2-Day Ziway and Rift Valley Birdwatching Tour from Addis Ababa

• Start in the morning with a drive from Addis Ababa through the green Rift Valley to the lakeside town of Ziway.

• After lunch, look for birds near the shoreline marshes before taking a cruise around the nesting grounds of Tulu Simbero, which means Bird Island in the local Oromifa language. You may also see local fishermen at work on traditional reed boats.

• You then head to Debre Sina (Mount Sinai) and take a short walk to the monastery to discover the island's history and view ancient relics and parchments.

• Afterwards, your guide will show you a cave system on the island that has served as a home to secret hermits, refugees, and villagers' valuables.

• Hiking through the island's natural forest also offers a chance for excellent birdwatching.

• After leaving Debre Sina, you will visit a community-protected forest on the mainland, where you can take a short hike to the top of the mountain for scenic views of the lake and surrounding areas. Villagers once used this spot to call to the people inhabiting Gelila and Debre Sina Islands.

• Finally, you will return to a comfortable hotel in Ziway, where you'll spend the night.

Overnight stay in Haile Resort. Lunch and dinner will be provided.

• Get picked up from your hotel after breakfast and leave Lake Ziway to the south through the fertile rolling hills.

• Before lunch, you will visit Abijata and Shalla National Park. After passing the tame ostriches at the gate, head first towards Shalla Lake, which is the deepest of the Rift Valley lakes. Along the way, visit a number of hot springs, then continue towards Abijata Lake. At this time of day, the shores of the lake will be pink with thousands of both lesser and greater flamingos feeding in the shallows. African pochard, avocet, gull-billed tern, pintail, ruff, and a variety of ducks are among the other species that can be seen.

• In the late afternoon, the tour continues to Addis Ababa.

• Lunch and dinner at the hotel.

End of tour.