14-Day Ethiopia Birding Adventure from Addis Ababa to Bale and Yabello

• Arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, where you will be greeted and assisted by the professional team.
• Transfer to your comfortable hotel in the city.
• Check in and enjoy a relaxed lunch.
• Take a short drive west of Addis Ababa to Geferssa Reservoir, about 20 km away, a scenic highland wetland and an excellent first location for birdwatching.
• Enjoy a guided birding walk while spotting key Ethiopian specialties, including Blue-winged Goose, Abyssinian Longclaw, Wattled Ibis, and Black-headed Siskin.
• Look out as well for a variety of waterbirds and raptors.
• The open water, grasslands, and surrounding hills make Geferssa an ideal first stop on your birding adventure.

Overnight: Noora Resort, Debre Zeith

• Depart Addis Ababa after breakfast and travel into the Great Rift Valley.
• En route, stop at Debre Zeyit (Bishoftu) for birding around its volcanic crater lakes.
• Continue onward to Awash National Park, one of Ethiopia's premier dry-country birding destinations.
• Birdwatching highlights include Northern Carmine Bee-eaters.
• Keep an eye out for wildlife sightings such as gazelles and other savanna animals.
• The park's acacia woodlands, lava fields, and riverine areas support a rich diversity of species.

Overnight: Genet Hotel, Awash

• Spend the day exploring Awash National Park in depth.
• Visit Lake Beseka, a hotspot for Sombre Rock Chat as well as other larks, wheatears, and raptors.
• Continue birdwatching throughout the park for species such as Arabian Bustard, Hartlaub's Bustard, Red-winged Lark, Somali Fiscal, and Yellow-breasted Barbet.
• Wildlife sightings may include oryx, gazelles, and baboons.
• Enjoy the beauty of the African savanna at sunset.

Overnight: Genet Hotel, Awash

• Depart Awash and travel south through the Great Rift Valley.
• Make guided stops at Lake Ziway and Lake Langano for waterbird photography.
• Look for dry-country and woodland species such as Northern Grey Tit, Black-billed Woodhoopoe, weavers, sunbirds, and raptors.
• Arrive at Wondo Genet, a lush forested retreat known for its hot springs and cooler climate.
• Enjoy an evening birding walk near the lodge.

Overnight: Haile Resort, Hawassa

• Start the day with early morning forest birding at Wondo Genet.
• Target species include White-cheeked Turaco, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Banded Barbet, Abyssinian Woodpecker, and Abyssinian Ground Thrush.
• Afterward, depart for Goba, the gateway to Bale Mountains National Park.
• Enjoy a scenic drive with chances to spot Thick-billed Raven along the way.

Overnight: Nurobe Hotel, Bale Robe

• Spend a full day in Bale Mountains National Park exploring alpine moorlands, high-altitude grasslands, and montane forests.
• Search for endemic birds such as Moorland Francolin, Rouget's Rail, Spot-breasted Lapwing, Blue-winged Goose, and Abyssinian Catbird.
• Enjoy scenic highlands photography throughout the day.
• Observe the area's unique mammals as well.
• Return to Goba in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Nurobe Hotel, Bale Robe

• Head out on a guided search for the critically endangered Ethiopian Wolf on the Sanetti Plateau.
• Other wildlife you may encounter includes Mountain Nyala, Augur Buzzard, Blue-winged Goose, and Moorland Francolin.
• The day offers exceptional photographic opportunities in this dramatic highland landscape.

Overnight: Nurobe Hotel, Bale Robe

• Depart Goba and cross the Sanetti Plateau on the way to Harenna Forest, a rare cloud forest.
• Focus your birdwatching on species such as Prince Ruspoli's Turaco, Abyssinian Woodpecker, and Yellow-fronted Parrot.
• Continue to Negele in the afternoon.

Overnight: Mareg Hotel, Negele

• Explore the Liben Plains, prime habitat for the Liben (Sidamo) Lark.
• Other species to look for include Somali Short-toed Lark, White-crowned Starling, Vulturine Guineafowl, and Pringle's Puffback.
• Return to Negele in the evening.

Overnight: Mareg Hotel, Negele

• Travel through semi-arid landscapes on your way to Yabello.
• Make birding stops in riverine areas and Arero Forest.
• Look for species such as Juba Weaver, White-winged Dove, Black-bellied Sunbird, Prince Ruspoli's Turaco, and Foxy Lark.
• Arrive in Yabello in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Yabello Motel, Yabello

• Spend the day focusing on endemic species such as Stresemann's Bushcrow and White-tailed Swallow.
• Travel northward through southern and central Ethiopia with additional Rift Valley birdwatching along the way.

Overnight: Yabello Motel, Yabello

• Journey toward Lake Langano with birding stops at Koka Dam, the Awash River, and Lake Ziway.
• Observe waterbirds and raptors including African Pygmy Goose, pelicans, Fish Eagles, jacanas, and cranes.
• Continue to Lake Langano for evening relaxation.

Overnight: Hara Langano, Lake Langano

• Spend a full day exploring Lake Langano and its surrounding wetlands.
• On a lakeshore walk, look for African Pygmy Goose, pelicans, Fish Eagles, jacanas, herons, storks, and other wetland birds.
• Continue birdwatching in the acacia woodlands and open fields nearby.
• Enjoy scenic stops and photography opportunities along the Rift Valley.

Overnight: Hara Langano, Lake Langano

• Depart Lake Langano and drive north to Addis Ababa via Abijatta-Shalla National Park.
• Look for wildlife and birdlife including greater and lesser flamingos, African Pygmy Goose, Black-winged Stilt, Fish Eagle, herons, storks, and waders.
• Return to Addis Ababa for departure or your final evening.