6-Day Chebera Churchura Wildlife Safari with Elephant Tracking

Board an early domestic flight from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to Jimma Airport, transitioning from the capital to the lush southwestern highlands.

Meet your private wildlife guide and high-clearance 4x4 expedition vehicle at the terminal.

Journey southwest from Jimma through deep river valleys, traditional homesteads, and fragments of montane rainforest.

Travel deeper into the Dawro Zone to Chida, the primary gateway community near the park. Set up your initial base camp on the perimeter of Chebera Churchura National Park.

Navigate rugged perimeter tracks into the isolated, highly biodiverse ecosystem of Chebera Churchura National Park.

Embark on an intensive morning walking safari in the Shoshuma Valley, guided by armed park scouts and expert local trackers, with a focus on tracking the park's dense population of native African elephants.

Traverse tall elephant grass and acacia thickets to spot grazing defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, and warthogs.

Settle in for an outdoor bush dinner and overnight camping at the Shoshuma campsite.

Shift focus to the shaded understory of the primary riverine forests lining the central water systems, which serve as a sanctuary for massive herds of Cape buffalo.

Spot guereza colobus monkeys and olive baboons in the canopy, along with endemic bird species such as the lineated barbet and silvery-cheeked hornbills.

Venture deep into volcanic depressions to reach the park's scenic interior water bodies, including Lake Keriballa and Lake Koka.

Walk the marshy edges of the lakes for safe, elevated viewing of wallowing hippopotamuses and sunning Nile crocodiles.

Photograph aquatic birdlife, including African fish eagles, goliath herons, and colorful kingfishers hunting along the water's surface.

Take an early morning foot safari across the misty savannah to catch final glimpses of roaming herbivores or active predators before the heat rises.

Break down the wilderness camp and load the 4x4 vehicles for the rugged climb back up the southwestern escarpment, driving through the Dawro and Kafa zones back to Jimma.

Check into a comfortable, premium hotel in Jimma to rest and review your wildlife photography.

Visit the 19th-century timber-and-glass Palace of King Abba Jifar, perched on a hill overlooking Jimma, to explore local kingdom history and unique regional architecture.

Transfer to Jimma Airport for the domestic flight back to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, arriving by late afternoon in time for international connections.