Program-Birding (GEFERSSA, AWASH N.P, LANGANO, WONDO GENET, NEGELLE, YABELLO, AWASSA, SOAF OMAR)
Code- OT901
DURATION: 17 Nights/18 days
Transportation-Land

Day 01: . Arrive Addis Ababa. This afternoon we drive to Geferssa Reservoir some 20 km.west of the capital. Rouget’s Rail, wattled Ibis, Abyssinian Long Claw, Black headed sis kin, white collared pigeon and Abyssinian Slaty Flycatchers are the endemics that we are expecting at the reservoir. There are some water birds like the three banded and little Ringed plovers, Sandpipers, Little Grebes, Black winged stilt and the endemic Blue winged Goose. Drive back to Addis Ababa. O/N AA. O/N-hotel.

Day 02: Early start for Awash National park, 210kms to the east. Our first stop would be at Chalaklaka wetland, near Debre-Zeit, which supplies a Varity of wonderful aquatic birds including few arboreal species. The common and crowned cranes, Tawny and Lesser spotted eagles, Eurasian marsh Harrier, Spur winged Goose, White backed Duck, Knob billed Ducks, Avocet, Glossy Ibis, southern Pochard, Red billed Teal, African spoonbill, Isabel line wheatear, chestnut backed sparrow Lark, Red throated pipit, laughing and red eyed Doves, Masked weavers, spotted Flycatchers and beautiful and Tacazze sunbirds are amongst the birds we are seeing this morning. Proceed to Nazareth for lunch. After having lunch we continue to Awash National park, with few roadside stops, for two nights staying. O/N Awash Geneut Hotel.

Day 03: Full day birding in the suburb lowlands of Awash National Park. It provides a great number of bird species like the swallow tailed Kite, Martial and Imperial Eagles, Nubian (Lappet faced) Vulture, Gabar goshawk, Shikra, white faced scoops Owl, pearl spotted owlet, white backed and Egyptian Vultures. Apart from these birds of prey, the thorny bushes of Awash and the ravines forests by Awash river falls also accommodating a variety of different species. Secretary bird, Red winged Bush Lark, Ashy and Gillett’s cist colas, Somali fiscal, great gray Shrike, Sulpher breasted and Grey headed Bush Shrikes, Cardinal and bearded wood peckers, about five species of Bustards, Somali Golden breasted Buntings, Red bill and yellow bill Hornbills, Acacia paradise and steel blue whydahs, Grey wren warbler, Green winged Pytilia, the two species of san grouses, different social weavers, Red and Yellow Barbet, Rosy patched shrike and a lot of bird species could be seen in this wonderful birding site. Awash NP is not only good for birding but also for game viewing. Lesser and greater Kudus, Somme ring’s Gazzel, Deferessa water buck, Hamadiryas Baboon, Black backed Jackal and Lions (if lucky) are some of the mammals we are expecting. To night we may have a short range night drive for the nightjars and other activities. O/N Awash Geneut Hotel.

Day 04: We sadly leave Awash for the lakes region. Besides few roadside stops, our first major stop shall be at Koka Dam for different activities including the lesser striped and wire tailed swallows. Then proceed to Lake Ziway for lunch as well as an afternoon birding by the lake. It is one of the best birding sites of the Ethiopian Rift valley. Here, we may see a lot of aquatic and wood land bird species like the Lesser Jacana, Lesser Moorhen, common snipe, lesser black backed and great black headed Gulls, black Heron (the umbrella bird), different Kingfishers, Masked Shrike, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, African Harrier Hawk, and different species of waders and ducks. This afternoon we slowly drive to Langano Resort with few stops by the Acacia wood land of the cattle development ranch some 17 km. after Lake Ziway. O/N Langano Resort Hotel.

Day 05: Pre breakfast birding around the lake and its associated Acacia wood land. Von de Decken’s Horn bill, Shallow’s wheatears, Klaas’s and Dederic cuckoos, Black checked waxbill, Banded Barbet, Red headed and masked weavers, Boran and Rattling cist colas, spotted Eagle Owl, Fan tailed Raven, Gabar Goshawk, Barefaced and white bellied Go away birds, Black billed and black wood Hoopoes and Pigmy Kingfisher are amongst the species we shall see this morning. Then we will have a short break for breakfast before we drive to Abijata-Shalla lakes NP. Lake Abijata, which is known as Ethiopian Nakuru, is the best feeding site for a great number of Lesser and greater Flamingos. In Abijata, not only the Flamingos but also a larger numbers of migratory birds are feeding. After a half day birding in Lake Abijata, we shall drive back to Langano Resort for lunch. An afternoon birding would be at the park’s HQ where we may see the Grant’s gazelle and Orbi. And then, we proceed to Wondo Genet for two nights staying. O/N Wondo Genet Resort Hotel.

Day 06: Today, we shall have a full day birding in the tropical rainforest of Wondo Genet. These forests are home to endemic species like the beautiful Yellow fronted Parrot, Abyssinian woodpecker, Banded Barbet, and the sub species of Brown Saw wing. Apart from these endemic species, the forests produce excellent birds. The Narina’s Trogon, Double toothed Barbet, Half collared Kingfisher, Tambourine Dove, Broad billed Roller, Ayer’s Hawk Eagle, Sharp’s starling, Scaly Francolin, Lemon and Blue spotted wood Doves, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey cuckoo Shrike, Crowned Eagle, Thick billed Raven, Silvery checked Hornbill, Red shouldered and Emerald cuckoos, Mountain Wagtails, African wood Owl, Spectacled and Grosbeak Weavers are amongst the several species that in habiting the lush forests of Wondo Genet. O/N Wondo Genet Resort Hotel.

Day 07: We leave Wondo Genet for the Bale Mountains. It is about 230km. from Wondo Genet to the south east via Wabe Shebelle River. En route there would be few stops including at Washa River for some highland species. But, our major stop shall be around Dinsho, where the park Headquarters is located. Here ,we are expecting different birds like the beautiful spot breasted Plover (endemic), African Snipe, Chestnut napped Francolin, Lammergeyer, Steppie Eagle, Slender billed Starling, Common stone chat, Thekla Lark, Yellow crowned Canary, Mountain and Long legged Buzzards. The Dinsho area is also home to some mammals including the endemic Mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck. Bohor reedbucks, Warthog, Olive Baboon and common Duckier can be easily seen in the grassy area of Dinsho. After we make all the necessary fees at the park HQ’s we proceed to Goba for three night’s staying.O/N Goba.

Day 08: Our day tour will take us to Sofomar, the largest under ground river cave in the country, some 115km. east of Goba town. The thorny bushes of this lowland is producing a large number of bird species including the endemic Salvador’s serine, Grasshopper Buzzard, Martial Eagle, Ring necked Dove, Brown tailed Chat, African Goshawk, Abyssinian Scimitar Bill, Shining sunbird, Bristle crowned starling , Euroasian Hobby , yellow spotted petronia, Black billed wood Dove , black throated Barbet, different shrikes and Bustards, Straw tailed whydah, western violet backed sunbird, Levilliant’s and great spotted cuckoos, pygmy falcon, yellow throated Barbet , collared sunbird, Hunter’s sunbird and different social weavers. After having a superb birding in this lowland we drive back to Goba for our tomorrow’s program. O/N Goba.

Day 09: Full day bird watching on the sanattie plateau and in the forest near Goba town. Sanattie plateau and in the forest near Goba town. Sanattie plateau is, the highest moorland tract in moorland tract in Africa home to the elegant endemic Ethiopian wolf which is found no where else on the earth . This moorland with an associated Junipers forests is accommodating few important birds including the finest singing Abyssinian catbird (endemic, the more threatened ) Abyssinian wood pecker, Rufous breasted Sparrow hawk, Olive pigeon, malachite sunbird, golden Eagle, Somali chestnut winged starling , Abyssinian Ground Thrush , Moorland Francolin, , African snipe, Reedley shelduck, Lanner Falcon, Crowned and Verreaux’s Eagles, Watt led Cranes, Cape Eagle Owl, Rouget’s rail and the endemic Giant Mole Rats . Late afternoon we slowly drive back to our hotel. O/N Goba.

Day 10: We take the long drive south towards Negalle, where we stay for two nights some 285 km from Goba. We spend about an hour birding in Harrena forests, which is another excellent area for different bird species including the Olive pigeon, Black and white Manikin, African Hobby Owl, and some others. We make a short stop in Genalle valley to find the endemic Ruspoli’s Turaco, our target bird. We may see some other good birds including Levilliant’s Cuckoo, Rufous Chatterer, Red-and Yellow Barbet, and Greater Honey Guide. We shall arrive at Negalle before dark. O/N Negalle Green Hotel.

Day 11: Driving to Bogol Mayo, some 270 km south of Negalle, and birding on the way. Our first stop would be at the Sidamo Lark site, 15 km south of Negalle town. Then we continue to the lowland of Bogol Mayo where we expect to see the endemic Degodi Lark as well as a number of other species, amongst them Burch ell’s Courser, Pringle’s puff back, Red napped Bush shrike, Somali Crombec, Gillett’s Lark and Abyssinian Grosbeak canary .O/N Camping.

Day 12: We drive back to Negalle. On the way back we shall have few stops. O/N Negelle Green Hotel.

Day 13. We set off for Arero some 185 km west of Negalle. This route would one of the special birding routes in the south eastern part of the country with a great variety of birds. The pied cuckoo, Three streaked Tchagra, Black caped social weaver, purple-banded sunbird, the endemic white tailed Swallow, Vulturine Guinea fowl, Huegline’s Bustard, Golden breasted starling , different species of weavers and spotted morning Thrush are amongst several species of birds can be encountered in this thorny bushes. O/N. Arero.

Day 14. Continuing to Yabello about 90 km. to the west. Even though the habitat is much similar with Arero area, we also expect some important-target birds like the endemic. Steersman’s Bush Crow, one of the remarkable birds in Ethiopia. Many other dry country birds can be seen amongst them Shelley’s Starling, d’Arnaud’s Barbet, white Crowned starling, Grey wren Warbler, Black checked Waxbill, Golden Pipit, African Bare eyed Thrush and Large Grey flycatchers. Late afternoon we slowly drive to Yabello for a night staying O/N Yabello Hotel or Camping.

Day 15. We proceed to Arbaminch via Konso, to have a next day birding in Nechsar National park En route we shall see a great numbers of acacia lowland birds. The habitat between Arero and Konso is almost the same with few varieties of birds. Magpie starling, White crowned Starling, Dodson’s Bulbul, Eastern black headed Oriole, African Goshawk, Pearl Spotted owlet, tiny cist cola and Pringle’s puff back are some of the species we are coming across along the roadsides. Arrive Arbaminch approximately at 6:00 PM. O/N Arbaminch. Hotel.

Day 16. Full day bird watching and game viewing in the suburb lowlands of Nechsar National park which has recently received an Ornithological discovery of a new species of Nechsar Nightjar during a survey of the park in 1992. different bird species known to occur on the Nechsar plains including the rare Greater Kestrel, Orange River Francolin, Yellow throated sand grouse, Desert Cist colas and Stripe-breasted Seedeater. A few nightjar species have been recorded here including slender tailed and star Spotted Nightjars, Donaldson Smith’s and Dusky Nightjars. Apart from the birds, Nechsar is home to few mammals like the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest, Thomson s gazelle, Berchule’s Zebra, Greater Kudu, Dik-Dik, and Baboons. Drive back to Arbaminch. O/N Arbaminch Hotel.

Day 17. We drive to Awassa for an overnight staying. This afternoon we may have opportunity of seeing a few species along the lake shore. Giant Kingfisher, Painted snipe, Lesser moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, Banded Snake Eagle, Iranian, Little weaver, Grey Kestrel, Spotted creeper, Grey headed Kingfisher, African and common snipes are some of an excellent birds we shall see in Awassa area. O/N Awassa Hotel

Day 18. Driving back to Addis Ababa. On the way we shall have a stoppage at Abijata-Shalla Lakes and Ziway. Lake Abijata is the feeding site of the lesser and Greater Flamingos in a great abundance including different species of Ducks and Waders. Lunch will be at Ziway, and then we slowly drive to Addis. O/N Addis Ababa.

Program-Birding program
Code- OT902
Duration-7nights/8days
Transportation-Land

Day 1Arrive Addis Ababa. Afternoon visit to Gefersa Reservoir Overnight Hotel in Addis Ababa.
Day 2 Day Trip to Debre Libanos. Overnight Hotel in Addis Ababa.
Day 3 Drive to Awash National Park. Overnight Hotel in Awash town.
Day 4Birding in Awash National Park. Overnight Hotel in Awash Town.
Day 5 Birding at Lake Ziway. Overnight Hotel in Ziway.
Day 6 Birding at Lake Langano, Abiata. Overnight Wondo Genet.
Day 7 Early morning birding at Wondo Genet then on to Awassa.Overnight in Hotel .
Day 8 Drive to Debre Zeyit birding on the way. Overnight in Debre Zeyit/Addis Ababa.