Raptors Above the Grand Gorge

Before first light, slip away from Addis’s glow and head north across the vast Sululta Plains, where dawn reveals herons skimming misty wetlands and larks trill atop dew-drenched reeds. The air hums with promise as you crest rolling hills and descend toward the gargantuan rift carved by the Blue Nile.

By mid-morning, you arrive at the 13th-century Debre Libanos Monastery, perched defiantly on basalt cliffs. Here, swirling thermals become a stage for Lammergeiers drifting overhead, Verreaux’s Eagles spiraling skyward, and the stately Secretary Bird stalking acacia-dotted plains below. Keep watch for ghosts of the gorge—the pale wings of Rüppell’s Vultures wheel against a cloudless sky.

A cliff-edge picnic of warm injera wraps, local cheese and fresh fruit awaits, accompanied by the haunting calls of African Paradise Flycatchers flitting through riverside groves. As you dine, the gorge’s roar becomes your soundtrack—nature’s overture to predator masterpieces.

Accommodation: C-Lale Resort in Fiche

Highland Streams & Hidden Gems

At first light, venture east into the Jemma River Valley’s golden expanses. Along pebbled banks, the secretive Harwood’s Francolin slips into swaying reeds, cinnamon-flanked Ethiopian Wheatears perch on sun-warmed stones, and the scarce Abyssinian Longclaw darts across open meadows. Overhead, flocks of Ethiopian Siskins spiral through escarpment pines in a dawn ballet.

Mid-morning finds you paused at a riverside clearing for a picnic: injera wraps, roasted coffee beans and sun-ripened fruit served beneath whispering cottonwoods. The soft coo of Lemon Doves drifts on the breeze as you refill your spirit for the journey ahead.

After lunch, roll through undulating highlands sculpted by ancient lava flows, each bend offering a new surprise—flowering shrubs alive with sunbirds and roadside acacias danced upon by Speckled Mousebirds. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Doho Lodge, a forest-edged retreat where a cool mountain stream murmurs past your veranda.

Accommodation: Doho Lodge

Savannah’s Edge

Rise before dawn for a 4WD safari through Alideghi Wildlife Reserve’s shimmering grasslands. In the golden glow, the imposing Arabian Bustard strides across plains, flocks of neon-breasted Northern Carmine Bee-eaters flash like living jewels, and skeletal silhouettes of Egyptian Vultures drift above volcanic ridges.

By midday, a shaded lunch under acacia canopies pairs injera-wrapped stews with papaya juice, serenaded by the chuckle of Black-headed Herons and the chatter of weaver colonies. In the heat-scorched afternoon, journey onward into Awash National Park, where lava-sculpted valleys cradle secretive desert larks and perched Greater Spotted Eagles scan the horizon.

Accommodation: Genet Hotel

Rift Valley Wetlands

At sunrise, arrive at Koka Reservoir’s glass-smooth expanse. On lily-dotted shallows, African Jacanas teeter precariously while jewel-toned Malachite Kingfishers plunge for minnows. Great white Pelicans drift overhead, and Goliath Herons stalk the grassy banks.

After a picnic by papyrus-fringed inlets—injera wraps, fresh goat cheese and honey tea—set your sights on Lake Ziway. Here, elegant Hamerkops stalk the shallows, pale-plumed Great White Pelicans patrol the horizon, and sleek Black Herons stand motionless in reed-clad coves. Flotillas of African Spoonbills paint the mudflats pink at dusk.

As evening settles, you’ll reach Haile Resort Ziway, where the gentle lapping of lake waters accompanies your lakeside dinner of freshly grilled tilapia. Beneath a velvet sky, drift to sleep dreaming of tomorrow’s saline plains.

Accommodation: Haile Resort Ziwai

Flamingo Shores & Fish Eagle Calls

Under a rose-tinted dawn, plunge into Abijatta-Shalla National Park’s saline flats, alive with blushing Lesser Flamingos and skittish Senegal Thick-knees. Flocks of Avocets sweep the shallows, and the rare Abyssinian Ground Thrush skulks in acacia fringes.

By midday, roll on to the tranquil bays of Lake Hawassa. Boarding a traditional boat, you’ll glide beneath papyrus cathedrals to the triumphant cry of African Fish Eagles. Along reed-lined shores, African Jacanas and White-cheeked Turacos flit through dense groves, while Grey-headed Gulls wheel overhead.

Come sunset, arrive at Haile Resort Hawassa. Sip a cool beverage on the water’s edge as you savor the glow of flamingos roosting offshore. A candlelit feast of local wats and injera awaits—let the lake’s lullaby carry you into dreamland.

Accommodation: Haile Resort Hawassa

Afro-Alpine Endemics & Canid Encounters

A scenic drive delivers you into the Bale highlands’ mist-shrouded realms. Trek across heather-clad moorlands where the secretive Rouget’s Rail skitters through boggy meadows and bold Chestnut-naped Francolins trumpet their call from rocky knolls.

At dawn’s first light, keep watch for the cinnamon-furred Ethiopian Wolf patrolling ridge-top tussocks. Overhead, Steppe Eagles and Cape Eagle-Owls circle juniper-clad slopes. A riverside picnic fuels your afternoon as you scan for near-threatened Blue-winged Geese on hidden tarns.

As dusk falls, settle into Nuu Robe Hotel, where crackling hearths and soaring mountain vistas welcome your return. Over a warming dinner, share tales of highland magic under skies dusted with stars.

Accommodation: Nuu Robe Hotel

Summit Surveys & High-Altitude Marvels

At first light, ascend onto Sanetti Plateau’s windswept expanse—one of Africa’s highest drivable landscapes. Amid heather fields and glacial tarns, scan for Spot-breasted Lapwings gliding above rocky outcrops, rare Wattled Cranes quartering misty marshes, and stately Blue-winged Geese paddling across mirror-smooth pools.

Mid-morning brings tea and snacks at a plateau hide, where you can photograph tufted waterfowl and search for the elusive Abyssinian Longclaw. As the chill returns, descend to Nuu Robe Hotel for hot refreshments and a cozy afternoon by the fire.

Accommodation: Nuu Robe Hotel

Rainforest Canopy Treasures

Descend through swirling mists into Harenna Forest’s emerald cathedral. Beneath towering wild figs, the emerald-and-scarlet flash of Prince Ruspoli’s Turacos and the ruby gleam of Abyssinian Crimson-wings captivate your gaze. Listen for the delicate trill of the Yellow-fronted Parrot and the haunting hoo-hoo of a Cape Eagle-Owl at dusk.

Late afternoon, return to Nuu Robe Hotel, where the air is thick with the fragrance of moss and orchids. Over a forest-themed dinner, celebrate today’s discoveries before turning in for a night serenaded by unseen nocturnal choruses.

Accommodation: Nuu Robe Hotel

Last Birding Glimpses

After breakfast, journey back toward Addis Ababa, pausing en route at Rift Valley wetlands and verdant highland fields. Here, catch final glimpses of Brown-rumped Seedeaters flicking among reeds, African Citrils foraging in roadside thickets, and bustling colonies of Rüppell’s Weavers in village gardens.

By late afternoon, arrive in Addis for an evening at leisure. Explore the buzzing Merkato bazaar, sip aromatic coffee in a hilltop café or simply relax on your hotel terrace, watching the city lights twinkle as dusk falls.

Accommodation: Azzeman Hotel

A Cultural Crescendo

On your final evening, gather beneath Addis’s starlit canopy for an unforgettable grand finale. Savor a multi-course feast of injera, doro wat, tibs, and seasonal vegetables, accompanied by the entrancing rhythms of Eskista dance. End with a fragrant buna coffee ceremony—beans roasted and ground before you—while laughter and music weave into memories of an epic 11-day odyssey.

When the final drumbeat fades, your guide will escort you to Bole International Airport, your heart brimming with Ethiopia’s wild wonders—and your camera full of its avian marvels. See you on the next horizon!

Ready to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime birdwatching adventure? Book now and secure your place in Ethiopia’s skies!

Accommodation: None