Our unique Ethiopia wildlife photography tours combine all of these wonders. See them for yourself!

Ethiopia’s highlands embrace the central part of the country like a necklace. The extraordinary Bale Mountains and Simien Mountains National Parks are home to some of Africa’s rarest wildlife, including the Walia Ibex, the Ethiopian Wolf, and the gentle, vegetarian Gelada Baboon. It is a high-altitude wonderland filled with soaring cliffs, tussock grasses, stands of iconic Giant Lobelias, and abundant wildlife.

While we explore the dramatic scenery of these mountains, we will also search for Mountain Nyala, Ethiopian Bushbuck, the rare Klipspringer, and a variety of birds of prey including the huge Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier. Other highlights include the Thick-billed Raven, Golden Eagle, the lovely Spot-breasted Plover, and the strange-looking Wattled Ibis, to mention just a few of our targets.

The wildlife highlight of the Simien is undoubtedly the encounters we are going to have with huge troupes of Gelada Baboons. These large but gentle monkeys are vegetarian and here in the Simien Mountains they are usually quite accustomed to, and tolerant of, close approach by humans. Even the big males will feed right next to you, provided you keep low and still.

When we find a troupe, we will simply sit or lie among the feeding animals or walk with them as they move across a mountain meadow to graze on grasses and shrubs, while baby baboons play near our feet. As the sun goes lower in the sky, we will search for them on the cliff edges as they return to their cliff nests to sleep after a day of grazing on the Simien mountain slopes. During the optional extension, we continue our Ethiopian adventure by heading east to the arid bushlands of Awash National Park.

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Meet our team on arrival at Bole International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Located in the center of the capital city, Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s geographic, political, and cultural hub. Unlike many other African capitals, Addis was never developed under colonial rule. One of its best-known sites is the National Museum of Ethiopia, which houses the remains of “Lucy,” a bipedal hominid who lived 3.2 million years ago and was discovered in 1974. In the evening, we gather for a welcome dinner with our fellow travelers. Overnight in Addis Ababa at one of the best hotels.

Day 2: Flight to Gondar – Simien Mountains

We take the morning flight to Gondar, a 17th-century royal city of Ethiopia. Afterwards, we head for the World Heritage Site of Simien Mountains National Park. The drive between Gondar and Debark is very scenic. In the afternoon, from our dramatically situated lodge (Simien Lodge), we begin our photographic exploration of the extraordinary Simien Mountains. Overnight at nearby accommodation or camping.

Day 3: The Home of Walia Ibex

After an early breakfast, we leave the lodge for Chenek Guard Post, taking a picnic lunch. The scenery around Chenek is even more breathtaking than further west near our lodge, with huge peaks, crags, and cliffs in the foreground and distant granite domes below the Simien escarpment. Here we look for the endemic Walia Ibex. As well as photographic opportunities with the ibex, we hope for encounters with the handsome Ethiopian Wolf, a declining species that still occurs regularly around Chenek. Wildlife we may spot includes Klipspringer, Ethiopian Bushbuck, Bush Duiker, and raptors such as the Steppe Eagle, Tawny Eagle, and the magnificent Bearded Vulture. Overnight at nearby accommodation or camping.

Day 4: Explore Simien Mountains National Park

Created by massive erosion, the Simien Mountains is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with jagged mountain peaks rising over 4,000 meters, deep valleys, and sheer 1,500-meter precipices. The park is home to the highest peak in the country, Ras Dashen, which is 4,543 meters above sea level.

The Simien Mountains are also the refuge of the endangered Ethiopian Wolf, the extraordinary Gelada Baboon, and the endangered Walia Ibex. Endemic birds include the Thick-billed Raven and Wattled Ibis.

In addition to its remarkable wildlife, the park is famous for its Afromontane forest, Hypericum woodland, Afromontane grassland, and Afro-alpine moorland dominated by Giant Lobelias, Red Hot Pokers, tree heaths, St. John’s Wort, and African Roses.

This makes the Simien Mountains a must for any Ethiopian wildlife photography tour. We will also spend time observing Gelada Baboons. Nicknamed “bleeding heart baboon” and “lion-monkey,” Geladas are peculiar to Ethiopia and Eritrea, living in large groups along the rim and slopes of the escarpment. Overnight at nearby accommodation or camping.

Day 5: The Castles of Gondar

We drive to Gondar, 185 km away, through the scenic Amhara region. Along the way, we stop at Awra Amba Community, an egalitarian society where men and women share equal rights and responsibilities. Gondar, once the seat of Ethiopian emperors in the 17th and 18th centuries, lies at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level. After lunch, we visit the famous castles where rulers built numerous palaces, the bath of King Fasilidas, and the church of Debre Berhan Selassie, known for its stunning ceiling paintings of angelic faces, a symbol of Ethiopian art. Overnight in one of Gondar’s best hotels.

Day 6: Flight to Addis and Drive to the Great Rift Valley

After our flight to Addis, we continue toward the Great Rift Valley, a vast geological feature stretching from southeastern Turkey to southern Africa. We arrive at Lake Langano and stay at Har Langano Lodge, located at the lakeside. Lake Ziway offers superb photography, with numerous waterbirds that are surprisingly approachable. Highlights include Great White Pelicans, Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana, Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, Hamerkop, and Saddle-billed Stork, among many others. Overnight at Har Langano Lodge.

Day 7: Drive to Senkelle Wildlife Reserve

In the morning, we explore the northern end of Lake Langano, where we often find Greyish Eagle-Owls, Slender-tailed Nightjars, and the endemic Black-winged Lovebird. Continuing south, we reach Senkelle Wildlife Sanctuary, the last stronghold of the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest. The grasslands here are also home to White-bellied Bustard and Northern Carmine Bee-eater. Later, we continue to Awassa for the night. Overnight at Haile Resort.

Day 8: Drive to Bale Mountains

Our lakeside hotel in Awassa provides excellent opportunities for early morning photography of African Pygmy Goose, Squacco Heron, Black Crake, Woodland Kingfisher, and African Fish Eagle. After breakfast, we drive into the Bale Mountains for a three-night stay at Goba or Bale Mountain Lodge. This afternoon, we enjoy our first photography session in these beautiful mountains. Overnight at Goba or Bale Mountain Lodge.

Day 9: Explore Sanetti Plateau and Tropical Rainforest

We spend much of the day exploring the Afro-alpine moorlands of the Sanetti Plateau, one of the best places to find the rare Ethiopian Wolf. These wolves patrol territories, greet each other, rest, and hunt rodents, particularly the endemic Giant Mole Rat. The density of rodents here is extraordinary, estimated at four tons per square kilometer. We will attempt to photograph these unusual creatures along with the wolves that depend on them. Overnight at Robe in one of the best hotels or camping.

Day 10: Tropical Rainforest and Gesse Grasslands

This morning we explore the tropical rainforest, home to the endemic Bale Monkey. We then continue to the Gesse Grasslands near Dinsho, where Mountain Nyala, Ethiopian Bushbuck, and Warthogs are habituated and allow close photography. Birding highlights include the African Wood Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, and the Abyssinian Owl. We may also see Bohor Reedbucks and Olive Baboons. Overnight at Goba, Wabe Shabelle Hotel.

Day 11: Drive to Awash National Park

After breakfast, we head to Awash National Park for a game drive in the thorn bush, grasslands, and along the Awash River Falls. Mammals include Salt’s Dik-dik, Lesser Kudu, Warthog, Olive Baboon, Spotted Hyena, Aardwolf, and Aardvark. Birds include Somali Ostrich, Abyssinian Roller, bustards, hornbills, and Rosy-patched Bushshrike. In the evening, we relax at Doho Lodge, enjoying the natural hot springs. Overnight at Doho Lodge.

Day 12: Awash National Park – Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve – Return to Addis

In the early morning, we drive to Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve, where we can see Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra, and Waterbuck. After breakfast, we return to Addis Ababa with birding stops and lunch along the way. In the evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with cultural dances and music representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups. Finally, we transfer to the airport for international departure.