Bird watching Tour in Rift Valley (6 Nights / 7 Days)
Tour Code: WET - 022
Day 1: ADDIS ABABA-city tour of Addis Ababa. Arrive at Bole (ADD), Welcome to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. City tour in Addis. Entoto Mountain, Ethnological Museum, National Museum. Accommodation: Ghion Hotel in Addis
Day 2: Arrive Addis Ababa. Later in the day, we drive to Geferssa Reservoir, about an hour’s drive from Addis where at least seven of the endemic species might seen, including Blue-winged Goose and Black-headed Siskin. Overnight stay Addis Ababa
Day 3: Drive to the Awash National Park. En route, we will have many roadside stops including one major stoppage at Cheleklaka wet land some 42kms east of Addis. The Yellow-billed stork, African spoonbill, Red-billed Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Crowned Crane, Black Crake, and White backed Duck and Hottentots Teal are one of the dwellers of Cheleklaka wet land. Then proceed to Nazareth for lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to Awash National Park. In this lowland and acacia woodland area, over 350 bird species recorded. Overnight stay in Awash.
Day 4:Full day birding and game viewing in the park. Overnight (see Day 2)
Day 5: Leave Awash National Park for Langano. Along the way, we are birding at Awash River Bridge and /or Koka Dam. After noon birding at Lake Ziway where huge number of water birds inhabit. It is a wonderful lake for its different storks, plovers, Egrets and Ducks. Overnight Langano Wabe -Shebelle Hotel.
Day 6: Drive to Lake Abijata, which is a magnificent habitat for a wintering species from Europe and North Asia. After lunch, we spend more time in the acacia woodland area at the Abijata-Shalla Lakes HQ. The spotted Eagle Owl, Rufus crowned and Lilac-breasted Rollers, Bearded and Cardinal Woodpeckers, African pygmy Falcon, Imperial Eagle, Crested Francolin and Black-wood Hoopoe are amongst the verities of birds inhabiting this area. Then, proceed to Wondogenet for two nights staying. Overnight Wondogenet Wabe Shebelle Hotel
Day 7 In the morning, bird watching in and around Wondogenet forest. The endemics Yellow Fronted Parrot and Abyssinian woodpecker, double toothed Barbet, white checked Turaco, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Narina’s Trogon, Spotted Creeper, Lesser Striped Swallow, Crowned Eagle, Ayer’s Hawk Eagle, Lemon and Tambourine Doves are one of the special birds we are looking for. Afternoon drive back to Addis Ababa. Evening departure to home.