Day 03: Awash National Park

A full day bird watching and game viewing in the superb low land of Awash National Park. It has a great number of bird species like the Swallow-tailed Kite, Martial and Imperial Eagles, Nubian (or Lappet-faced) Vulture, Gabar Goshawk, Shikra, White-faced Scops Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, White-backed and Egyptian Vultures. Apart from these birds of prey, the thorny bushes of Awash and the ravine forests by the Awash River Falls also have a variety of different species. Secretary bird, Red-winged Bush Lark, Ashy and Gillett's Cisticolas, Somali Fiscal, Great Grey Shrike, Sulphur-breasted and Grey-headed Bush-shrikes, Cardinal and Bearded Woodpeckers, five species of bustards, Somali Golden-breasted Buntings, Red-billed and Yellow-billed Hornbills, Acacia Paradise and Steel-blue Whydahs, Grey Wren-warbler, Green-winged Pytilia, two species of sand grouse, different social weavers, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Rosy-patched Shrike and many other bird species may be seen in this wonderful birding site. Awash NP is not only good for birding but also for game viewing. Lesser and Greater Kudus, Sommering's Gazelle, Defassa Waterbuck, Hamadryas Baboon, Black-backed Jackal and lions (if we’re lucky) are some of the mammals we may see. Tonight we may have a short night drive for the nightjars.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Awash Falls lodge.

Day 04: Drive to Langano

We sadly leave Awash for the lakes region. Besides a few roadside stops, our first major stop will be at Koka Dam where we may see the Lesser-striped and Wire-tailed Swallows. Then we 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. We may see many aquatic and woodland 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 drive slowly to Langano Resort with a few stops in the acacia woodland of a cattle development ranch about 17 km past Lake Ziway.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Langano Resort

Day 05: Visit around Langano and drive to Wondo Genet

We will bird before breakfast in the Lake Langano Resort compound with its associated acacia woodland. Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Abyssinian Black Wheatear, Klaus’s and Diederik Cuckoos, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Banded Barbet, Red-headed and Masked Weavers, Boran and Rattling Cisticola, Spotted Eagle Owl, Fan-tailed Raven, Gabar Goshawk, Bare-faced and White-bellied Go-away-birds, Black-billed and Black Wood-hoopoes and Pygmy Kingfisher are among the species we may see this morning. Then, we will have a short breakfast before we drive to Abijata-Willa Lakes NP. Lake Abijata, which is known as the Ethiopian Lake Nakuru, is the best feeding site for a great numbers of Lesser and Greater Flamingos. In Abijata, not only the flamingos but also a large number of migratory birds feed. After a half-day birding in Lake Abijata we will 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 Oribi. And then, we proceed to Wondo Genet for two nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Wondo Genet.

Day 06: Wondo Genet

Today we will have a full day of birding in the tropical rain forest of Wondo Genet. This forest is home to endemic species like the beautiful Yellow-fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Banded Barbet and the very localized subspecies of the Brown Saw-wing. Apart from these endemic species, there is an excellent variety of birds in the forest. The Narina Trogon, Double-toothed Barbet, Half-collared Kingfisher, Tambourine Dove, Broad-billed Roller, Ayres’s Hawk Eagle, Sharpe’s Starling, Scaly Francolin, Lemon and Blue-spotted /wood Doves, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Osprey, Cuckoo-shrike, Crowned Eagle, Thick-billed Raven, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Red-shouldered and Emerald Cuckoos, Mountain Wagtails, African Wood Owl, Spectacled and Grosbeak Weavers are among the many species that inhabit the lush forests of Wondo Genet.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Wondo Genet.

Day 07: Drive to Bale Mountain National Park

We leave Wondo Genet for the Bale Mountains that are about 230 km from Wondo Genet to the southeast via the Wabe-Shebelle River. En route, there will be a few stops including the Washa River for some highland species. Our major stop will be around Dinsho where the park Headquarters are located. Here, we hope to see different birds like the beautiful Spot-breasted Plover (endemic), African Snipe, Chestnut-napped Francolin, Lammergeyer, Steppe Eagle, Slender-billed Starling, Common Stonechat, Thekla Lark, Yellow Bishop, Baglafecht Weaver, 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 Duiker may be seen in the grassy area of Dinsho. After we pay all the necessary fees at the park HQ’s we proceed to Goba for three nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Goba.

Day 08: Visit Sof-Omer

Our tour will take us to Sof-omer, the largest ground river cave the country, some 115 km east of Goba town. The thorny bushes of this lowland has a large number of bird species including the endemic Salvador’s Serin, Grasshopper Buzzard, Martial Eagle, Ring-necked Dove, Brown-tailed Chat, African Goshawk, Abyssinian Scimitar bill, Shining Sunbird, Bristle-crowned Starling, Eurasian Hobby, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Black-billed Wood Dove, Black-throated Barbet, different shrikes and bustards. The Straw-tailed Whydah, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Levaillant’s and Great Spotted Cuckoos, Pygmy Falcon, Yellow-throated Barbet, Collared Sunbird, Hunter’s Sunbird and different social weavers. After superb birding in this lowland, we drive back to Goba for tomorrow’s program.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Dinsho lodge or camping Goba.

Day 09: Vsit Sanattie Plateau

We will have a full-day bird watching on the Sanattie Plateau and in the forest near Goba town. Sanattie Plateau is the highest moorland tract in Africa, home to the elegant endemic Ethiopian Wolf, which is found nowhere else on earth except in Ethiopia. This moorland with an associated juniper forest has a few important birds including the finest singing Abyssinian Catbird (endemic), the more-threatened Abyssinian Woodpecker, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Olive Pigeon, Malachite Sunbird, Golden Eagle, Somali Chestnut-winged Starling, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Moorland Francolin, African Snipe, Ruddy Shelduck, Lanner Falcon, Crowned and Verreaux’s Eagles, Wattled Cranes, Eagle Owl, Rouget’s Rail and a few other species. Apart from the birds, this plateau has a few mammals like the Klipspringer, Abyssinian Hare and the endemic Giant Mole Rat. Late afternoon we slowly drive back to our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Goba.

Day 10: Drive to Negele Borena

We take the long drive south towards Negelle, some 285 km from Goba where we stay for two nights. We spend about an hour birding in the Harenna Forest, which is another excellent area for different bird species including Olive Pigeon, Black and White Mannikin, African Hobby, Mountain Buzzard, Crowned Eagle, African Wood Owl, and others. We make stop at Dawa River and Ganalle Valley to find African white winged Dove and Juba Weaver, and the endemic Ruspoli’s Turaco respectively, our target birds. We may see some other good birds including Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Rufous Chatterer, Red-and-yellow Barbet, and Greater Honeyguide. We will arrive at Negelle before dark.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Negelle.

Day 11: Negelle

Negelle area- full days bid watching around Negelle area. The localized Sidamo Lark is our target bird for today.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Negelle.

Day 12: Drive to Yabello

We set off for Yabello some 285 km west of Negelle one of the special birding routes in the southeastern part of the country with a great variety of birds. The Pied Cuckoo, Three-streaked Tchagra, Black-capped Social Weaver, Purple-banded Sunbird, the endemic White-tailed Swallow, Vulturine Guineafowl, Hueglin’s Bustard, Golden-breasted Starling, different species of weavers and Spotted Morning-thrush are among several species of birds that can be seen in these thorny bushes. Many other dry country birds could be seen, including Shelley’s Starling, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, White-crowned Starling, Grey Wren-warbler, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Golden Pipit, and African Bare-eyed Thrush and African Grey Flycatcher. Late afternoon we slowly drive to Yabello for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Yabello.

Day 13: Yabello

Yabello area-full day is birding in the thorny bushes of Yabello area. It accommodates a great numbers of excellent birds. The Gray headed Social weavers, Banded Parisoma, D'Arnaud's Barbet, Abyssinian Scimitar bill, Black breasted Barbet, Shelly's and Golden breasted Starlings, Rufus Sparrow, Pale Flycatcher, Bare faced Go-away bird, and the endemic White tailed Swallow. Vulturine Geanifowl, Black caped social weavers, White crowned starlings, Orange bellied Parrot, Martial Eagle, Yellow Rumped Serine, Yellow necked spur foul, Red fronted Barbet and African Black headed Orioles are some of an excellent bind species.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Yabello.

Day 14: Drive to Arbaminch

We proceed to Arbaminch via Konso, to have a next day birding in Nechsar National Park. En route we will see a great number of acacia lowland birds. Magpie Starling, White-crowned Starling, Dodson's Bulbul, Eastern Black-headed Oriole, African Goshawk, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Tiny Cisticola and Pringle's Puffback are some of the species we come across along the road. Overnight Arbaminch.

Day 15: Drive to Konso back to Arbaminch

We will do a full day of bird watching and game viewing in the superb lowlands of Nechsar National Park. There was an ornithological discovery of the Nechisar Nightjar during a survey of the park in 1992. There are different bird species known to occur on the Nechisar Plains including the rare Greater Kestrel, Orange River Francolin, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Desert Cisticolas and Stripe-breasted Seedeater. A few night species have been recorded here including the Slender-tailed and Star-spotted Nightjars, Donaldson Smith’s and Dusky Nightjars. Apart from the birds, Nechisar is home to few mammals like the endemic Swayne's Hartebeest, Thomson's gazelle, Burchell’s Zebra, Greater Kudu, Dik-dik, and baboons. Drive back to Arbaminch.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Arbaminch.

Day 16: Drive to Hawassa

We drive to hawassa to stay the night. This afternoon we may have an opportunity to see a few species along the lake shore. Giant Kingfisher, Painted Snipe, Lesser Moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, Banded Snake-eagle, Irania, Little Weaver, Grey Kestrel, Spotted Creeper, Grey headed Kingfisher, African and Common Snipes are some of the excellent birds we may see in the Hawassa area.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transportation: 4x4 Air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation:Overnight stay in Hawassa.

Day 17: Drive to Addis Ababa

Drive back to Addis Ababa. On the way we will stop at Abijata–Willa Lakes and Ziway. Lake Abijata is the feeding site of the lesser and Greater Flamingos that are in great abundance. There are also different species of ducks and waders. Lunch will be at Ziway, and then we slowly drive to Addis. Evening, enjoy a Farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country's many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure upon request.