8-Day Ethiopia Birdwatching Safari Experience

Depart from Addis Ababa and drive toward Awash National Park through the scenic Rift Valley. Enjoy birding stops along the way in acacia woodlands and open plains. Arrive in the park area and begin spotting early dryland bird species. Look for hornbills, bee-eaters, rollers, and other colorful savannah birds. Overnight near Awash surrounded by natural sounds.

Accommodation

Genet Hotel Hotel Mid-range

+2 +1

Spend a full day exploring Awash National Park, one of the best birding sites in Ethiopia. Search for species such as ostriches, secretary birds, vultures, kestrels, and Abyssinian rollers. Visit different habitats including river valleys, savannah plains, and Awash Falls. Enjoy guided birdwatching walks with opportunities for photography. Overnight stay in the Awash area.

Accommodation

Genet Hotel Hotel Mid-range

+2 +1

Drive south to Lake Langano through changing Rift Valley scenery. Stop along the way for birding opportunities in wetlands and farmland areas. Arrive at the lake and begin shoreline birdwatching. Spot pelicans, fish eagles, herons, and flamingos in large numbers. Relax at your lodge while enjoying sunset birding over the lake.

Accommodation

Bishangari Lodge Lodge Mid-range

+2 +1

Continue your journey to Bale Mountains National Park, one of Africa’s richest birding destinations. Arrive in Dinsho or Goba and explore forest edges and grasslands. Look for highland species such as Abyssinian catbird, white-backed black tit, and bush-shrikes. Enjoy cooler weather and dramatic mountain scenery. Overnight in the Bale highlands.

Accommodation

Wabe Shebelle Hotel Hotel Mid-range

+4 +3

Spend a full day birdwatching in Bale Mountains National Park across different ecosystems. Explore moorlands, forests, and alpine grasslands rich in endemic species. Search for blue-winged goose, wattled ibis, and other rare Ethiopian endemics. Enjoy peaceful walking trails with expert birding guidance. Overnight stay surrounded by nature.

Accommodation

Wabe Shebelle Hotel Hotel Mid-range

+4 +3

Drive across the high-altitude Sanetti Plateau with wide open landscapes and alpine bird species. Continue into the dense Harenna Forest, a hotspot for forest birds. Spot turacos, woodpeckers, pigeons, and rare endemic species. Experience a dramatic change from cold highlands to lush rainforest. Overnight in the Bale region.

Accommodation

Wabe Shebelle Hotel Hotel Mid-range

+4 +3

Depart Bale and drive to Hawassa, a beautiful lakeside city. Enjoy birdwatching at Lake Hawassa, known for large gatherings of waterbirds. Spot kingfishers, storks, herons, and pelicans along the shoreline. Visit the fish market area for close-up bird encounters. Overnight stay in Hawassa.

Accommodation

Haile Resort Gonder Resort Mid-range

+6 +5

Start the day with early morning birding at Lake Hawassa for final sightings. Look for waterbirds and migratory species feeding along the lake. Drive back to Addis Ababa through scenic Rift Valley views. Enjoy birding stops along the way if time allows. Arrive in Addis Ababa for departure or city relaxation.