Ethiopia! the very name brings a picture to one’s mind of a wild & rugged land. A land steeped in History & myth with mountains & deserts, bush & savanna, wetlands & forest. Set in the Horn of Africa, this is an area of high endemism. Ethiopia boasts 31 Endemic species of birds & many Endemic mammals. Our tour is designed around this & we endeavour to give you a very good chance of seeing many of these amazing species. Our tour takes us to extremes. We travel ancient roads onto the roof of Africa in both the Bale Mountains & the Western Highlands. Home to the rarest canid in the world, the enigmatic Simien Wolf. This hunter shares it’s High Moorlands of Bale with endemic Giant Mole-rats & Spot-breasted Lapwings, Blue-winged Geese & Black-headed Siskins. Here are found the only breeding Golden Eagles south of the Sahara only recently discovered, soaring alongside Lanner Falcons & stunning Augar Buzzards. We visit the Blue Nile Gorge with towering cliffs, home to Lammergeier, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Verraux’s Eagle & endemic Gelada Baboons. Highland forest remnants hold Abyssinian Thrush, Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker & White-backed Black Tit. In the Rift Valley we visit a number of lakes including Awasa where Basra Reed Warbler, waders, pelicans & marsh terns winter. Overhead African Fish Eagles hunt while the shoreline holds species like Three-banded Plover, Pied & Malachite Kingfishers – Black Crake & Allen’s Gallinule haunt the reedy shallows to name a few. In the south we visit the Liben Plain home of the Liben Lark, one of the rarest Larks on earth while nearby is the main area for Prince Rusopli’s Turaco a stunning bird & known from only a handful of sites. To the west in the Yabello Wildlife sanctuary we look for the fabulous endemic Stressemann’s Bush-crow & White-tailed Swallow both known only from this small area of Ethiopia. A stellar supporting cast of species awaits such as Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Vulturine Guinea-fowl, Grey-wren Warbler, Foxy Lark, Purple Grenadier & Rufous-naped Bush Shrike to name a few. We head out to the savanna scrub grasslands & sub-desert of the Awash & Aligehdi National Parks where the species mix is very different. Kori, White-bellied & Buff-crested Bustards share their grasslands with Sandgrouse & migrant Rufous Bush-robins, Abyssinian Rollers & Star-spotted Nightjar. Salt’s Dikdik, Greater Kudu & Jackals, all await. Our last tour saw 420 species of bird including 27 Endemics, 4 species of Nightjar & no less than 46 species of raptor of which we saw all 9 vulture species along with Ayre’s Hawk-eagle & Red-necked Buzzard. Also 31 species of Mammal including 5 endemics. Your tour leader is Steve Cale who along with local guide Measho Legesse will lead this tour through Ethiopia’s exciting birding habitats. Temperatures can range from hot in Awash & through to decidedly cold in Bale & the Highlands. Rainy seasons vary dependant upon locality & we may encounter rain on some days at this time of year in certain areas. Photo opportunities on this tour are excellent. Your tour leaders will be Steve Cale and Measho Legesse and you can expect to see approximately 400 species.
DAY ONE
Fly London/Addis Ababa on the overnight flight.
DAY TWO
We arrive in Addis in the morning and once we have had chance to have breakfast and freshen up in the hotel, we begin birding in the very productive grounds. Our first endemic bird may well be the impressive Thick-billed Raven. Nyanza Swift, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Tacazze Sunbird, Brown Parisoma, Brown-rumped Seedeater should be noted among many others. After lunch, we will head out for the swampy vegetation of the Geffersa Reservoir, some twenty kilometres west of the capital. This site supports a good number of water birds; among them Blue-winged Goose, which is an attractive but irregular visitor to this site. Other endemics found in the area are White-collared Pigeon, Abyssinian Longclaw, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Black-headed Siskin, Brown-rumped Seedeater, Wattled Ibis and Rouget’s Rail. Augur Buzzard, African Hobby, African Black and Yellow-billed Duck can be seen here as well.
Overnight Ghion Hotel
DAY THREE
Our safari begins in earnest this morning as we depart the capital city, Addis Ababa and drive over the Entoto Mountains. Naturally, we will stop to admire the spectacular views of Addis that the road affords, before continuing out on to the Sululta Plains. This extensive, heavily populated area comprises a fascinating mosaic of traditional pasture, hay meadows and grain fields in addition to many small tarns and marshes which attract a variety of water birds plus a fine selection of open country species including the localised Spot-breasted Lapwing; Abyssinian Longclaw; Red-chested Swallow and White-winged Cliff-Chat. This high altitude country is host to small ‘tukul’ villages of the thatched- roofed; earthen-walled houses that is so typical of Ethiopia and here dot the landscape whilst robed horsemen ride across the plains to tend their livestock. Along the way, in the marshy areas or amongst the drier grasslands, we should have our first opportunity to see such endemics as Wattled Ibis and Blue-winged Goose feeding along the water’s edge. Other specialties include: Rouget’s Rails and Abyssinian Longclaws skulking in the wet grass, whilst flocks of White-collared Pigeons and Black-headed Siskins decorate the telegraph wires. Other interesting species we may encounter today include Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Sacred Ibis, Egyptian Goose, African Black and Yellow-billed ducks, African White-backed Vulture, Augur and Common Buzzards, Red- knobbed Coot, Three-banded and Black-winged Plovers, Speckled Pigeon, Dusky Turtle and Red-eyed Doves, Nyanza Swift, Speckled Mousebird, European Bee-eater, Blue- headed Wagtail, Grassland Pipit, Brown-throated Martin, Barn and Red-rumped Swallows, Red-throated Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Common Bulbul, Erlanger’s Lark, Short-crested Lark, Red- breasted, Northern, Pied, Isabelline and Abyssinian Black Wheatears, Moorland Chat, Mountain Thrush, Groundscraper Thrush, Ethiopian and Pectoral-patch Cisticolas, Common Fiscal, Pied Crow, Cape Rook, Red-billed Oxpecker, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Tacazze Sunbird, Swainson’s Sparrow, Baglafecht Weaver, Yellow Bishop, Red-collared Widowbird, Common Waxbill, Brown-rumped and Streaky seedeaters, African Citril and Ortolan Bunting. Later we reach Debre Libanos, perched on the lip of a massive and spectacular gorge [a branch of the Blue Nile drainage system]. The precipitous cliffs are home to the impressive Gelada Baboon and we should encounter a troop of these handsome primates as they forage along the cliff tops. Amongst the birds we can expect to see here are Erckel’s Francolin, Black- winged Lovebird, Banded Barbet, Rüppell’s Black Chat, White-winged Cliff Chat, White-billed Starling and Abyssinian Oriole, as well as Lammergeier, which often sails by at close range, Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture, Steppe, Tawny and Verreaux’s Eagles, Common Kestrel, Lanner and Peregrine, the near-endemic White-cheeked Turaco, Mottled Swift, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Hemprich’s Hornbill, House and Rock Martins, Long-billed and Tree Pipits, Little Rock Thrush, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Mocking Cliff Chat, Singing and Stout Cisticolas, African Paradise Flycatcher, Montane White-eye, Northern Puffback, Fan-tailed Raven, Red-winged Starling, Village Indigobird, Pin-tailed Whydah, Red-billed Firefinch and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting.
Overnight Ethio-German Lodge
DAY FOUR
An early start from Debre Libanos will see us descend into the Jemma River valley, where after first light we’ll search for Harwood’s Francolin. We’ll also watch out for Hemprich’s Hornbill, White-billed Starling, Black- billed Barbet and Foxy Cisticola, Fox Kestrel ,White throated Seedeater, Lesser Kestrel, and if we are very fortunate, the scarce Red-billed Pytilia. We’ll then continue onto the escarpment at Ankober.
Overnight Eva Hotel
DAY FIVE
A full day birding around Ankober and Melka Jebdhu for the localized endemics Ankober Serin and Yellow-throated Seedeater, as well as species such as Half-collared Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Yellow-breasted Barbet, Common Waxbill and Black Scrub Robin.
Overnight Eva Hotel
DAY SIX
We will make an early start and head south down the main Ethiopian Rift Valley that is thronged with some magnificent bird-rich lakes. Over the next days we will explore the best of these lakes and the very birding sites associated with the lakes, surrounding arid savannas and patches of indigenous forest. We will be birding along the main road and turning off at several of the lakes along the way. The numbers of birds can be quite overwhelming and you will undoubtedly be impressed by the spectacle. Our first birding stop will be at Lake Chelekleka. This is a small, shallow lake lined with marsh and mud-flats and supports surprisingly large numbers of birds. In particular it is an excellent site for migrant ducks and waders. Regular species encountered here include Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Garganey, Eurasian Teal, Tufted Duck, Black-tailed Godwit and Temminck’s Stint. This is also a good place to find African Pygmy Goose, Hottentot Teal, Southern Pochard and White-backed Duck along with migrant waders. Sorting through the rafts of ducks and other migrants can be very challenging due to the distraction caused by the sheer number of species moving through the scrubby vegetation near the lake edge! Common Crane often roost in staggering numbers on the far side of the water and we may see them flying overhead in huge, noisy flocks as they set off to forage for the day. A pair of sought-after Black Crowned-Cranes is also often observed around this lake. Further south the well-wooded rim of the deep Lake Hora will likely be our second major stop. The woodlands around the lake teem with birds. Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, Common Redstart, Eurasian Blackcap, Red-throated Wryneck, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Western Black-headed Batis, Beautiful Sunbird, Rüppell’s Weaver and a diverse variety of water birds, especially deep water diving ducks, can be seen here. Thereafter, the steep sided Lake Bishoftu offers superb birding. Maccoa and Ferruginous Ducks, Southern Pochard, Singing Cisticola, Tacazze Sunbird, Mocking Cliff Chat, Abyssinian Wheatear, Little Rock Thrush and flocks of Black-winged Lovebird are just some of the possibilities here! If time permits we will also visit Koka Dam supporting vast numbers of resident and migrant water birds. Species we may encounter at these sites include Pink-backed Pelican, African Darter, Yellow-billed Egret, Goliath Heron, Hamerkop, Yellow-billed and Saddle-billed Storks; Black Crowned Crane is fairly reliable here; Spur-winged and Egyptian Geese, Knob-billed Duck, the elegant African Pygmy Goose and the impressive African Fish Eagle is commonly seen disturbing the flocks. Western Marsh Harrier, African Jacana, Senegal Thick-knee, Spur-winged Lapwing, Gull-billed Tern, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers. Rattling Cisticola and White-browed Sparrow-weavers should also be present here. We will head down to the shore of Lake Ziway where huge numbers of water birds congregate. Yellow-billed and Marabou Storks, Hamerkop, Black Heron, ibises and egrets and White Pelican are just some of the species to be seen here in impressive numbers. Lesser Jacana is also possible and we should check gulls for wintering Pallas’s and Heuglin’s. Dazzling Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, migratory White and Western Yellow Wagtails can be seen around the lake edge to round off a superb day’s birding can be seen around the lake edge.
Overnight Ziway Bethlehem Hotel
DAY SEVEN
During the morning we will explore the lake again and after breakfast we will drive to Simbo resort grounds looking for such species as Black-winged Lovebird, Banded, Red-fronted and Red-billed Barbets, Little Weaver and Little Rock Thrush. The rocky escarpment above the hotel holds Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Mocking Cliff Chat, Abyssinian Black Wheatear, Fan-tailed Raven and Ethiopian Rock Hyrax. Alternatively a walk in the adjacent dry acacia woodland might yield Black-billed Wood-hoopoe, Bearded Woodpecker, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Boran Cisticola, Buff-bellied Warbler, Mouse-coloured Penduline-tit, White-winged Black Tit, White-rumped Babbler, Grey-headed Batis and Rüppell’s Weaver. Later on we may visit the grounds of another hotel for roosting Slender-tailed Nightjar, Verreaux’s and Greyish Eagle-Owl, as well as Clapperton’s Francolin. During the afternoon we plan to visit Bishangari Forest on the south eastern shore of the lake. The acacia woodland bordering the road could produce Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Bare-faced Go-away-bird and Red-throated Wryneck among others. The remnant patch of natural forest at Bishangari Lodge is home to a number of endemics and special birds including Scaly Francolin, Lemon Dove, Narina Trogon, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Parrot, White-cheeked Turaco, Abyssinian Woodpecker and Abyssinian Oriole. Noisy groups of Grey-backed Fiscal inhabit the more open areas and Guereza Colobus can be found in tall fig trees.
Overnight Wondogenet Resort
DAY EIGHT
In the morning we will walk in the forestry college. These degraded forests are home to the endemic species like the beautiful Yellow-fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Woodpecker and Banded Barbet. Apart from the endemic species, the forests produce and excellent birds like Narina’s Trogon, African Hill Babbler, Crowned Eagle, Broad-billed Roller, Half-collared Kingfisher, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey cuckoo-Shrike, Lemon Dove and Double-toothed Barbet. In the afternoon, we will leave the Rift Valley and climb steadily upwards through the south eastern highlands to the fabulous Bale Mountains – one of Africa’s most spectacular regions. Our gradual ascent takes us through montane grassland, then juniper woodland, before getting up to the high Afro-alpine moorland of the Bale Mountains themselves. We stop several times on the way because the roadside birding is excellent all along our route. Characteristic birds include Augur Buzzard, Black-winged Lapwing, Erlanger’s Lark, the dark Ethiopian subspecies of African Stonechat, Red-breasted Wheatear, Groundscraper Thrush and Yellow Bishop. As we gain height highland species start to appear along the road. We can expect to see soaring Lammergeiers, flocks of Red-billed Chough, Blue-winged Goose, Wattled Ibis, Rouget’s Rail, Chestnut-naped Francolin, White-collared Pigeon, Abyssinian Longclaw, Moorland Chat and Black-headed Siskin. With a bit of luck we may also find the impressive Cape Eagle-Owl. In the montane grasslands we should keep a lookout for Red-chested and Grey-rumped Swallows. We will stop at Dinsho, the headquarters of the national park and spend some time exploring nearby trails for the colourful Chestnut-naped Francolin, secretive Abyssinian Ground Thrush, vocal Abyssinian Catbird and White-backed Black Tit. This is probably one of the best places to see the endemic Mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck. With a local ranger we will look for roosting Montane Nightjar, African Wood Owl and the sought-after Abyssinian Owl in the dark recesses of the Juniper thicket. Chances for the stunning Cerval are good as the high density of rodents in this area support a healthy population of this beautiful cat.
Overnight Goba Wabeshebele Hotel
DAY NINE
The Bale Mountains are quite simply stunning! The eponymous National Park was set up primarily to protect two very special endemic mammals; Ethiopian Wolf and Mountain Nyala. We will depart early and ascend the Bale Mountain massif en route to the unique Sanetti Plateau, which lies between 12,540 and 14,444ft above sea level. As we leave Goba, we soon reach nice stands of Juniper-Hagenia forest that are home to endemic Abyssinian Woodpecker, White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Catbird and Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, plus Abyssinian Ground Thrush. Driving through further stands of Hypericum trees, should see us encounter the endemic griseiventris race of Brown Parisoma. Moorland and Chestnut-naped Francolin are also present, while Cinnamon Bracken Warbler frequents dense shrubbery and Ethiopian Cisticola the more open areas. Here, we will be driving on Africa’s highest road, passing close to the summit of Ethiopia’s second highest mountain. Here, on an island of tundra in the tropics, the habitat is classified as “Afro-alpine moorland” characterized by a fascinating range of unique plants including Jibrra, or Giant Lobelias, which tower like monolithic giants over the rich tussock grasslands and extensive cushions of yellow Everlasting flowers. Groundsels and Hypericum have evolved here into trees, the latter festooned with epiphytes. The grasslands are estimated to support an incredible biomass of 8,800lb of rodents per hectare. Amazing! This obviously attracts a rich array of raptors and we should see Steppe and Golden Eagles, Augur Buzzard and elegant Pallid Harriers courting over this verdant floral sea. They share this abundant food source with the plateau’s most celebrated resident, the Ethiopian or Simian Wolf, crowned with the unenviable title of “the world’s rarest canid.” Watching these vibrantly coloured animals, most closely related to the European Timber Wolf, exhibiting their hunting prowess whilst pouncing on Giant Mole-rats [another endemic to the Sanetti Plateau] is surely amongst Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences. We should enjoy excellent photographic opportunities in this unique montane habitat.The Bale Mountains are an Important Bird Area of immense significance, supporting seven globally threatened species and nearly all of Ethiopia’s Highland biome species. The plateau also holds the only Afro-tropical breeding populations of Ruddy Shelduck, Golden Eagle and Red-billed Chough. We will also search for Black Stork, Wattled Ibis, Spot-breasted Lapwing, Wattled Crane, Thekla Lark, migratory flocks of Red-throated Pipit, Abyssinian Longclaw, Red-breasted Wheatear, dumpy Moorland Chat and flocks of endemic Black-headed Siskins.
Overnight Goba Wabeshebele Hotel
DAY TEN
Our second full day in the Goba region will see us descending 5,250 feet into the dry and warmth of the valley of Sof Omar. Famous for its extensive underground limestone cave system this is now an important Islamic shrine that has been carved out by the Weyb River. The habitat here consists of broad-leafed and Acacia woodlands, an ideal habitat for many species which will be new for us. Here we will search the bushy slopes of an attractive valley for the extremely range-restricted Salvadori’s Serin, the most attractive of Ethiopia’s endemic canaries. Some of the other birds we may encounter include Crested Francolin, African Hawk Eagle, Vinaceous, Ring-necked and Namaqua Doves, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Red-bellied Parrot, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Speckled Mousebird, Black-billed Wood-hoopoe, Von der Decken’s and Northern Red-billed Hornbills, D’Arnaud’s and Black-throated Barbets, Cardinal and Nubian Woodpeckers, Grey Wren-Warbler, Northern Crombec, Rufous Chatterer, Pygmy Batis, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Brubru, White-crested Helmet-shrike, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Slate-coloured Boubou, Superb Starling, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Speke’s Weaver, the distinctive mostly red local subspecies of Red-headed Weaver, Village Indigobird, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Purple Grenadier and Cut-throat Finch, Somali Crow, Northern Brownbul, Acacia Tit, the localized Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Yellow-breasted Apalis [this form likely to be split as Brown-tailed Apalis], Rosy-patched Bush-shrike and the impressive Bristle-crowned Starling. Sof Omar boasts Ethiopia’s longest cave system with over fifteen kilometres of passages, and we will take time out during the heat of the day to wander through some of these impressive tunnels, with their underground waterways and roosting Horseshoe Bats.
Overnight Goba Wabeshebele Hotel
DAY ELEVEN
We will depart early and drive out across the spectacular Sanetti Plateau before finally reaching the escarpment of this elevated plateau and stare down through the clouds at the vast Harenna Forest below. This remarkable forest is the largest intact forest block in Ethiopia and the largest protected Afro-alpine forest on the continent. Not surprisingly it is widely regarded as the most bio-diverse locality in the entire Ethiopian Highlands. It still supports populations of Lion and the only surviving forest-dwelling African Wild Dogs. Although unlikely that we will see either of these species, the thirty five kilometre descent through all of the vegetation zones of the Harenna Forest’s 1,500m altitudinal span is undoubtedly a remarkable experience and arguably THE most spectacular drive on the entire African continent. Perhaps in part because of the remarkable contrast between the Afro-Alpine moorlands at higher elevations and the austere Acacia-Commiphora Thorn bush at lower elevations. As we drive through this breathtakingly beautiful, moss-draped forest including tree heath and lichen-draped St John’s Wort at upper elevations, thence cloud dominated Hagenia and Podocarpus at 2400 metre and drier more open-canopied forest at circa 1800 metres we will find it very difficult not to stop every few metres. Some of the birds we may encounter here include: African Goshawk, Crowned Eagle, Mountain Buzzard, Scaly Francolin, African Olive Pigeon, Lemon and Tambourine Doves, African Emerald Cuckoo, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Narina Trogon, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Sharpe’s Starling, Abyssinian Crimson-wing, Green-backed Twinspot, African Citril and Yellow-crowned Canary. In this area we also stand a chance of finding Bale Monkey, a range-restricted endemic to this mountain. Leaving the forest we progressively reach drier thorn savannah in the remote southern region of Ethiopia. Here the birdlife is strikingly different. Flocks of Superb Starlings include the rarer Shelley’s Starling and gorgeous looking Golden-breasted Starling. Other common roadside birds include the striking Bataluer, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Lilac-breasted Roller and Striped Kingfisher. As we near the town of Negele we enter prime habitat for the endangered endemic Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco. By walking along a dry river-bed and carefully checking the large fruiting figs we should come across this stunning and charismatic creature. We should enjoy excellent views of this very unusual and beautiful bird. The bird is named after an Italian Prince, its hapless discoverer, who was killed by an elephant soon after collecting the type specimen in the 1890s. It took another fifty years before explorers saw the Turaco again, and only in the 1970s was anything revealed about this bird. In the late afternoon we will arrive in Negele where we spend two nights.
Overnight Turaco Hotel
DAY TWELVE
This morning we will drive east to bird the increasingly dry woodland and thorn savannah towards, but still some distance from the Somali border. This area supports a number of exciting species we are unlikely to encounter elsewhere on this tour including: the scarce Golden Pipit, elusive Red-naped Bush-shrike, Pringle’s Puffback, Three-streaked Tchagra, Foxy Lark, Somali Crombec, Red-fronted Barbet, garish Golden-breasted Starling, Somali Crow, African Silverbill, Somali Bunting and Northern Grosbeak-Canary. Large troops of Olive Baboon may also be encountered here and we should see Guenther’s Dik-dik and Gerenuk. A small population of Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco survives in the thickets near to Negele so we have another chance to see this enigmatic bird. The surrounding dry woodland and thorn savannah supports many dry country species such as White-bellied and Hartlaub’s Bustards, Somali and Temminck’s Coursers, Gillett’s Lark, Dodson’s Bulbul, Spotted Palm-Thrush, Tiny, Boran and Ashy Cisticolas, Mouse-coloured Penduline-tit, Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Slate-coloured Boubou, Taita Fiscal, Northern White-crowned Shrike, White-crowned and Magpie starlings, Grey-capped Social Weaver and Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow.
Overnight Turaco Hotel
DAY THIRTEEN
East of Negele lays a unique open grassland, the Liben Plains, to which the little known Sidamo Lark is restricted. This species belongs to the unusual genus Heteromirafra, which also includes the South African Rudd’s Lark, and is considered one of the most endangered birds on Earth. We shall make good use of the early morning as the larks will almost certainly only be active whilst it is still cool. The more common grassland species are Plain-backed Pipit and Somali Short-toed Lark; however, we walk the plains hoping to see the Sidamo Lark’s distinctive parachute display flight. Here we should also find Black-winged and Crowned Lapwings, small parties of hovering Lesser Kestrels, giant Kori Bustards -the world’s heaviest flying bird and Pectoral-patch Cisticola. If we are very fortunate, we may see coveys of Coqui Francolin or flush a migratory Corn Crake. From the Liben Plain we will retrace our steps to Negele and then turn south to the village of Yabello along another long and seldom-travelled road. We should find the range restricted African White-winged Dove, Black-bellied Sunbird and Juba Weaver along the banks of the Dawa River, and with a bit of luck Philippa’s Crombec in the thorn-scrub. Whilst in this dry southern region of the country, as well as many bush-country species already encountered, new species to look for include skulking shrikes like Three-streaked Tchagra, Red-naped Bush Shrike and Pringle’s Puffback, while if we are in luck we will come across Short-tailed Lark. Other species that we may well encounter include Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Shikra, Vulturine Guineafowl, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Temminck’s Courser, Bare-faced Go-away-Bird, Red- fronted, Black-throated and Red-and-yellow Barbets, Spotted Palm Thrush, Pale Prinia, Somali Crombec, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Pygmy Batis, Taita Fiscal, Northern Grey Tit, Magpie Starling, Hunter’s Sunbird, Purple Grenadier and Somali Bunting. As we approach the village of Yabello we should start looking for flocks of the unique and extremely localised Stresemann’s Bush-Crow. The Italian Moltoni discovered this peculiar species only in 1938, which represents one of the most remarkable ornithological events in Africa of the twentieth century. Needless to say we shall be eagerly looking out for our first party of these strange birds that recall starlings as much as corvids. In addition this is THE place to find the rare endemic White-tailed Swallow. These are among Ethiopia’s most sought-after endemic birds, and both are listed as globally threatened. Giant red termite mounds including some that tower five metres above the surrounding plains characterize this area of Acacia savannah! Both these endemic species appear to be associated in some way with these marvels of natural architecture. The social Bush Crow appears starling-like and is presumed to be most closely related to choughs. The area is also home to many other dry country species of which we hope to see Pygmy Falcon, Crested and Yellow-necked Francolins, Vulturine Guineafowl, Red-bellied Parrot, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Black-throated, Red and yellow and D’Arnaud’s Barbets, Northern Brownbul, African Bare-eyed Thrush, Buff-bellied Warbler, Banded Parisoma, Somali Crombec, Pygmy Batis, Pringle’s Puffback, White Helmet-shrike, Rosy-patched Bush-shrike, Parrot-billed Sparrow, Black-capped Social-weaver, Purple Grenadier, brood-parasitic Steel-blue Whydah and its host, Black-cheeked Waxbill and Somali Bunting. Mammals frequently seen along the road are Gerenuk, Guenther’s Dik-dik, Lesser Kudu and Unstriped Ground Squirrel. We should reach our hotel in the outskirts of Yabello late in the afternoon where Speke’s Weavers nesting in the gardens will greet us.
Overnight Yabello Motel
DAY FOURTEEN
This interesting part of Ethiopia hosts an avifauna broadly similar to that of northern Kenya but in addition is home to the two unique species that are found only here in Sidamo province Stresemann’s Bush-Crow and White-tailed Swallow. We have the entire day in which to explore the area including vast, 250,000 hectare Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary which lies ten kilometres east of Yabello town in the Borana Zone, with the Yabello–Arero road passing through its southern part. Most of the area is at an elevation of 1700 metres, although the topography is broken and varies between 1430 and 2000 metres. The area is notable for its red soils, which have little organic matter. The general vegetation-type is Acacia savannah, the major trees being A. drepanolobium on black cotton soil, A. brevispica and A. horrida on the slopes. There are also patches of Balanites aegyptiaca, and several species of Commiphora and Terminalia are found at the lower altitudes. The higher parts of the hills used to be covered with Juniperus procera and Olea europaea cuspidata forest. However, only a few patches remain, most of the trees having been cut and the wood taken for construction and other purposes. The dominant land-use is pastoralism, as practiced by the Borana people. Some of the birds and mammals we may encounter here include White-headed Vulture, Gabar Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, White-bellied Bustard, Somali Courser, Black-faced Sandgrouse, African Orange-bellied Parrot, Mottled Swift, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, the wonderful and rare Red-naped Bush-shrike, the similarly beautiful Rosy-patched Bush-shrike, Scaly Chatterer, Spotted Palm Thrush, African Grey Flycatcher, Pale Prinia, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Somali Crombec, Banded Parisoma, White-crowned Starling, Taita Fiscal, Straw-tailed Wydah, Short-tailed and Foxy Larks, Boran and Tiny Cisticolas, Bare-eyed Thrush, Black-headed Oriole, Golden-breasted Starling, Pringle’s Puffback, Hunter’s and Shining sunbirds, Superb and Wattled Starlings, Chestnut Sparrow, Yellow-spotted Petronia, White-winged Widowbird, Grey-capped and Black-capped Social Weavers, Chestnut Weaver, Green-winged Pytilia, Black-cheeked Waxbill, White-bellied Canary and Northern Grosbeak-canary. If time allows we visit the crater lake of Soda, where as in any other village in the region we have further chances to see White-tailed Swallow. A night drive in this exciting area could produce Donaldson-Smith’s and Slender-tailed Nightjars, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Northern White-faced Owl and Three-banded Courser, whilst mammal sightings may include Striped and Spotted Hyenas, Aardwolf, Aardvark, African Wild Cat and Ethiopian Genet.
Overnight Yabello Motel
DAY FIFTEEN
After a final morning birding around Yabello we will head north back into the rift valley and its myriad of bird-rich lakes. We should arrive at Lake Awassa in time for some relaxed introductory birding. Lake Awassa is regarded by many as the jewel in the crown of birding Ethiopia’s rift valley lakes! Lake Awassa boasts extensive marshes, towering lakeside forests, and the fish market that is undoubtedly one of Africa’s most remarkable avian spectacles. Quite frankly this has to be seen to be believed. The wetlands hold a number of species that are hard to locate elsewhere in Ethiopia and even some that are scarce throughout Africa. The forest that fringes the wetlands supports a mix of Rift Valley and montane species. After checking into our hotel situated on the lakeshore we will set out to explore the hotel’s gardens and the nearby shores of the lake. In the hotel garden we may encounter: Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Double-toothed and Banded Barbet, Black-winged Lovebird, Red-breasted Wryneck, Spotted Creeper and Slender-billed Starling. Along the shore of the lake a superb variety of birds can be found including Allen’s Gallinule, African Pygmy Goose, White-backed Duck, Giant Kingfisher, Blue-headed Coucal and Abyssinian Waxbill. There are Hippopotamus in the lake plus Guereza Colobus and Vervet Monkeys in the gardens of the lakeside hotels.
Overnight Awassa United Africa
DAY SIXTEEN
After early morning birding, we drive to Awash National Park for breeding Ruppell’s Vulture and Fox Kestrel. Here you will see Sombre Rock-chat, Striolated Bunting, Black-throated Barbet, Egyptian Vultures and other raptors.
Overnight Awash Fall Lodge.
DAY SEVENTEEN
A full day bird watching and game viewing in the superb lowland of Awash National Park. It has a great number of bird species like the Swallow-tailed Kite, Martial and Imperial Eagles, Nubian 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 sandgrouse, 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, with luck, Lions are some of the mammals we may see.
Overnight Awash Falls lodge
DAY EIGHTEEN
Drive back to Addis for a farewell dinner before taking the overnight flight back to the UK.
DAY NINETEEN
We arrive back in London in the morning, where the tour will conclude.
WHATS INCLUDED
Sixteen nights accommodation, return overnight flights London/Addis, dinner, bed and breakfast, lunches, all ground transport in well maintained vehicles, service of leaders and reserve entrance fees.
NOT INCLUDED
Transport to and from UK airport and any overnight stays and car parking that might be involved, travel insurance, visa [approximately £25.00], drinks, gratuities and any items of a purely personal nature.
PASSPORT, VISA & HEALTH
UK nationals will require a visa. Visas on arrival are only available for tourists at Addis Ababa (Bole) or Dire Dawa International airports, at a cost of approximately $US50 for 1 month (Euros, US dollars and Ethiopian birr are all accepted).Passports must have 6 months validity beyond the return travel date. Standard health and innoculation requirements apply for UK nationals, visit www.masta-travel-health.com to check these and if necessary, download a free health brief to take to a travel appointment at your local medical practice.
Tour at a glance
Tour at a glance
28th Sep 2022 - 16th Oct 2022
AVAILABLE
