10 Days Bird Watching Tours

Overview

Ethiopia is truly one of the best birding destinations in the world. From the beautiful highlands of the Bale Mountains National Park to the birding scrublands of Awash National Park, there’s so much on offer.

Day 1

Arrive in Addis Ababa, afternoon drive to Geferssa Reservoir. Here, we expect to see some of the endemic birds like the Wattle Ibis, Rouget’s Rail, black-headed Sis- kin, Abyssinian Long claw, the white-collared pigeon, and Blue-winged Goose. The African-black Duck, Ortolan bunting, Red-breasted Wheatear, Three-banded plover; African Marsh Harrier, and African Fish Eagle are one of the species that we do see this afternoon.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 2

Early start for Debre-Libanos monastery about 110 km north of the capital via Sululta Plain, the Red-rumpled and Lesser-striped Swallows, Pectoral-patched Cist cola, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, common Buzzard and Black-winged Lapwing are some of the birds that would be seen along the road. Around the monastery, we expect to see some of the endemic birds like the Black-headed Forest Oriole, Banded Barbet, the White-billed Starling, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Rappel’s chat, the White-backed Black Tit, and Abyssinian slaty Flycatcher. The Lammergeyers, Egyptian Vulture, Lanner Falcon, Verreaux’s Eagle, and the White-checked Turaco are seen at the escarpment. Late afternoon drive back to Addis.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 3

Leave Addis Ababa for Awash National Park, this morning we stop at Chalalklaka wetland near Debre-Zeit. The White-backed Duck, Tufted Duck, little stint, Ruff, African Spoon bill, Yellow-billed stork, Common and crowned cranes, White-winged Black Tern, and others are expected to be seen. Then we will have a short stop at lake Hora for more birding. Lunch will be at Nazareth. After lunch proceed to Awash, one of the best birding sites in the Ethiopian Rift valley.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 4

Full-day birding in the Park, The Arabian Bustard, Kori Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, Buff crested Bustard, the Rosy-patched Shrike, Swallow-tailed Kite, Bristle Crowned Starling, different woodpeckers, Grey-headed and Sulpher breasted Bush-Shrike, Gabar Goshawk, Shirk, Crested Francolin, Common Quail, Harlequin Quail, Palm Swift, Orange-bellied Parrot, Martial Eagle, different wood Doves, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Crested Lark, Singing Bush Lark, Redwing Bush Lark, Somali Golden-breasted Bunting, Little Rock Thrush, Grey-headed Batis, and Spotted Flycatcher is one of the important birds that we are planning to see for today.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 5

Drive to Langano, before lunch we will have short stops at Koka Dam (Awash River Bridge) for more aquatic and woodland birds. Then, we continue to Lake Zeway where we stop for lunch and an afternoon birding. Lake Zeway is one of the important areas of the Ethiopian Lakes. The Black Heron, Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, Pink-backed and White Pelicans, Crowned Crane, Black-headed Gull, Great-black headed Gull, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Green Shank, Wood Sandpiper, common and African Snipe, Red-breasted Wryneck, Masked Weavers, Beautiful Sunbird and some others would be seen. Overnight in hotel.

Day 6

Early birding around the Hotel garden and the cliff near the lake. Shallow’s Wheatear, Red bill, Von de Deckins Hornbill, Diederik Cuckoo, Slender-tailed Nightjar, woodland Kingfisher, striped Kingfisher, Little and Blue-breasted Bee-eater, the endemic Black-winged Love bird, Red-headed Weaver, Fan-tailed Raven, Hemp Rich’s Hornbill, Brubru, Bearded Woodpecker, Bare-faced Go away bird and Marico sunbird are one of the species we expect this morning. After breakfast, we drive to the Abijata-Shalla lakes national park for more birding. The Saddle bill stork, Goliath Heron Golden Plover, Grassland pipit, lesser and Greater Flamingos, and hundreds of other water birds could be easily seen.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 7

Full-day birding in the forest of Wondo Genet is the site for some endemic birds like the Yellow-fronted Parrot, Thick-billed Raven, Abyssinian Woodpecker, and Banded Barbet. In addition, We expect to see the Red-shouldered and Black Cuckoo shrikes, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Marin’s Trogon, White-checked Turaco, Double Toothed Barbet, Scaly and Lesser Honeyguide, Crowned Eagle, Aria’s Hawk Eagle, Silvery checked Hornbill, Hadada Ibis, Banded Wattle-eye, Sharpest starling, Broad-billed Roller, Black-billed Barbet, Lemon Dove, Mountain Buzzard, and Half-collared Kingfisher.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 8

set off for Lake Awassa. The spotted creeper, African pygmy kingfisher, Bruce’s Green pigeon, Violet-backed Starling, Grey Kestrel, Giant Kingfisher, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Tree pipit, Allen’s Gallenue, Lesser Moorhen, Painted Snipe, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Grey kingfisher, Banded snake Eagle, the African and common snipe, purple and Goliath Heron, Greater Honey Guide, Grosbeak weaver, Red-breasted Wryneck, African Harrier Hawk and Greater spotted Eagle is one of the birds have been recorded in Awassa.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 9

Drive back to Addis Ababa. En route looking for the species that haven’t been in the previous days of our trip, afternoon city tour in Addis Ababa.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 10

Departure – Fly Back Home