10-Day Birdwatching Tour in Ethiopia with Awash and Wondo Genet

• Arrive in Addis Ababa. In the afternoon, drive to Geferssa Reservoir. Here, expect to see some endemic birds such as Wattle Ibis, Rouget's Rail, Black-headed Siskin, Abyssinian Longclaw, White-collared Pigeon, and Blue-winged Goose.

• Start early for Debre Libanos Monastery, about 110 km north of the capital, via the Sululta Plain. Along the road, look out for Red-rumped and Lesser-striped swallows, Pectoral-patched Cisticola, and Black-winged Lapwing.

• Around the monastery, expect to see endemic birds such as the Black-headed Forest Oriole and Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher. At the escarpment, Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Lanner Falcon, Verreaux's Eagle, and White-cheeked Turaco can also be seen.

• In the late afternoon, drive back to Addis Ababa.

• Leave Addis Ababa for Awash National Park. Stop at the Chalalklaka wetlands near Debre Zeyit, where Common and Crowned Cranes, White-winged Black Tern, and other species are expected to be seen.

• Then make a short stop at Lake Hora for more birding. Lunch will be at Nazareth.

• After lunch, proceed to Awash, one of the best birding sites in the Ethiopian Rift Valley.

• Spend a full day birding in the park. Arabian Bustard, Kori Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, Grey-headed Batis, and Spotted Flycatcher are some of the important birds that can be seen.

• Drive to Langano, making short stops before lunch at Koka Dam (Awash River Bridge) for more aquatic and woodland birds.

• Stop for lunch at Lake Ziway and continue with afternoon birding. Lake Ziway is one of the important birding areas of the Ethiopian lakes.

• Proceed with early birding around the hotel garden and the cliff near the lake. Schawlow's Wheatear, Red-billed and Von der Decken's Hornbill, Diederik Cuckoo, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Woodland Kingfisher, and Marico Sunbird are some of the species expected here.

• After breakfast, drive to Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park for more birding. Lesser and Greater Flamingos, along with hundreds of other water birds, can be easily seen.

In the late afternoon, drive to Wondo Genet for a two-night stay.

• Spend a full day birding in the forest of Wondo Genet. See endemic birds such as Yellow-fronted Parrot, Thick-billed Raven, Abyssinian Woodpecker, and Banded Barbet. Also expect to see Red-shouldered and Black Cuckooshrikes, Grey Cuckooshrike, Narina Trogon, White-cheeked Turaco, and Scaly and Lesser Honeyguide.

• Set off for Lake Awasa. Spotted Creeper, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Bruce's Green Pigeon, Violet-backed Starling, Grey Kestrel, Giant Kingfisher, Klaas's Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Allen's Gallinule, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Grey Kingfisher, Banded Snake Eagle, and Greater Spotted Eagle are some of the birds recorded in Awasa.

• Drive back to Addis Ababa. En route, look for species that have not been seen during the previous days of the trip, with lunch in Ziway.

Tonight, you are invited to a farewell dinner party with folkloric dance and a tasting of local foods.

• Transfer to the airport to catch your flight back home.