Day 03: Awash National Park
Birding in Awash National Park, located in the Great Rift Valley. Many species of birds are found here: African Orange-bellied Parrots, Bustards, Weavers, Hoopoe, Yellow-throated Serine, Red-fronted Barbet, Pygmy Batis, Lesser-striped Swallow, and the House Martin. The park also boasts a variety of mammals: the Anubis Baboon, Colobus Monkey, Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Egyptian mongoose, Warthog, Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Lesser Kudu, Salt’s Dikdik, etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in a selected Hotel - Awash National Park.
Day 04: Drive to Langano
Drive to Lake Langano. En route bird spot at Lake Ziway, truly a birder's paradise and at Koka Dam. Spot bird species such as; the African Pygmy Goose, Black-billed Woodhoopoe, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Black Tit, Little Weaver, etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Sabana Lodge.
Day 05: Drive to Bishangari
Drive to Bishangari on the opposite side of Lake Langano. En route, birding Abiyata—Shalla National Park. Over 300 species can be seen around Lake Abiyata, such as: Yellow Wagtails, Ibis, Cormorant, Pelicans, Ducks, Egrets, Herons, Flamingos, Storks, Swallows, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Rollers, Wheatear, African Marsh Harrier, etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Bishangari Lodge.
Day 06: Drive to Bale Mountains National Park
Drive to the Bale Mountains National Park and meet with park guide. Arrive at the park headquarters in the afternoon, in time for a leisurely afternoon hike, possibly spotting two endemic mammals that frequent the area: Menelik's Bushbuck and the Mountain Nyala. Birds in this area include the Blue-Winged Goose, the Spot-Breasted Lapwing, the Abyssinian Long Claw, the Wattled Ibis, the Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail, and numerous other species.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in a selected Hotel camping Bale Mountains National Park.
Day 07: Bale Mountains National Park
View Simien Red Wolves and other endemic mammals. Spot birds such as Chestnut-naped Francolin, Ground Thrush (of the distinctive, endemic race Simensis), the secretive Abyssinia Ground- thrush, the vocal Abyssinian Catbird, and the endemic White-backed Black-Tit. If we are very fortunate, we will see a pair of the endangered Wattled Crane in the moist grasslands or spot a Cape Eagle- Lapwing, Thekla Lark, Red-breasted Wheatear, and Moorland chats.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in a selected Hotel or camping Bale Mountains National Park.
Day 08: Drive to Negeli Borena
Drive to Negelle via Harena Forest. En route you will look for the Turaco and outstanding Golden-breasted Starling. We will also seek the endemic Sidamo Lark and the Somali Short-toed Lark and possibly Heuglin’s Bustard on the Negele Plains. The Sidamo lark is quite secretive and like many Ethiopian endemics inhabits a very small area.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in a selected Hotel or camping Negeli Borena.
Day 09: Drive to Yabello Borena
Search for the endemic White-tailed Swallow and Stresemann’s Bush crow. You should spot the Swallow threading its way through the termite chimneys and groups of Bush crows in the thorn bushes. For the entire day explore the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve; species to look for include: Somalian Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Martial Eagle, Grasshopper Buzzard, African Pygmy Falcon, Vulturine Guineafowl, Kori Bustard, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar, Star- spotted Nightjar, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous- crowned Roller, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Red and Yellow Barbet, Short- tailed Lark, Northern Grey Tit, Shelley’s and White-crowned Starlings, Abyssinian Grosbeak Canary, Somali Sparrow, Black-capped Social Weaver, Grey-headed Silverbill, Taita Fiscal, and Somali Golden- breasted Bunting. Other possibilities include: Coqui Francolin, Somali Courser, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Little Spotted Woodpecker, Pringle’s Puffback, Little Tawny Pipit, Fawn-coloured Lark. Mammals that inhabit the park include: Burchell’s Zebra, Aardvark, Grant’s Gazelle, Thompson’s Gazelle, and Lesser-spotted Genet.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Hotel or camping Yabello Borena.
Day 10: Drive to Hawassa
En route to Hawassa spot numerous species: Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill, Abysinnian Ground Hornbill, Roget's Rail, Marabou Stork, Black and White Egrets, African Pygmy Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Swallows, Ibis, African Fish Egret, Woodland Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Resort or Hotel in Hawassa.
Day 11: Drive to Addis Ababa
Drive back to Addis Ababa with stops for Birding on the way at Rift Valley Lakes. Lake Ziway,notorious for birding or commonly known as the Birding Paradise, is the home of the Water birds:African Pygmy geese,Yellow-billed storks,Collared Pratincole, Lesser Jacana,Africa Jacana,White pelicans,Fish Eagles and Crowned and common cranes are seen here in impressive numbers. Evening, enjoy a Farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country's many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure upon request.
