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7-Day Ethiopian Nature & Bird-Watching Holiday

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Overview

Ethiopia benefits from the incredible variety of Africa’s birdlife as well as the presence of species that have migrated from Europe. Of the ten bird families endemic to the African mainland, eight are represented in Ethiopia.

If you are keen on trekking or a nature lover, the Bale Mountains, the largest Afro-alpine habitat on the African continent gives visitors the opportunities for unsurpassed mountain walking, horse trekking, scenic driving and a chance to view many of Ethiopia’s endemic mammals and some of the loveliest mountain scenery in Africa.

Awash National Park, the oldest wildlife reserve in Ethiopia, boasts some 300 species of birds that you see while driving through the shrub zones and the river banks. Also featured in this Ethiopia nature tour are the beautiful towns of Bishoftu and Awassa and the multi-coloured sands of Lake Langano that makes the sloping beach a perfect spot on which to bask in the sun.
Outdoors & Nature
Sightseeing
Wellness

Itinerary

Day 1

Drive to Awash National Park via Bishoftu Lakes

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Drive to Awash National Park via Bishoftu Lakes

Awash National Park is the oldest wildlife reserve in Ethiopia situated 210 km east of Addis. You will leave Addis at about 9 am and take the expressway to Debrezeit Bishoftu, an attractive town just 50 km from Addis surrounded by five crater lakes and beautified by bougainvillaea and palm trees. There we will have breakfast and enjoy the fresh fruit juices while watching various species of birds like cormorants, grebes, and shoveler around the lakes.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Awash Falls Lodge3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hora Lake

    Lake Babogaya Boat Ride

    Awash National Park Safari & Bird Watching

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Addis Ababa to Bishoftu

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Bishoftu

    Oromia

    Afar

Day 2

Mount Fentale & Awash National Park

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Mount Fentale & Awash National Park

This part of the Upper Great Rift Valley hosts magnificent landscapes and supports immense life forms including indigenous and migrant birds, mammals and other wildlife of varying species. Take a morning excursion to Mount Fentale, a large stratovolcano in the Ethiopian Rift Valley which contains a large spectacular summit caldera. You'll go on an afternoon drive through shrubs and river banks to admire the scenery and see the wildlife and birds, of which the park boasts some 300 species.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Awash Falls Lodge3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Mount Fentale

    Awash National Park Safari & Bird Watching

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oromia

    Afar

Day 3

Drive to Langano

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Drive to Langano

Continue exploring Ethiopian nature with a drive to Langano, one of the southern rift valley lakes, where birds wade in the shallows of the lake and the sparse acacia trees add to the enchanting views. Sheep, cattle, and goats grazing under the shade of the sycamore trees that surround the lake whilst birds such as pelicans, geese and the African fishing eagle frequent the shore.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Sabana Beach Resort4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Lake Langano

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Sabana Lodge

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Awash to Langano Lake

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oromia

Day 4

Harenna Forest

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Harenna Forest

Drive to Bale, where you will enjoy a nature trail at Harenna Forest with a brief introduction to the plants and animals of the area. Continuing up to the Web valley to the lovely waterfall of Finch 'Abera, scenic rich in wildlife and endemic birds. The mountains are most famous as home and refuge of the endemic mountain nyala, Simien fox and various avian species.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Bale Mountain Lodge4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Harenna Forest Safari

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Langano Lake to Bale Mountains

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oromia

Day 5

Bale Mountains National Park

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Bale Mountains National Park

Admire the park’s beauty on the road from Goba to the eastern part. There you will find the Sannete plateau at an altitude of 4,000 metres and Tulu Deemtu, the second-highest mountain in Ethiopia at 4,377 metres. Starting from the main road at its base it takes 2 hours to climb the slopes and reach the summit.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Bale Mountain Lodge4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Bale Mountains National Park

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Bale Mountain Lodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oromia

Day 6

Bale to Awassa

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Bale to Awassa

Drive to Awassa and visiting some of the Great Rift valley lakes such as Lake Shala and Abyata and Wondo Genet where you can enjoy the hot springs and swimming pool. Lake Shala, a mysterious place full of dramatic beauty, lies in a deep large basin and serves as a mating ground while Abyata is favoured as a feeding sanctuary. Continue to Awassa, one of Ethiopia’s beautiful and growing cities situated at the side of Lake Awassa, rich in birdlife including the endemic yellow-fronted parrot.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Lewi Resort4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Abidjatta-Shalla National Park

    Wondo Genet Hot Spring

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Bale Mountains to Awassa

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oromia

    Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region

    Wondo Genet

Day 7

Fish Market, Free Time in Addis & Departure

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Fish Market, Free Time in Addis & Departure

Take the morning to visit the fish market at Awassa. Here, you can watch the locals sell and buy their catch of the day. Marabou storks and other water birds scavenging the leftovers. After lunch, you have some free time in Addis. Before your departure we will finish this trip at the Habesha 2000 Restaurant, enjoying great food, vibrant and exciting performances of tribal songs and dances from different tribes around the country.

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Awassa Market

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Habesha 2000 Restaurant

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Awassa to Awassa Airport

    Plane from Awassa Airport to Addis Ababa Airport

    Private Driver from Airport to Addis Ababa

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region

    Awassa

    Addis Ababa

Included in Price

  • 6 nights accommodation
  • 11 activities
  • 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Domestic flights
  • Entrance fees
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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