Book this 12-Day Ethiopia Birding Tour to see some of Africa’s best birdlife in one trip.
The trip starts with a drive from Addis Ababa to Awash National Park, where you see many bird species. The next day, you explore the Alledeghi Plain for more birdwatching. You then visit Lake Langano, stopping at the Awash River and Ziway Lake to spot water birds.
At Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park, you see flamingos, ostriches, and eagles. The trip continues to Bale Mountains National Park, home to the Ethiopian wolf and rare birds. Next, you travel to Negele Borena and Yabelo, known for birds found only in Ethiopia.
After visiting Hawassa, you return to Addis Ababa for a farewell meal before departure.
Detailed 12-Day Ethiopia Birding Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Addis Ababa to Awash National Park
You will be picked up from your hotel or the airport and driven to Awash National Park. The desert landscape here is a great spot to see both migrant and local birds of Ethiopia, including the red-bellied parrot, bustards, pygmy batis, lesser striped swallow, yellow-breasted barbet, Wahlberg’s honeyguide, red-fronted barbet, blue rock-thrush, common nightingale, weavers, hoopoe, yellow-throated serin, and the rare sombre chat.
Day 2: Awash National Park
Early in the morning, go birdwatching in Awash National Park as you drive toward the Alledeghi Plain, about 60km from Awash. These plains are great for spotting bustards, larks, and sandgrouse.
Day 3: Awash National Park to Lake Langano
Drive to Lake Langano, with several birding stops along the way, including the Awash River and Ziway Lake. Look for the African pygmy goose, little weaver, yellow-billed storks, black-billed woodhoopoe, Abyssinian ground hornbill, northern black tit, collared pratincole, lesser jacana, African jacana, white pelicans, fish eagles, crowned cranes, and common cranes.
Day 4: Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park
Explore the birdlife along the shores of Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park. Look for the Somali ostrich, buff-bellied warbler, greater and lesser flamingo, northern shoveler, southern pochard, cape teal, grey kestrel, Clapperton’s francolin, grey woodpecker, bank swallow, African pipit, and several wheatear species, along with eagles, hornbills, sunbirds, and starlings found in the area.
Day 5: Lake Langano to Bale Mountains National Park
After breakfast, drive to Bale Mountains National Park, one of Africa’s top birding spots, ranked fourth by the African Bird Club. About 300 bird species have been recorded here, with six found only in Ethiopia.
On arrival, take a slow hike to see endemic mammals such as Menelik’s bushbuck and mountain nyala. Look for the wattled ibis, Rouget’s rail, blue-winged goose, black-headed siskin, spot-breasted lapwing, and Abyssinian longclaw.
Day 6: Bale Mountains National Park
Continue exploring Bale Mountains National Park, looking for the chestnut-naped francolin, white-backed black tit, Abyssinian ground thrush, Abyssinian catbird, Cape eagle-lapwing, Thekla lark, red-breasted wheatear, and moorland chats. You also have a chance to spot the rare Ethiopian wolf.
Day 7: Bale Mountains National Park to Negele Borena
Drive toward Negele Borena, with several birding stops along the way. Look for turacos, the golden-breasted starling, the endemic Sidamo lark, Heuglin’s bustard, and the Somali short-toed lark.
Day 8: Negele Borena
Spend the morning searching for the Degodi lark. Other birds to look for include the white-winged dove, Juba weaver, black-faced sandgrouse, scaly chatterer, and chestnut-headed sparrow-lark.
Day 9: Negele Borena to Yabelo
After breakfast, drive to Yabelo, a great spot to search for Stresemann’s bushcrow and the white-tailed swallow, both found only in Ethiopia. Spend the whole day exploring Yabelo Wildlife Reserve, home to the Somali ostrich, secretary bird, Rüppell’s griffon vulture, martial eagle, black-capped social weaver, and many other species, including the vulturine guineafowl, kori bustard, and lilac-breasted roller.
Day 10: Yabelo Area
Explore the Yabelo Conservation Area again to search for any species missed on the first visit.
Day 11: Yabelo to Awassa
After breakfast, enjoy a final birding session as you leave Yabelo and drive to Hawassa. Stop along the way for birdwatching, looking for the silvery-cheeked hornbill, black and white egrets, ibis, African fish eagle, woodland kingfisher, African pygmy goose, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Rouget’s rail, marabou stork, spur-winged goose, swallows, and the malachite kingfisher.
Day 12: Awassa to Addis Ababa
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive back to Addis Ababa. Stop for lunch to enjoy a traditional Ethiopian meal with cultural dances and local entertainment. Later, drive to the airport for your flight home.
Book this 12-Day Ethiopia Birding Tour today and see rare and endemic birds across Ethiopia’s top birding spots.
