Join us on a unique wildlife holiday in Ethiopia designed by our experts and led by our passionate wildlife professional tour guides.
Looking for an experience a little different from the typical African wildlife safari? Then Ethiopia is a great choice! Ethiopia has an amazingly varied landscape and ecosystem from hot deserts to high, rugged mountains. This makes it home to an astonishingly varied number of flora and fauna species, among which many mammals, birds, and plants are endemic to Ethiopia.
Our Endemic big five of Ethiopia’s Wildlife Tour focuses on the endemic wildlife and breathtaking landscapes of Ethiopia. You will discover the endemic mammals and birds of Ethiopia, which you cannot find anywhere else = activities welcome to magnificent Bale mountain and simien mountain national park, adventure on roof of Africa, visit plenty of wildlife and birdlife explore fairytales castles at the oldest city of Gondar world heritage site, our focus on big five wildlife on endemic animal and birds, breathtaking landscape of Ethiopia. Focus on such as mountain nyala, Ethiopian wolf, menelik bushbuck, walia ibex, Gelada Baboon, reedbuck, and others including common wildlife plenty of them, come and join us on our attractive and interested wildlife activities in our country, our tours led by highly experienced and professional tour guide
Ethiopia is home to an amazing mix of mammals and birdlife. There are over 70 species of larger mammals, which more than 5 are endemic to Ethiopia. And there are over 866 bird’s species in Ethiopia, which more than 14 are endemic. Plenty of variety and unique species to view!
You will likely see at least 5 endemic wildlife species, many other large mammals, and over 16 endemic species of birds on this tour.
Itinerary
Day 1: Addis Ababa
On Arrive you will be meet by our representative at the Bole international Airport, then transfer to your Hotel depending on your arrival time, City tour may be possible. Overnight in Addis Ababa at the one of the best accommodations.
Addis Ababa, founded in 1886 by Menelik II, and is situated at 2,600 meters (8000 ft.) above sea level. It is the 5th highest capital city in the world. The city enjoys an excellent climate year-round, with an average temperature of 25C (77F). With a multiethnic population of over 7 million, Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacarandas, interesting museums, and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, known as the “Mercato”.
Overnight: Hotel Addis Ababa
Day 2: Addis Ababa, Gondar, Sankaber
Early in the morning, transfer to Addis Ababa airport for the 50-minute flight to Gondar. Upon arrival at Gondar airport, we will meet our driver then continue driving to the Simien Mountains National Park. We drive from Gondar up to Simien Mountains National Park and nothing can prepare you for the spectacular scenery that awaits at the top of the massif: The rolling grassy plateau comes to an abrupt stop, and sheer cliffs plunge almost vertically for 1,000m (3280 ft.) to the plains below. The massif itself has been sculpted by 30 million years of upthrust and erosion into a wonderland of jagged ridges, pinnacles and strangely cropped conical mountains, so that looking out over the heart-stopping precipice. You feel you might just be at the edge of the world.
After checking into the Simien Lodge and having lunch there, we will relax a bit and get ready for the afternoon photo shoot with the endemic Gelada “Bleeding Heart” Baboon, around Sankaber.
Overnight: Simien Lodge, (3200 m)
Day 3: Sankaber, Gelada Baboon Territory
In the morning, we will drive or walk around Sanakber. This is the territory of Gelada Baboon where we can find them in great numbers as they come out to graze on the plains of Sankaber.
The endemic Gelada Baboon is the last surviving species of ancient grazing primates that were once numerous. Geladas spend most of their day sitting down, plucking and munching on grasses. They have fatty rear ends, much like human buttocks, which seem well adapted to this activity. Theropithecus Gelada lives in small family units of one male and three to six females. Though males are larger and more colorful, females dominate Gelada societies. When an aging male begins to decline, the females in his family decide when he will be replaced by a younger rival— though the male will do all he can do to drive off such competition. Gelada family units often combine to form large foraging bands of 30 to 350 animals.
We will spend the morning photographing the Gelada Baboon around the plains and further down the hills. In the afternoon, we will walk around the lodge for more photography opportunities of the Gelada Baboon with the late afternoon light in different locations.
Overnight: Simien Lodge, (3200 m)
Day 4: Cheneck, Walia Ibex Territory
Today, we will rise early in the morning with the sun and drive to Cheneck through Sankaber and other beautiful parts of the park. This will give you a unique opportunity to photograph the Gelada Baboon and other endemic wildlife as they graze and hunt around the plains.
Around Cheneck, you will also have a chance to photograph the endemic walya ibex with the beautiful morning sun around some of the most spectacular parts of the park. After spending the morning exploring around Checnk, we will drive back to the lodge.
Late in the afternoon, we will go out around continue walking to spot more gelada baboon and birdlife endemic birds are seen close to lodge and surrounding area to spend more time among the Geladas with the golden light of late afternoon.
Overnight: Simien Lodge, (3200 m)
Day 5: Gondar
Today we will drive from simian lodge to Gondar with stops in some picturesque places. After checking into Hotel and having lunch there, we will take a city tour of Gondar. Founded by Emperor Fasiledas around 1635, Gondar is famous for its many medieval castles and the design and decoration of its churches — in particular, the Debre Berhan Selassie represents a masterpiece of the unique Ethiopian school of traditional art.
You will visit the Royal Enclosure, a walled compound having six different castles built from 17th century by different kings who ruled in different times; the pool of King Fasilidas, which still serves as a baptismal pool during Ethiopian Epiphany; and the famous Debre Berhan Selassie adorned with brilliant interior frescoes.
Overnight: at the one of best hotel in Gondar
Day 6: Gondar,to Ethiopian Great Rift Valley Lakes, Lake Langano
In the morning, transfer to Gondar airport for the flight to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival, we will meet our driver – continue our driving to Lake Langano. From Addis Ababa to Lake Langano, we will pass through different towns and stop for a visit at one of the most beautiful Rift Valley Lakes, Lake Ziway is the most famous area of bride watching is rich by aquatic birdlife and best place for the lunch, – continue to lodge
for the rest of the day, relax around the beautiful Sabana Lodge close the peach
From the top of the hill overlooking the beautiful lake
Overnight: Sabana Lodge, Lake Langano
Day 7: Lake Langano, to Bale Mountains National Park
After Breakfast the journey Starts as we drive from lake Langano to Bale mountain Some 200kms south east of the Capital. Stop for lunch on the way and to admire the Landscapes of the Great Rift Valley Lakes with its impressive aquatic Birdlife, and on arrival at the park headquarters we will have Brief break, then have chance to spot animals species such as the endemic mountain Nyala, Ethiopian Bushbuck, as well as reedbuck and Common warthogs, all commonly seen in area around the Park HQ, Birds Species Seen in the area include the endemic Abyssinin catbird and white bucked black tit, as well as Wattled ibis,Abyssinian Longclaw, both only found in Ethiopia and Eritrea, Abyssinia ground trush and more. and we may have game drive around Gaysse grassland.
Overnight spent at Hotel, Goba
Day 8: Goba, Senetie Plateau
In the morning, after breakfast drive to highest Senetie Plateau, one of the most beautiful parts of the park. This is the territory of the endemic Abyssinian Wolf. This very endangered canine is the only wolf family member found Ethiopia It can be spotted commonly here in the vast Afro-Alpine vegetation hunting on Giant Mort Rat on which it commonly feeds.
In this well-conserved Afro-Alpine ecosystem, you will definitely see some endemic birds like the Blue-Winged Goose. Spot breasted plover, white collared pigeon, Rouget rail. as well as the Giant Mort Rat pretty much everywhere.
Later in the afternoon, we will take a relaxing trek around Gesse Valley where we can see many more wildlife species and enjoy the scenic view walking around the valley.
Overnight: Bale Mountain
Day 9: Harenna Forest
Today we will explore the dense and well -conserved Harrana forest including Afro-Alpine senetie plateau in the Bale Mountains national park here we can expect to see the recently discovered endemic Bale Monkey and the illusive Black Leopard. If we are lucky, we will also see the rare Abyssinian Black-Maned Lion during night time which is so not easy should need more day for that,
Overnight: Bale Mountain
Day 10: Harena Forest, Lake Awassa
In the morning, we will drive back to the Ethiopian Great Rift Valley Lakes region. In this region, you will find chains of beautiful Rift Valley lakes, which are home to many species of birdlife and wildlife.
After checking into the beautiful one of best hotel and we will walk around the Lake Awassa to see different aquatic birds. We may also take a boat trip for more bird watching and hippo spotting. The rest of the day, you can relax in the swimming pool or around the resort.
Overnight: hotel
Day 11: Awassa, Addis Ababa
Early in the morning, we will visit the Awassa fish market, where local fishermen sell freshly caught fish for the local people. The interaction of the fishermen with the local people, birds and surrounding environment is interesting to watch.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive back to Addis Ababa enroute visiting at least two Rift Valley lakes, namely Lake Ziway, the biggest Rift Valley Lake and Lake Langano. Both are very famous for their abundant birdlife.
After our visit to the lakes, we drive back to Addis Ababa on the new expressway, which starts after some distance of driving and will arrive in Addis Ababa late in the afternoon.