The Middle Rift Route
Focus: Birds, wildlife, scenery, nature
Best time of year: end September to mid-June
In-country days: 16 days
Transportation: Drive

View Ethiopian Rift Valley Tour and Travel in a larger map

Day 01: Arrive Addis; city tour; shopping

Day 02: Drive to the Ethiopian middle rift system, stopping at Lakes Koka & Ziway for water birds like:

African Pygmy Geese Yellow-billed & Marabou Storks Crowned & Common Cranes
Lesser & Greater Jacanas  African Jacanas  White Pelicans Fish Eagles Collard Pratincoles

Day 03: Early in the morning, leave for the Abijata-Shalla National Park where more than 400 species have been recorded, however intense human interference has affected the park in recent years. Still to be seen are:

Lesser & greater Flamingo African Pochard Avocet Gull-billed Tern Pintail Little Stint Ruff
Keep on driving to Lake Awassa, the afternoon birding will allow one to see:

Saddlebill & Marabou Storks Malachite King Fisher Spur-winged Plover Pygmy Goose Brown Snake Eagle
Black-winged Lovebird

Day 04:  Full day birding around Lake Awassa & the "Tikur Weha" forest area.

Day 05: Drive to the southern town of Yavello to explore the forest reserve where over 200 species have been listed:

Abyssinian Bush Crow White-tailed Swallow Abyssinian Grosbeak Canary Black-capped Social Weaver
Short-tailed Lark Pringle's Puff-back Northern Grey Tit Somali Sparrow

Day 06:  Full day birding at Yavello Sanctuary.

Day 07: Drive to the town of Mega, with birding along the way which includes:

Golden Breasted Starling Helmeted & Vulturine Guinea Fowl  Superb Starling Lilac Breasted Starling

Day 08 On the way to Negele, explore the forest around the town of Arero. About 168 species have been recorded including 2 endemics that are among most sought-after birds in Africa: Prince Ruspoli's Turaco Salvadori's Seedeater

Day 09 & 10: Spend 2 days exploring the diversified environment around Negele,
expecting to see:

Prince Ruspoli's Turaco Salvadori's Seedeater Sidamo long-clawed Lark Somali short-toed Lark Red-napped Bush-Shriek White crowned Starling Tiny Cisticola Heuglin's Bustard Hunter's Sunbird Golden Pipit Pygmy Batis
Rufus Sparrow Coqui Francolin

Day 11: Continue to Goba and the Sanetti Plateau, driving on the highest road and on the highest moorland in Africa. Birding along the way will allow seeing: Golden backed woodpecker White backed Tit

Day 12:  Full day birding in Bale Nat Park and return to Goba with a chance to see: Lemmergeyer Abyssinian Catbird

Day 13: Drive to Wondo Genet with birding on the way.

Day 14: Full day birding around Wondo Genet.

Day 15: Drive back to Addis; afternoon leisure or shopping; cultural evening out.

Day 16: Departure

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Most of Ethiopia’s endemic birds
• Considerably more species than listed above
• Wildlife-viewing, including some endemic species
• Stunning highland scenery in the Bale Mts.

Book Now