Summary: bird watching
Duration: 5 days 4 night
Day 01. Arrival and transfer to the Ghion or Extreme hotel in Addis Abba then start we drive to the Mt. Entoto/Sululta Plain with short grassland habitat searching for unique birds such as White-backed Black Tit, Blue-winged Goose, Wattled Ibis, Ethiopian Siskin, Ethiopian Cisticola, White-collared Pigeon, Abyssinian Longclaw, Erlanger’s Lark, Tawny Eagle, Cattle Egret and Yellow-billed Duck. Jemmu Valley escarpment (upper Nile valley) is adjacent to Debrelibanos natural forest and thickets home to the endemic Banded Barbet, White-cheeked Turaco, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Ethiopian Black-headed Oriole, Lammergeyer, Egyptian Vulture, Vareaux’s Eagle, Lanner Falcon and Griffon Vultures. The nearby gorge attracts the endemic White-billed Starling, Ruppell’s Black Chat, White-winged Cliff-chat and Mocking Cliff-chat. Scrub lures Erckel’s Francolin, Stout Cisticola and Tacazze Sunbird
Overnight at the Ethio-German Lodge nearby the so called Portuguese Bridge.
Day 02. Today we drive to Jemmu Valley to locate the rare Harwood’s Francolin and Abyssinian Black-wheatear. The road climbs steeply through highland fields and traditional villages. The cliffs and boulder-strewn slopes of the Jemmu Valley may have flocks of White-billed Starlings, the extremely rare Salvadori’s Serin, Singing Cisticola, Isabelline Shrike and Abyssinian Black Wheatear. In the afternoon, we drive to Debrebirhan town while enjoying another sector of plain grassland birds including Erlanger’s Lark, Pectoral-patch Cisticola and Ortolan Bunting.
Overnight at Eva Hotel Ankober Lodge.
Day 03. An early start exploring the road to Tarmaber scenic view outlook. Our main interest is to find the rarest endemic Ankober Serin feeding in the highland grass field. In the lower fields, we can expect Yellow-crowned Canary, Brown-rumped and Streaky Seed-eater. Overhead we may locate Saker Falcon, Lammergeyer, Augur Buzzard and Alpine Swifts.
After late breakfast we drive towards Bushoftut east of Addis towards fascinating Crater Lakes such as Lake Chalalaka, an important shallow lake for migratory waders and significant numbers of Cranes, Marabou storks and Cormorants. Hora a fresh water lake holding Little Grebe, Pelican, Malachite Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, African Paradise Flycatcher, Masked weaver and Starlings. The area named after the crater lake Bushoftu, meaning “Smelling Water” support large numbers of Weavers, Seed-eaters, Thrushes, Doves, Sunbirds and Finches in the adjoining sedges and thickets
Overnight at Dreamland Hotel with an excellent view of Bushoftu.
Day 04. Today we drive to Bale Mountains found on the other side of the Great Rift Valley looking for Rouget’s Rail, Thick-billed Raven, Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Slaty-flycatcher, Chestnut-napped Francolin, Moorland Francolin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush to name a few. The remnant of Ruddy Shell-ducks and Wattled Cranes are also found here.
The northern dry forest around Dinsho is known for exceptional wild animals including Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Bohor Reedbuck, Warthog and Bush Duiker.
Overnight Goba Hotel at the edge of the Sanate Plateau.
Day 05. Drive back to Addis Ababa with stops for Birding on the way at Rift Valley Lakes. Lake Ziway,notorious for birding or commonly known as the Birding Paradise, is the home of the Water birds:African Pygmy geese,Yellow-billed storks,Collared Pratincole, Lesser Jacana,Africa Jacana,White pelicans,Fish Eagles and Crowned and common cranes are seen here in impressive numbers. Evening, enjoy a Farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure if needed
Tour Overview
Discover Ethiopia’s incredible birdlife with Lungo Local Tour Ethiopia. Ethiopia is home to more than 860 bird species, including many endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Our bird watching tours take you through breathtaking national parks, lakes, forests, wetlands, and mountain landscapes, offering unforgettable wildlife experiences guided by experienced local experts.
What’s Included
- Professional English-speaking bird watching guide
- Private transportation in a comfortable 4WD vehicle or minibus
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- All entrance fees to national parks and birding sites
- Boat trip (where included in the itinerary)
- Bottled drinking water during excursions
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Daily breakfast (other meals according to the tour package)
- Government taxes and service charges
What’s Excluded
- International and domestic flights
- Ethiopian visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal expenses
- Laundry services
- Tips and gratuities for guides and drivers
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Dress Code
- Lightweight, neutral-colored clothing (green, brown, or khaki)
- Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers for protection
- Comfortable hiking or walking shoes
- Wide-brim hat or cap
- Sunglasses
- Light rain jacket (seasonal)
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Binoculars and camera with extra batteries are highly recommended
Accommodation
Accommodation is carefully selected based on your itinerary and may include:
- Comfortable hotels
- Eco-lodges
- Safari lodges
- Guesthouses
- Luxury accommodation available upon request
All accommodations are chosen for comfort, cleanliness, and convenient access to Ethiopia’s best bird watching locations.
Weather Conditions
Bird watching is possible throughout the year in Ethiopia.
- October to March: Dry season with excellent bird watching and pleasant weather.
- April to May: Warm temperatures with increasing bird activity.
- June to September: Green landscapes during the rainy season, ideal for breeding birds and lush scenery. Rain showers may occur.
Temperatures vary depending on the region and altitude, so we recommend packing layers.
Tour Starting Point
Your bird watching adventure begins with airport pickup or hotel pickup in Addis Ababa, where you will meet your professional guide before departing for your selected birding destinations.
Tour Ending Point
The tour concludes with a transfer to your hotel or Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, depending on your travel schedule.
Book your Bird Watching Tour today with Lungo Local Tour Ethiopia and discover the remarkable birdlife, stunning landscapes, and natural beauty of Ethiopia.
1. Filmmakers, Photographers & Media Expeditions
Whether you are a professional photographer, documentary filmmaker, television production team, journalist, YouTuber, travel writer, researcher, or content creator, Lungo Local Tour Ethiopia has the local expertise to support your project in the Omo Valley and across Ethiopia.
We have proudly assisted international media productions and travel professionals, including National Geographic, Thailand TV documentaries, Turkish travel magazines, and other international film and media teams. Our services include local logistics, cultural coordination, experienced guides, translation, transportation, filming permits assistance, and access to authentic cultural experiences.
If you are planning a documentary, photography expedition, television production, or travel feature, contact us today. We will work closely with you to create a safe, ethical, and successful experience tailored to your project’s needs.
Please note: We are often guiding guests in remote areas where mobile and internet coverage is limited. If you do not receive an immediate response, it simply means we are traveling with our clients. We kindly ask for your patience—we will respond to all tour and media inquiries as soon as we are back within network coverage.
Get in touch today:
- Email: adiss@gmail.com
- Phone & WhatsApp: +251 913 413 740