Tour Ethiopia

Posted By Marvelous Tour Ethiopia on July 13, 2011

ETHIOPIA BIRD WATCHING TOURS
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Ethiopia is one of the richest countries in bird life and has more than 850 bird species; about 10 % of the world’s bird species is found in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia has 17 endemic birds and others, 13 endemic birds are shared with Eretria (found both in Ethiopia and Eretria).
High diversity of eco-systems with different habitats including high lands, low lands, lakes, etc made Ethiopia paradise for bird watchers.
Ethiopia is an ideal destination for both short-range and long-range birding trip; Marvelous Ethiopia Tours organizes both ranges and you will have a chance to count from 400 to 500 different birds’ species with in 19 days trip.

Here are samples of Birding Tours Itinerary in Ethiopia:

Marvelous 01 (Bird watching Tour Ethiopia)

Day 1: Set out early in the morning and drive to the north; when you arrive at a town called Muke Turi, take the left road leaving the asphalt and drive further to the Jemma rive gorge which is one of the tributaries of Abay / Blue Nile river.
On the way, you can find many different birds, and will have a chance to see the Gelada (bleeding heart) baboon which is one of the endemic mammals of Ethiopia.
For over night, return to Muke Turi and drive to Debre Libanos.
Over night, Ethio-German lodge where you can see the Jemma, valley gorge.
The monastry of Debre Libanos is founded by Tekle Haimanot, one of Ethiopians Orthodox Church’s most renowned saints in the thirteenth century.

Day 2: In the morning visit different birds at the gorge of the Jemma River and in the forest around the church; you can expect to see Banded Barbet, Black Headed Forest Oriole, White Billed Starling, Red Billed Starling, White Winged Cliff Chat, White Black Tit, White Checked Turaco, and Hemp Rich’s Horn Bill.
After visiting the church of Debre Libanos , return back to Addis Ababa and drive to Debre Zeit where you can find crater lakes and stay at Chelekleka Marsh (you can find many birds including Flamingos and pelicans).
Drive further to Awash National Park for over night.
Over night in Keryu lodge.

Day 3: On this day full day birding in Awash National Park. In the morning drive to Filweha spring which is surrounded by palm trees. Over 350 species of birds have been recorded in the Awash savanna grass land including: The Abyssinian Roller, secretary birds, Abyssinian Ground Horn Bill, Carmine Bee Eater, Coucal, Go Away birds, Kori Bustard, Shrikes, Swallow- Tailed Kite, Carmine Bee Eater, Orange Billed Parrot, Lilack Breasted Roller, Lappet Faced Vulture are some of the birds seen.

Over night Keryu lodge.

Day 4: In the morning game drive in the park for birding. In the after noon drive to Sodere with some stops for birding.
Over night, Shebele hotel.

Day 5: In the morning, you can visit different birds including Black Winged Love Bird, Abyssinian Wood Pecker, Abyssinian cat bird, Yellow and Yellow Fronted Parrot.
For lunch drive to Nazret, after lunch leave for Langano, on the way birding along the road side of Koka Dam, Awash River, and at Lake Zeway .
At Lake Zeway , you can find many birds congregated. Yellow Billed Stork, African Pygmy Geese, Storks, White pelicans, Fish Eagles, Marabous, Sacred Ibis are some of the species.
Over night, at a hotel in Langano.

Day 6: Birding the whole day on Lakes Langano and Abijata-Shalla. In Abijata-Shala national parks, you can see thousands of Lesser and Greater Flamingos.
Over night Langano in a hotel.

Day 7: Leave Langano for Bale Mountains National Park where you can visit endemic mammals like Mountain Nyala, Simen fox, and Menelik’s Bush Back.
In the park, expect to see the following birds, Spot Breasted Plover, Roget’s Rail, Abyssinian Cat Bird, Black Headed Siskin, Blue Winged Goose, wattled Ibis.
Over night Goba in Shebele hotel.

Day 8: Full day birding in the Amazing Afro Alpine Sannate plateau, which is a home for Ethiopian Endemic Simien fox.
Over night in Shebele hotel

Day 9: After staying in Dinsho area around the head quarter, drive to Wondo Genet. After check in to the hotel, walk on the hill of Wondo Genet.
Wondo Genet has hot mineral springs and a naturally heated pool and there are Juniper plantations. Some of the birds are: Endemic Fronted Parrot, Black-Headed Forest Oriole and the Abyssinian Wood Pecker.

Day 10: In the morning birding on the hill of Wondo Genet. Before mid of the day drive to Awasa and it is an hour’s drive. After lunch, boat trip on Lake Awasa to see many hippos and birds.
Awasa is rich in bird life like Malachite King Fisher, Spur Winged plover, Pygmy Geese, Black Winged Love Bird, Ducks, Darters, and Cormorants are some of the birds.

Day 11: In the morning, walk along the shores of lake Awasa and in fish market for birding. In the after noon drive back to Addis Ababa.
Over night Addis Ababa in a hotel

Day 12: Departure

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Marvelous 02 (Bird watching Tour Ethiopia)

Day 1: After break fast, we set out to drive to Menagesha forest.
The Abyssinian Cat Bird, Banded Barbet, Golden Backed Wood Pecker, Black Headed Forest Oriole and Watt led Ibis are some of the birds. In the indigenous Juniper forest, Columbus monkeys, klipspringer and Bush Back are found. After picnic lunch, return to Addis Ababa by the Ambo road and stopping at Gefersa water reservoir which is found to the west of Addis. It is possible to see Goose, Black Headed Siskin, Abyssinian Long Claw and watt led Ibis are some of the birds seen.
Over night Addis Ababa in a hotel.

Day 2: Set out early in the morning and drive to the north .When you arrive at a town called Muke Turi, take the left road leaving the asphalt and drive further to the Jemma rive gorge which is one of the tributaries of Abay /Blue Nile River.
On the way, you can find many different birds, and will have a chance to see the Gelada (bleeding heart) baboon which is one of the endemic mammals of Ethiopia .
For over night, return to Muke Turi and drive to Debre Libanos. The monastry of Debre Libanos is founded by Tekle Haimanot, one of Ethiopians Orthodox Church’s most renowned saints in the thirteenth century.
Over night, in a lodge where you can see the Jemma, valley gorge.

Day 3: In the morning visit different birds at the gorge of the Jemma River and in the forest around the church; you can expect to see Banded Barbet, Black Headed Forest Oriole, White Billed Starling, Red Billed Starling, White Winged Cliff Chat, White Black Tit, White Checked Turaco, and Hemp Rich’s Horn Bill. After visiting the church of Debre Libanos , return back to Addis Ababa and drive further to Ankober. Ankober was Menelik’s capital before he moved to Entoto (later Addis Ababa). The old palace ruins of MenelikII are still found.
Over night Ankober in a lodge.

Day 4: Around Ankober, we will look for ankober Serin (which is very rare), Smith’s Francoline, Yellow Starling, Black- Winged Love Bird, Mountain Buzzard, Peregrine, Red-Breasted Sparrow Hawk, and Blue Rock Thrush.
Before noon leave Ankober and drive to Sodere via Addis Ababa and stop at Debre Zeit, to look for birds at Chelekleka marsh.
Over night Sodere at Shebele hotel.

Day 5: In the morning, you can visit of different birds including Black Winged Love Bird, Abyssinian Wood Pecker, Abyssinian Cat Bird, and Yellow Fronted Parrot.
Leave before noon for Awash national park. Lunch in Nazret.
Over night Awash in a hotel / lodge

Day 6: In the morning drive to Filweha spring and full day birding in the park. Over 350 species of birds have been recorded in the Awash savanna grass land including, Abyssinian Roller, Secretary birds, Abyssinian Ground Horn Bill, Carmine Bee Eater, Coucal, Go Away birds, Kori Bustard, Shrikes, Swallow- Tailed kite, Carmine Bee Eater, Orange Billed Parrot, Lilack Breasted Roller, Lappet Faced Vulture are some of the birds seen.
Over night Awash in a lodge / local hotel.

Day 7: In the morning game drive in the park for birding. Before noon leave for Langano, on the way birding on the road side of Koka Dam, Awash River, and at Lake Zewaye .
At Lake Zewaye ; you can find many birds congregated. Yellow Billed Stork, Geese, Pelicans, Fish eagles, Marabous and Sacred Ibis, are some of the species seen.

Day 8: Birding the whole day on Lakes Langano and Abijata-Shalla. In Abijata-Shala national parks, you can see thousands of Lesser and Greater Flamingos.
Over night Langano in a hotel

Day 9: Leave Langano for Bale mountains National Park where you can visit endemic mammals like Mountain Nyala, Simen fox, and Menelik’s Bush Back.
In the park, expect to see the following birds, Spot Breasted Plover, Roget’s Rail, Abyssinian Cat Bird, Black Headed Siskin, Blue Winged Goose, wattled Ibis.
Over night Goba Shebele hotel.

Day 10: Full day birding in the Amazing Afro Alpine Sannate Plateau, which is a home for Ethiopian endemic Simien fox.
Over night Goba Shebele hotel

Day 11: After staying in Dinsho area around the head quarter drive to Wondo Genet. After check in to the hotel, walk on the hill of Wondo Genet.
Wondo Genet has hot mineral springs and a naturally heated pool and there are Juniper plantations. Some of the birds are: Endemic Yellow Fronted Parrot, Black-Headed Forest Oriole and the Abyssinian Wood Pecker can be seen.
Over night Wondo Genet Shebele hotel.

Day 12: In the morning, birding on the hill of Wondo Genet. Before mid of the day drive to Awasa and it is an hour’s drive. After lunch, boat trip on Lake Awasa to see birds and hippos.
Awasa is rich in bird life like Malachite King Fisher, Spur Winged plover, Pygmy Geese, Black Winged Love Bird, Ducks, Darters, and Cormorants are some of the birds.
Over night Awasa, in a hotel.

Day 13: In the morning, walk along the shores of lake Awasa and in fish market for birding.
In the after noon drive back to Addis.
Over night Addis in a hotel

Day 14: Departure

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Marvelous 03 (Bird watching Tour Ethiopia)

Day 1: After break fast, we set out to drive to Menagesha forest.
The Abyssinian Cat Bird, Banded Barbet, Golden Backed Wood Pecker, Black Headed Forest Oriole and Watt led Ibis are some of the birds. In the indigenous Juniper forest, Columbus monkeys, klipspringer and Bush Back are found. After picnic lunch, return to Addis Ababa by the Ambo road and stopping at Gefersa water reservoir which is found to the west of Addis. It is possible to see Goose, Black Headed Siskin, Abyssinian Long Claw and watt led Ibis are some of the birds seen.
Over night Addis Ababa in a hotel.

Day 2: Set out early in the morning and drive to the north .When you arrive at a town called Muke Turi, take the left road leaving the asphalt and drive further to the Jemma rive gorge which is one of the tributaries of Abay /Blue Nile River.
On the way, you can find many different birds, and will have a chance to see the Gelada (bleeding heart) baboon which is one of the endemic mammals of Ethiopia .
For over night, return to Muke Turi and drive to Debre Libanos. The monastery of Debre Libanos is founded by Tekle Haimanot, one of Ethiopians Orthodox Church’s most renowned saints in the thirteenth century.
Over night, in a lodge where you can see the Jemma, valley gorge.

Day 3: In the morning visit different birds at the gorge of the Jemma River and in the forest around the church; you can expect to see Banded Barbet, Black Headed Forest Oriole, White Billed Starling, Red Billed Starling, White Winged Cliff Chat, White Black Tit, White Checked Turaco, and Hemp Rich’s Horn Bill.
After visiting the church of Debre Libanos , return back to Addis Ababa and drive further to Ankober. Ankober was Menelik’s capital before he moved to Entoto (later Addis Ababa ). The old palace ruins of MenelikII are still found.
Over night Ankober in a lodge.

Day 4: Around Ankober, we will look for ankober Serin (which is very rare), Smith’s Francoline, Yellow Starling, Black- Winged Love Bird, Mountain Buzzard, Peregrine, Red-Breasted Sparrow Hawk, and Blue Rock Thrush.
Before noon leave Ankober and drive to Sodere via Addis Ababa and stop at Debre Zeit, to look for birds at Chelekleka marsh.
Over night Sodere at Shebele hotel.

Day 5: In the morning, you can visit of different birds including Black Winged Love Bird, Abyssinian Wood Pecker, Abyssinian Cat Bird, and Yellow Fronted Parrot.
Leave before noon for Awash national park. Lunch in Nazret.
Over night Awash in a lodge / hotel

Day 6: In the morning drive to Filweha spring and full day birding in the park. Over 350 species of birds have been recorded in the Awash savanna grass land including, Abyssinian Roller, Secretary birds, Abyssinian Ground Horn Bill, Carmine Bee Eater, Coucal, Go Away birds, Kori Bustard, Shrikes, Swallow- Tailed kite, Carmine Bee Eater, Orange Billed Parrot, Lilack Breasted Roller, Lappet Faced Vulture are some of the birds seen.
Over night Awash in a lodge / hotel.

Day 7: In the morning game drive in the park for birding. Before noon leave for Langano, on the way birding on the road side of Koka Dam, Awash River, and at Lake Zewaye .
At Lake Zewaye ; you can find many birds congregated. Yellow Billed Stork, Geese, Pelicans, Fish eagles, Marabous and Sacred Ibis, are some of the species seen.
Over night Langano in a hotel / lodge

Day 8: Birding the whole day on Lakes Langano and Abijata-Shalla. In Abijata-Shala national parks, you can see thousands of Lesser and Greater Flamingos.
Over night Langano in a hotel / lodge

Day 9: Leave Langano for Bale mountains National Park where you can visit endemic mammals like Mountain Nyala, Simen fox, and Menelik’s Bush Back.
In the park, expect to see the following birds, Spot Breasted Plover, Roget’s Rail, Abyssinian Cat Bird, Black Headed Siskin, Blue Winged Goose, wattled Ibis.
Over night Goba in Shebele hotel.

Day 10: Full day birding in the Amazing Afro Alpine Sannate Plateau, which is a home for Ethiopian endemic Simien fox.
Over night in Shebele hotel

Day 11: Drive to Dolo Mena passing the Haranna area covered with dense forest. On the way to Dolo Mena, you can find birds including White Checked Turaco and Golden Backed Wood Pecker.
Over night Dolo Mena in local hotel / camping

Day 12: Drive to Borena Negelle, on this day the route is low land and you can find many different species of birds. After passing Genale river you can find Prince Rus Police Turaco and you have to walk an hour on a hill to arrive at the habitat of Prince Rus Police Turaco.
Over night Negelle in local hotel.

Day 13: After break fast drive some 15 km to look for Sidamo Lark (endemic) and other birds. Lunch Negelle in a hotel. In the after noon birding in the water reservoir area near to the town.
Over night, Negelle in a local hotel.

Day 14: Drive to Yabello, on the way many stops for birding.
Over night Yabelo in a local hotel.

Day15: In the morning birding in Yabelo sanctuary to see White Tailed Swallow, Stress Mann’s Bush Crow.
In the after noon, drive to Yirgalem and over night at Aregash Lodge. The lodge is very attractive traditional Sidamo house. There are more than hundred bird species which are recorded in the area. I t is also possible to see Hyena, Jackals, Colubus and vervet monkeys near to the lodge.

Day 16: In the morning birding near by the lodge. For lunch drive to Awasa.
After lunch, boat trip on Lake Awasa to see many birds and hippos.
Malachite King Fisher, Spur Winged Plover, Pygmy Geese, Black winged Love Bird, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Bare Faced Go Away are some of the birds which you see.
Over night Awasa in a hotel.

Day 17: In the morning walk along the shores of the Lake and on fish market for birding. For lunch drive to Wondo Genet, in the after noon, walk on the hills to see the black headed Forest Oriole, Abyssinian Wood Pecker, and the Endemic Yellow Fronted Parrot.
Over night Shebele hotel.

Day 18: In the morning before break fast, birding on the hill of Wondo Genet. After break fast drive back to Addis Ababa and shopping in Addis.
Over night in a hotel.

Day19: Departure.

Categories: SHORT DAY TOURS, ETHIOPIA
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