9 Days Birdwatching Tour

9 Days Birdwatching Tour

Ethiopia is one of the great birding destinations for both serious and recreational ornithologists. Over 924 species of birds, many extremely beautiful and exotic, reside in Ethiopia.  Of these, 24 are endemic to Ethiopia, 14 other species are shared only with Eritrea.  There are 214 species of pal arctic migrants in Ethiopia; 45 of these have been found in the country during the summer months.  A large number of species have breeding populations in Ethiopia.

Day 1: Drive to Awash NP, overnight Awash NPL

  • Key Birds.:  Kori Bustard, Chestnut Bellied Sand Grouse, Rosy-Patched plus a number of Bush Shrikes.
  • Endemic birds: –
  • Other birds: home for 462 birds species: home for 462 birds species, : African Orange-bellied Parrots, Bustards, Weavers, Hoopoe, Yellow-throated Serine, Red-fronted Barbet, Pygmy Batis, Lesser-striped Swallow, and the House Martin.
  • Habitat: Savannah Grassland

Day 2 : All Day Birding Awash NP, overnight Awash NPL

  • Key birds: same as Day 1
  • Endemic birds: same as Day 1
  • Other birds; Same as Day 1
  • Habitat: same as Day 1

Day 3: Early morning drive to Langano, overnight in Sabanna Lodge, Langano

  • Key birds: African Pygmy Goose, Black Billed Wood hoopoe, African Pygmy Goose, Hottentot Teal, Southern Pochard, Maccoa, and White Backed Ducks, Lesser and African Jacanas, Black and Goliath Herons, Ruppell’s and Vitelline Masked Weavers, Black-Winged Lovebird, Banded Barbet, and Nubian Woodpecker. 
  • Endemic birds: Black Winged Lovebird, Banded Barbet,
  • Other birds: Abyssinian Ground hornbill, Northern Black Tit, Little Weaver Yellow-Wagtails, Ibis, Cormorant, Pelicans, Yellow-Billed Ducks, Egrets, Herons, Flamingos, Storks, Swallows, Chestnut Bellied Sandgrouse, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Rollers, Wheatear, African Marsh Harrier,
  • Habitat: lakes, Acacia Woodland

Day 4: Early morning bird watching to Abijata-Shalla NP, overnight in Sabanna Lodge, Langano

  • Key birds: Lesser and Greater Flamingos, Common Ostriches, Chestnut Bellied Sandgrouse, Abyssinian Roller, African Marsh Harrier.
  • Endemic birds:- Banded Barbet, Black-winged Lovebird
  • Other birds:299 birds species, Red, Yellow, Von der Decken’s, African Grey, Hemprich’s and Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Grey Headed and Sulphur Breasted Bush-Shrikes, Beautiful, Marico and Variable Sunbirds, Temminck’s and Three Banded Coursers
  • Habitat: Grassland with acacia and lake

Day 5: Drive to Bale Goba, passing Dinsho, endemics, etc. Overnight in Goba

Nordern Grassland

  • Key birds: Yellow Bishop, Mountain Buzzard, Yellow-billed Duck, African black- Duck,
  • Endemic birds: Blue-winged Goose, Spot-breasted Plover,
  • Near to endemics: Rouget’s Rail, Thick-billed Raven, White-collared Pigeon,

Juniper Woodlands

  • Key birds: Abyssinian Owl, African Wood Owl, Grey Headed Woodpecker, Yellow Bellied Waxbill, Cinnamon-bracken Warbler, Montane Nightjar,
  • Endemic birds: Abyssinian Catbird, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Longclaw.
  • Near to endemics: White-backed Black Tit, White-cheeked Turaco, Abyssinian Oriole, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-winged Lovebird,
  • Habitat; Grassland and Open Woodland

Day 6: Drive Throughout Erica Moorland and Afro Alpine Over Night Camping in forest

 Afro Alpine Meadows

  • Key birds: Bale Parisoma, Ethiopian Cisticola, Moorland Francolin, Bearded Vulture, Golden Eagle, Cape Eagle Owl, Red Billed Chough, African Snipe, wood sandpiper, Wattled Crane, Thekla Lark, Northern Shoveler, Green Sandpiper,
  • Endemic birds: Abyssinian Longclaw, Blue-winged Goose, Spot-breasted Plover, Ethiopian Siskin,
  • Near to endemics: Rouget’s Rail, White Collared Pigeon, Thick Billed Raven,

Erica Belt – Moorland and Forest

  • Key birds: Chestnut-naped Francolin, Moorland Francolin, Bale Parisoma, Ethiopian Cisticola, African Stonechat, Red-billed Chough,
  • Endemic birds: Abyssinian Longclaw,
  • Near to endemics: Rouget’s Rail

Day 7: All day Harenna, Camping in Harenna

Harenna Forest

  • Key birds: Abyssinian Woodpecker, Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Sharpe’s Starling, Abyssinian crimson wing, Long Crest Eagle, African Crowded Eagle, Variable Sunbird, African-emerald Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Silvery Cheeked Hornbill, African Hill Babbler.
  • Endemic birds: Abyssinian Catbird, Yellow-fronted Parrot,
  • Near to endemics: White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Woodpecker, White-cheeked Turaco, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Black- Winged Lovebird,
  • Habitat; Tropical Rain Forest

Day 8

Drive to Hawasa for overnight in Hawasa explore most of the Aquatic birds by the boot trip on lake Hawassa.

Day 9

Drive to Addis Ababa Early morning and depending on the time you have we can organize a city tour in the capital city of Ethiopia home of many churches.