Ethiopia provides habitat for more than 800 species of birds of these, 16 are wholly restricted to the political boundaries of the country and thus are endemics; fourteen other birds are shared with Eritrea. There are 214 Palarctic migrants occurring in Ethiopia, of these, 45 species have been found over- summer with the boundaries of the country, a large number of these birds have breeding population in Ethiopia.
List of Endemic species of Ethiopia: Harwood’s francolin, Spot- breasted plover, Yellow- fronted parrot, Prince Ruspoli’s turaco, Nechsar nightjar, Abyssinian longclaw, Abyssinian woodpecker, Abyssinian catbird, Black-headed siskin, Digodi lark, Sidamo long-clawed lark, White-tailed swallow, Yellow-throated serin, Ankober serin, Salvadori’s seedeater, Abyssinian bushcrow, Blue winged goose, Rouget’s rail, White-collared pigeon, Black- winged lovebird, Banded barbet, White-billed starling, Thick-billed raven, Abyssinian black-headed forest oriole, White billed starling, White backed black tit, Rappel’s chat, white-winged cliff-chat.
Tour Dates: from 25th Dec. 2009 - 9th Jan 2010.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, December 25th: 0700hrs after breakfast drive to Debrezeith (Bishoftu) town which is situated on the main high way to the eastern and southern parts of Ethiopia. It is famous for its five craters and one seasonal lake with in and around the town. Three of the lakes in the area have been identified as having large congregation of water birds. Both great and long tailed cormorants, Hammercop, African fish eagle, African paradise flycatcher are common at Hora Lake. We will have a chance to do birding at least on three of these beautiful lakes. Leave Debrezeith around 1200 hrs to Nazreth (Adama) town some 55 km. Lunch at Nazreth.
After lunch drive to Awash National park 100 km from Nazareth and 200 km from Addis Ababa via Methara town. This 756 square km National park is located between Methara town and Awash town, in the semi arid low lands of the Great Rift Valley. The total number of species recorded now exceeds 460, an interesting complement of large land birds; Ostrich, Secretary bird, Kori and Arabian bustards, which are seen regularly, seven species of Bustards have been recorded in Awash national park. Expect to see Kori and Brown bustards, Brown snake eagle, Abyssinian roller, Carmine bee eater, Black shouldered kite, White bellied goawaybird are among the few. Around 1500 hrs birding drive at awash and drive back to the main road to Awash town 18 km from the park for check-in and overnight. Over night: At Awash town.
Day 2, December 26th: 0600hrs after breakfast drive to Awash national park, birding the whole day along the Awash River and water falls with a park ranger, a good opportunity to walk inside the park. Expecting to see Senegal ticknee, woodland kingfisher, Hadada ibis, and blue napped moosebird. Lunch at Kereyu lodge inside the park. After lunch continue our birding for further exploration to eastern plains of the park. 1700 hrs drive back to the main gate and Awash town. Overnight at Awash town.
Day 3, December 27th: 0600 hrs after breakfast drive to the main gate of Awash national park. The other interesting place to see is the hot springs some 30 km to the north of the park. Expect to see Abyssinian ground hornbill and Arabian bustard and also some Mammals like the Hamadryas baboon. Around 1000 hrs drive back to the main gate and to Nazareth town. Lunch at Nazareth town. After lunch we will drive to Ziway town 115 km branching to the left at Modjo town, on the main Addis-Moyale road the gate way to southern Ethiopia in the Great Rift Valley, passing Koka, Alem tena and Meki towns consecutively to reach in time at Ziway town for check in and over nigh. If we have time we will have a brief look along Ziway lake.
Ziway lake also known as lake Dembel is the northern most of the Ethiopia’s natural rift valley lakes with a surface area of 430 km square, it is a fresh water lake fed by a number of rivers of which the major two are Meki river from the Gurare highlands and Cater river from the Arsi highlands. it has a maximum depth of 8m at high water and mean depth of 2.5 m. Ziway lake offers one of the best bird watching destination. Overnight at Ziway town.
Day 4, December 28th: 0800hrs after breakfast drive to the shores of lake Ziway birding the whole morning and also we can have a boat ride to the near by tiny bird island. Expect to see different waterfowls, African jacana, Great white pelican, Yellow-billed stork and black heron (Umbrella bird) whose unusual habit of fishing with its wings raised to form and umbrella. Ziway Lake is also good place to see hippos.
The 887 km square Abyata shalla national park is dominated by two rift valley lakes, Abyata Lake and Shalla Lake for which its named; the islands in shalla lake are an important breeding grounds for white pelican as well as various species of water birds including Cormorants, and Stork. During the European winter it supports thousands of migrant waders. We will do birding the whole afternoon inside the park, expecting to see Greater and lesser flamingos, Avocet, Ruff, Wattled Crane and Black necked grebe. 0500 hrs we will depart from Abyata shalla N.park around 1700hrs to Langano Wabi Shebele hotel. Over night at Langano Wabi Shebele hotel.
Day 5, December 29th: After break fast we will drive to Wondo Genet Wabi Shebele hotel. Wondogenet is located 70 km south from Abyata shalla N. park and 20 km from Shashemene town. The nominal attraction is the swimming pool fed by the sprigs just outside the entrance of the hotel. The Wondo Genet area is of great interest of hikers and nature lovers, the hotel garden supports flocks of silver-cheeked hornbill, as well as the beautiful white-cheeked turaco, equally lovely but more difficult to locate Narina trogon and the endemic yellow fronted parrot. Birding the whole morning around the hotels compound or we will have a break and relax in the hot spring pool full day at Wondo Genet and overnight. Overnight at Wondo Genet Wabi Shebele hotel.
Day 6, December 30th: 0700 hrs after break fast drive to Bale mountains national park. Bale is found on the southeast plateau of Ethiopia about 400 km from Addis Ababa and 158 from Shashemene town passing Kofele, Dodola, Adaba towns consecutively and Dinsho town where the head quarters is located. Bale is the best place to see a good range of those birds that are endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea at least 15 endemics have been recorded. continue our journey toward Dinsho check in to our hotels and will have a chance to walk in the Dinsho walking trail with a guide expecting to see Bale’s mountain Nyala, and different birds species spot-breasted plover, Yellow-fronted parrot, Abyssinian long claw and Abyssinian catbird. Overnight At Disnsho or Robe town.
Day 7, December 31st: After breakfast drive towards Goba town and to senate plateau, it is cited as the world’s large afro-alpine moorland with and altitude of 3,500 to 4,500 m on the east Africa’s tallest mountains which supports the endemic simian wolf, it takes about 4 hour to cover the whole area and reroute back to Dinsho for lunch. After lunch we will drive back towards shashemene town to reach in to Hawasa town and over night. Overnight at Hawasa town.
Hawasa town is the capital of the southern peoples region 270 km south from Addis Ababa and 25 km south from Shashement. Lake Hawasa is the smallest of the rift valley lakes; it is fed by a small river called "Tikur wuha" meaning black water. Significant numbers of water bird species occur, particularly white-breasted cormorant, white-faced whistling duck, spur-winged goose and red knobbed coot. One of the most striking natural features of Hawas is large population of Marabou stork.
Day 8, January 1st: 0700 hrs after breakfast drive to "Amora gedel" lake side fish market for some great opportunities to photograph various birds accustomed to human company in a close distance. Continue birding along the shores of Lake Hawasa till lunch time. After lunch drive to Dilla 90 km south from Hawas. Dilla lies in the fertile green mountains of eastern rift valley escarpment, known particularly for producing excellent coffee; the surrounding hills are covered in patches of indigenous forest. Overnight at Dilla town.
Day 9, January 2nd: 0800hrs drive to Yabelo town 210 km south from dilla and 570 km from Addis Ababa. Dilla to Yabello marks a dramatic shift in landscape from cool, fertile highlands to the barren acacia scrub of the southern rift valley. Passing Yirg chefee, famous with in Ethiopia for its high quality coffee, Fiseha genet, Agermariam, Finchawa and Yabello. The near by wildlife sanctuary is just 10 km from Yabello town it is particularly important as a protected area for two globally threatened species of birs, white-tailed swallow and Abyssinian bush crow, and more than 210 species where recorded in this area. Short tailed lark, Northern grey tit, Abyssinian grosbeak canary, Somali sparrow, black capped social weaver are some of the common birds in and around the sanctuary. To reach for late lunch and check in to our hotels. After lunch we will do a brief birding enjoy the scenery around the compounds of the hotel. Over night at Yabello Motel.
Day 10, January 3rd: After breakfast full day excursion inside Yabello wildlife sanctuary with a Picnic lunch. Expecting to see the endemic white tailed swallow and Abyssinian bush crow, in addition other interesting species are little spotted woodpecker, northern grey tit and Abyssinian grosbeak canary are among the few. 1600 hrs drive back to our hotels and overnight. Overnight at Yabello town.
Day 11, January 4th: After breakfast full day excursion to Yabelo wildlife sanctuary and Arero forest. Arero forest is located some 70 km from Yabello, it still occupy a small population of the endemic Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco, representing the southern most part of the species range. Another important species found in Arero forest is Salvadori’s seedeater, Pygmy batis, Bristle-crowned starling, grey-headed social weaver are among the 160 bird species recorded at Arero forest. Overnight at Yabello town.
Day 12, January 5th: After breakfast we will start driving back towards Addis Ababa to Hawasa town to reach in time for check in and overnight at Hawasa town.
Day 13, January 6th: After breakfast continue our journey back towards Addis Ababa branching to the right towards Bale road passing Koffele town and branching to the left at Dodola junction to the Arsi highlands, passing through the fertile Arsi highlands which is locally known for extensive wheat farms. Lunch at Asela town. After lunch continue to Sodere resort to check in and over nigh at Sodere resort.
Day 14, January 7th: We will have a full day break to relax and also birding around the compounds. Sodere is famous for weekenders of residents of Addis Ababa with a hot spring bath and swimming pool. The compound is also good place for birding.
Day 15, January 8th: After breakfast drive to Addis Ababa some 120 km from Sodere. Lunch at Debrezeith. Continue to Addis to reach in time for check in and overnight to your hotels. Overnight at Lalibela hotel.
Day 16, January 9th: Full day in Addis Ababa shopping and preparation for departure.
Day 17, January 10th: Addis Ababa and Departure.
End of service.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Meals per itinerary
- Guide
- Park entrance fee
- Mineral water.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Ethiopia
Nature & Wildlife
Birdwatching
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