Tour Code: ITO-800/15
Tour name; Bird watching tour
Duration; 11 days/10 nights
Transport; surface
Day 1: Arrive at Addis Ababa
Our agent will welcome you at the Airport and transfer to the hotel.
Day 2: Drive to DebreLibanos via Sululta plain
Early in the morning, drive to the Sululta Plain with short grassland habitat searching for unique birds such as White-backed Black Tit, Blue-winged Goose, Wattled Ibis, Ethiopian Siskin, Ethiopian Cistcola, White-collared Pigeon, Abyssinian Long claw, Erlanger’s Lark, Tawny Eagle, Cattle Egret and Yellow-billed Duck. Overnight: -Lodge
Day 3: Drive to Bishoftu
After late breakfast we drive towards Bishoftu South of Addis towards fascinating Crater Lakes such as Lake Chalalaka, an important shallow lake for migratory waders and significant numbers of Cranes, Marabou storks and Cormorants.
Lake Hora a fresh water lake holding Little Grebe, Pelican, Malachite Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, African Paradise Flycatcher, Masked weaver and Starlings. The area named after the Crater Lake Bishoftu, support large numbers of Weavers, Seed-eaters, Thrushes, Doves, Sunbirds and Finches in the adjoining sedges and thickets. Overnight Hotel/resort
Day 4: Drive to Bale Mountains
Today we will drive to Bale Mountains found on the other side of the Great Rift Valley looking for Rouget’s Rail, Thick-billed Raven, Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Slaty-flycatcher, Chestnut-napped Francolin, Moorland Francolin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush and others. The remnant of Ruddy Shell-ducks and Watt led Cranes are also found here.
The northern dry forest around Dinsho is known for exceptional wild animals including Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Bohor Reedbuck, Warthog and Bush Duiker. Overnight: -Hotel.
Day 5: Excursion to SanatiPlateu
Today we drive beyond Goba we enter typical timberline habitats of Juniper and Hagenia Abyssinica driving up Africa’s highest all weather roads to 4,100 meters above sea level where we enter the 10,000 square kilometers Senate plateau with its chain of tiny terrains. In this strange and fascinating afro-alpine climate we will find the rare Ethiopian Wolf, Starck’s Hare and Giant Mole-rat.
Then the road drops suddenly on the Harenna forests leeside with its wet forest and fantastic view points, through a series of dizzying hairpin bends, as it zigzags down to the lowland town of Dolo-mena. In the afternoon we drive back to Goba looking for birds and animals we missed earlier on. Overnight Hotel.
Day 6: Excursion to Sof Omar Caves
Today we drive to the Sof Omar Caves on the eastern edge of Bale Mountains maybe the world’s most spectacular and extensive underground system carved by the Web River into the limestone that line it.
Web River gorge and cliffs with its bushes support the endemic Salvadori’s Seedeater, Bristle-crowned Starling, Swifts and Swallows and many more. Overnight stay in the same hotel
Day 7: Drive to NegelleBorena
Today we continue through Sanate Plateau, undisturbed natural forest of Harena, Genale River basin towards the Borena diverse ecosystem looking for African White-winged Dove, Juba Weaver, Ruspoli’s Turaco, Sidamo Lark, Stresemann’s Bush-crow, White-tailed Swallow, Golden Breasted Starling, Vulturine Guinea fowl, Red-napped Shrike, Rosy-patched Bush-shrike and Striped Swallows to name a few. Overnight Hotel
Day 8: Another place for bird waching is Negelle Borena
Dawn excursion to Hara-kalo and Wadera dry river valleys to search for a remarkable bird called Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco. On the way expect different birds of prey including Pygmy Falcon, Ovambo Sparrow hawk, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, White-headed Vulture and the like.
After lunch we continue exploring for birds like Golden-breasted Starling, Shelley’s Starling, Magpie Starling, Chatterers and many more arid land birds. Overnight Hotel
Day 9: Drive to Yabelo
Today we proceed birding en route to the town of Yabelo an important junction town in the middle of the red sandstone landscape with many large termite mounds. This mosaic arid land is home to several spectacular birds notably the charismatic Stresemann’s Bush-crow, White-tailed Swallow, Vulturine Guinea fowl, Yellow-naked Spur fowl, White-crowned Starling and many more. Overnight stay in Yabelo Motel
Day 10: Drive to Yiregalm, Aregash Lodge
Today we drive to the Yirgalem area through typical southern highland forest. Arriving at the Aregash Lodge compound we search the grounds for Great Sparrow hawk, African Hawk-eagle, Tambourine Dove, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Mountain Thrush, Battis, Shrikes and more. Overnight Aregash lodge.
Day 11: Drive back to Addis Ababa
Leaving after a late breakfast we arrive in Addis late afternoon and we will have a farewell dinner before departing to your country.