cat bird on juniper forest, Black- headed- siskin & heather forests, Ethiopiancisticola common and others can be seen. Overnight stay hotel or Dinsho lodge.

DAY 15. BALE NATIONAL PARK -  ADDIS ABABA

Early in the afternoon drive to Addis via Arrisi and en-route visit Sodere hot spring. Arrive Addis, take rest and then transfer to Airport for departure.

OPTION TWO more of driving

BIRD WATCHING 10D/9N BY SURFACE

DAY 1-  ADDIS ABABA – ADDIS ABABA  

After arrival Addis Ababa, meet the Guide of Julian tour and Travel and take lr lunch, we drive to Geferssa reservoir, about an hour drive west of Addis Ababa. The Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged Geese, Abyssinian Long-clow, Black-headed Siskin are some of the endemic species that could be easily seen. Overnight stay hotel.

DAY  2- ADDIS ABABA – DEBRELIBANOS - DEBREBEREHAN  

Drive to Debre-Libanose Monastery via Sululta plain. It is a wonderful place for the endemic birds; such as the White winged cliff chat, White billed starling, White collared pigeon, Abyssinian Long-clow, Black headed-sis kin and Black headed-forest Oriole. Late afternoon proceed to Debre-Brehan for two nights staying hotel.

DAY 3- DEBEREBERHAN – ANKOBER – DEBREBEREHAN

Drive to Ankober (173kms North of Addis Ababa) in search of the endemic Ankober Serine. We continue until Melka Gebdhu via Aliyou Amba for Yellow throated Serien and other important birds like Marshal Eagle, Giant King Fisher, Shining and African pygmy sunbirds, and different weavers including Village weavers. Back to Debre Brehan for overnight stay.

DAY 4- DEBEREBEREHAN – ZEWAY - LANGANO  

Leave Debre Brehan early in the morning for Langano (via Addis Ababa). Before lunch we will have a stoppage at Chelklaka wet land near Debre-Zeit. It is here that where we expecting different water birds like White-backed Duck, Maccoa Duck, Ferreugnes Duck, Red billed Teal and Knob billed Duck. Lunch will be at Debre-Zeit. Then, Proceed to Ziway for an afternoon birding. En-route we will have a lot of roadside stops.

DAY 5-  LANGANO – WONDOGENET

After breakfast drive to Abijata alkaline lake, where one can see thousands of Lesser Flamingos. African pochard, Avocet, Gull Billed Tern, Black-headed Gull and huge number of aquatic species are seen. In the afternoon we have birding in the acacia woodland by the park head quarter. Then, we proceed to Wondogenet for two nights staying.

DAY 6- WONDOGENET – WONDOGENET

Full day birding in the lush forest of Wondogenet. The endemic Yellow Fronted Parrot, Black-headed Forest Oriole, Red winged Starling, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Grosbeak Weaver, White checked Trace, spotted creeper, and other forest birds are some of the species we are expecting here.  Overnight stay hotel

DAY 7 – WONDOGENET - BALE MOUNTAIN  NATIONAL PARK

Drive to the magnificent Bale Mountains National Park, Which is home to different endemic mammals and birds. The Mountain Nyala, Menelik`s Bushbuck, and Ethiopian Wolf are one of the Ethiopian endemic mammals that can easily be seen in Bale. The Spot-breasted Plover, Rouget Rail, Abyssinian catbird, Cinnamon bracken warbler and White backed Black Tit are one of the species that we are seeing on the highlands of Bale. Overnight stay hotel or camping.

DAY 8- BALE MOUNTAIN  NATIONAL PARK - BALE MOUNTAIN  NATIONAL PARK

Full day birding and game viewing on the Senati Plateau and if time allows on Harrenna forest of the Bale Mountain. In most cases we may see the Wattle Crane, the rare bird in Africa. Overnight stay hotel.

DAY  9- BALE MOUNTAIN  NATIONAL PARK – AWASSA

Leave the Bale Mountains for Lake Awassa. Here, we will have a full afternoon birding in the Shore of Lake Awassa right away on arrival,  expecting varieties of species. Allena Gallinule, Lesser moorhen, Blue-headed Coucal, Spotted creeper, Giant Kingfisher, Grey Kestrel, Painted Snipe, Grey headed Kingfisher and Double Toothed Barbet are some of the species we are looking for.  Overnight stay hotel in Awassa.

DAY  10 -  AWASSA – ADDIS ABABA

Drive back to Addis Ababa and, en route we will have a lot of roadside stops.
 Late afternoon shopping and departure home.