23 February to 08 March 2008

Visiting Addis Ababa, Awash National Park, Bale National Park, the rift valley lakes, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the royal compound of Gondar, Lake Tana and the Tississat Falls, and the monastery of Debre Libanos.

Briefly -15 Days

Day 1 : Arrive Addis Ababa and overnight.
Day 2 : Drive from Addis toDebra Zeit - Awash National Park and overnight.
Day 3 : Day in Awash National Park.
Day 4 : Drive from Awash Awash viaAsela andDinsho to Goba forBale National Park.
Day 5 : Day In Bale National Park. Overnight Goba.
Day 6 : Drive from Goba to Dinsho and overnight (Bale National Park).
Day 7 : Drive from Dinsho to Lake Langano.
Day 8 : Drive from Langano via theAbiata / Shala lakes,Ziway and Debre Zeit for Addis Ababa
Day 9 : Fly Addis-Lalibela.
Day 10 : Fly Lalibela - Gondar.
Day 11 : Fly Gondar - Bahar Dar.
Day 12 : Bahar Dar - visit Lake Tana with boat cruise and visit to the falls. overnightBahar Dar
Day 13 : Fly Bahar Dar to Addis Ababa and overnight.
Day 14 : Day visit by road toDebre Libanos, over the Solulta Plains and return to Addis.
Day 15 : Departure from Addis for Johannesburg.

 

Minimum 6, Maximum10 passengers

Price per person sharing exAddis Ababa(subject to availability)

USD 3240 per person sharing ex Addis Ababa

USD tba per person sharing ex Johannesburg (flights Johannesburg-Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines)

USD 370 per person - Single room supplement

INCLUDES
All accommodation; internal flights with Ethiopian airlines, all meals; all transport inmini-bus (4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers for Bale Mountains); all entrance fees;English speaking driver/guide throughout the tour; boat trip on Lake Tana; game scouts inAwash and Bale Parks;

NOT INCLUDED
International flights;tips/gratuities to driver/guides; visa fees, porter fees; laundry; items of a personal nature; excursions not mentioned.

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FULL ITINERARY (15 DAYS)(subject to alteration & availability)

Dates :23 February to 08 March 2008

with Ian Davidson and/or local guides

Day 1 (Saturday) Addis Ababa
Arrive Addis Ababa and overnight Ghion Hotel. Day 2 Addis - Awash National Park
We head out across the Rift Valley bound for the drier savannas of the Awash National Park. The drive will take us most of the day, but we'll take a break at a shallow crater lake at Debre Zeit to look for the localised Maccoa Duck, African Spoonbill, perhaps White-backed Duck, Little Rock Thrush, White-winged Cliff Chat and Blue-breasted Bee-eater. Climbing out of the Rift, the road winds up through strips of black lava onto the savanna of Ethiopia's Eastern Highlands. The main geographical feature of the park and its southern boundary, is the gorge carved by the Awash River, which has a large waterfall at its head. Away from the river, the landscape is mainly Acacia savanna. The thick bush around the Awash River is home to Lesser and Greater Kudu, Defassa Waterbuck, Salt's Dik-dik and Warthog, while more developed riverine forest may hide parties of Vervet Monkeys and Guerenzas (Colobus Monkey). The plain between the river and the main road is the best place to see Beisa Oryx , Soemmering's Gazelle and a small herd of introduced Swayne's Hartebeest. Klipspringer and Mountain Reedbuck are found on the slopes of Fentale Volcano. Hamadryus and Anubis baboons are widespread and have been known to interbreed in Awash. Predators are seen infrequently. The birdlife of Awash is varied with well over 400 species recorded. Five species of bustard occur here including Arabian, Kori and Hartlaub's. Shrikes in the form of Rosy-patch, Somali Fiscal, the migrant Red-backed, Red-tailed and Woodchat abound. Gaudy coloured Yellow-throated Spurfowls scratch their way through open grassland patches, while White-bellied Go-away Bird and Abyssinian Scimitarbill clamber through the trees. We may be fortunate to see Chestnut-bellied and perhaps a Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse flighting in to drink at pools of water in the gathering dusk. We overnight in Awash at the Genet Hotel (Full Board). Day 3 Awash NP
Day in Awash. Overnight in Awash at the Genet Hotel (Full Board). Day 4 Awash - Asela - Dinsho-Goba (Bale National Park
Leaving the dry savannah of the Awash Park we head south before we begin our gradual ascent towards the Bale Mountains. As we wind up over the pass later today we should come across the most peculiar bird of the alpine highlands, Rouget's Rail, a moorhen like bird with a distinctive white rump and which unusually for a rail is not secretive or confined to wetlands. We pass through the Bale Mountain National Park (22 000 ha) on our way to the town of Goba where we stay for the next two nights. This National Park protects the higher reaches of the Bale Range and includes Mount Tullo Deemtu, which at 4,377m is the second highest peak in Ethiopia. More than fifteen species of endemic birds occur here including the Blue-winged Goose, Thick-billed Raven and Spot-breasted Plover. There are several non endemic localised birds to look out for on the plateau including Lammergeyer, Abyssinian Hill Babbler and Wattled Crane. The juniper and Hagenia woodland on the western slopes, high altitude heath-land supports a wide selection of endemic birds, including Black-winged Lovebird, White-backed Black Tit and Abyssinian Longclaw. Wattled Ibis are common roadside birds throughout the region. From Goba we'll take the highest road in Africa (4000m) which leads to the lofty Sennati plateau. The road winds first through wonderful Hypericum forest, its huge, ancient trees dripping with 'old man's beard'. This is the favoured haunt of the strange endemic Abyssinian Catbird, together with Mountain Buzzard, Moorland and Scaly Francolins, Abyssinian Long-eared Owl, Wattled Crane and Montane White-eye. Higher still, we may get to a zone of shrubby junipers where the recently-discovered, endemic Bale race of Brown Tit-Warbler occurs. The Sennati plateau's peculiar, tundra-like landscape is created by its flora of low cushion plants. Interspersed with spikes of giant groundsels and giant lobelias dotted with swampy pools that are home to the endemic Spot-breasted Plovers, White-billed Starling and Abyssinian Catbird . Some truly remarkable endemic mammals live here too - including the impressive Mountain Nyala and rust-red Simien Fox or Ethiopian Wolf. Overnight Goba Wabishebele Hotel (Full Board). Day 5 Goba (Bale NP)
Time exploring the Bale Mountains in search of Moorland Francolin, White-cheeked Turaco, White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Longclaw and Abyssinian Woodpecker. Other mammals here include Menelik's Bushbuck, Grimm' s Duiker, Abyssinian Hare and Olive Baboon. Overnight Goba Shebele Hotel (Full Board). Day 6 Dinsho (Bale NP)
The National Park headquarters are situated here and it is here that we will encounter confiding groups of Mountain Nyala and Menelik's Bushbuck, Bohor Reedbuck and Colobus Monkeys. Spot-breasted Plovers are common and we may find Abyssinian Long-eared Owl and further opportunities for Abyssinian Catbird. On the adjacent heathlands we have our best chance of seeing the Ethiopian Wolf. Overnight Hotel at Dinsho (Full Board). Day 7 Dinsho - Langano
Leaving the highlands of Bale we proceed southwards, the road meanders over low hills to pass through Sheshamane. We' ll probably lunch in the town of Awassa where we should find the endemic Banded Barbet and with luck some Double-toothed Barbet too.After settling in at our hotel at Lake Langano, we can explore the tree-lined shore where Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Little Rock Thrush, Rueppell's Weaver, Brown-rumped Seed-eater, Black-winged Lovebird and Orange-bellied and Yellow-fronted Parrots, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Buff-bellied Warbler, Rufous Chatterer, African Fish Eagle, Spotted Eagle Owl and the enormous Abyssinian Ground Hornbill are possible, along with African Black Tit, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird and many more! Night at Bekele Molle Hotel, Lake Langano (Full Board). Day 8 Langano - Abiata/Shala lakes, Ziway-Debra - Zeit-Addis
Today our drive to Addis Ababa via Lakes Abiata/Shalla takes in the spectacular numbers of water birds including flamingoes, Great Black-backed Gulls, Black-tailed Godwit, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveller, hosts of waders and waterfowl. Lake Abiata, a soda lake whose shimmering pink shoreline reveals itself to be thronged with thousands of Greater and Lesser Flamingoes! Migrant Caspian and Pacific Golden Plovers occur amongst resident Crowned and Kittlitz's Plovers scattered over the grassy plains; we even have a chance of the rare Wattled Crane. Overhead we'll keep a sharp lookout for Brown Saw-wing and Mottled Swifts. Black-crowned Crane, Clapperton's Francolin, Black-winged Plover, Von der Decken's Hornbill and Red-fronted Barbets all occur here too. Lake Ziway is the northernmost of Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and an ideal first stop on a tour of the Rift Valley. The lake is notable for its scenic qualities, it's ringed by steep volcanic hills and attracts many waterbird species including Black Egret. Later we will head for Addis Ababa where we overnight Ghion Hotel (Full Board). Day 9 Addis - Lalibela
Depending on the time of our flight we can spend time in the gardens of the Ghion hotel where, while Hooded Vulture and Yellow-billed Kite wheel about above us, we can expect to see Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Speckled Mousebird, Nyanza Swift, Tacazze Sunbird and Streaky and Brown-rumped Seed-eaters. We fly northwards to the remote town of Lalibela, renowned for its rock-hewn churches, carved out of volcanic tuff into the rugged mountainsides. Even from the air, these present an incredible spectacle. The ten main churches are within easy reach of the town centre and we'll be able to spend time at some of these incredible churches. The first church most people visit is the Bet Medhane Alem, the largest of all the Lalibela churches, taking on the form of a Greek temple. This amazing collection of rock-hewn churches are considered as the '8th Wonder of the World'. Their construction remains a mystery but legend has it that construction commenced after divine instruction to the King Lalibela, and that at night, Angels completed the work. Afternoon excursion to some of the churches. Overnight stay at the Roha Hotel (Full board). Day 10 Lalibela - Gondar
After breakfast, you'll be taken to the airport and checked in for your flight to Gondar. This historic town is best known for its Royal Compound, which has led to its being called the 'Camelot of Africa'. During the 17th and 18th Centuries, Gondar, then the capital of Ethiopia, was home to a number of emperors, courtiers and kings. We'll visit the 17th century Fasalidas' Castles. After exploring the castles, you'll be taken to the remarkable Debre Birhan Selassie church, possibly the most famous church in Ethiopia, because of the paintings on the ceiling, which feature faces of Angels. Birding in the royal compound is very rewarding too. Overnight Goha Hotel (Full board). Day 11 Gondar - Bahar Dar
Today we drive from Gondar to Bahar Dar, situated on the shores of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile and the largest high altitude lake in Africa. Dotting the lake are numerous islands many of which have ancient churches or monasteries. On the way, from Bahirdar to Gondar, we will still see birds like the Abyssinian ground hornbill, Ibis and other more. In the hotel ground we may find White-cheeked Turaco and Abyssinian Woodpecker while the surrounding area holds numerous water birds including herons, egrets, waterfowl, Black-crowned Crane, Senegal Thick-knee, Spur-winged Plover, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Batis and Abyssinian White-eye. Excursion in the afternoon to Ura-Kidhane Mihret, a monastery famed for its frieze of some 100 paintings dating back to the 16th century. Overnight Lake Tana hotel (Full Board). Day 12 Bahar Dar - Lake Tana - Bahar Dar
Today we will visit the Tississat Falls where the Blue Nile plunges 45m over black basalt cliffs, its first obstacle on its way to join the White Nile. The spray from the falls feeds a rain forest filled with birds. Here we'll look for Slender-billed Starling, Bruce's Green Pigeon, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Blue-spotted Dove, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill and we may get to see Banded Snake-eagle, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and White-throated Seed-eater. Mammals here include Hippopotamus and Grivet Monkey. Overnight Lake Tana hotel (Full Board). Day 13 Bahar Dar - Addis
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight to Addis Ababa. Later, time permitting, there will be an excursion to Gefersa reservoir on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. The reservoir and surrounding countryside support Blue-winged Goose, Wattled Ibis, Abyssinian Longclaw, Abyssinian Siskin as well as Botta's Wheatear and Swainson's Sparrow. Overnight Ghion Hotel, Addis Ababa (Full Board). Day 14 Addis - Debre Libanos - Addis
An early start for the monastery of Debre Libanos which supports seven of Ethiopia's endemic birds. Perched on the edge of a deep gorge carved by the Jemma river, the cliffs adjacent may yield the handsome Gelada Baboon, Bearded Vulture and White-winged Cliff Chat. The monastery is surrounded by forest - an island of greenery in an otherwise sea of agriculture - here we would hope to find the endemic Rueppell's Chat and flocks of White-billed Starling. The calls of Dark-headed Oriole and Abyssinian Catbird entice one into the forest while on the cliffs above we may hear Erckel's Francolin. Birds appear common here and we should also find Black-winged Lovebird, Little Rock Thrush, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Montane White-eye, Tacazze Sunbird, White-cheeked Turaco and with patience a Banded Barbet or an Abyssinian Woodpecker. Afterwards on our return to Addis, time permitting, we will stop off on the Solulta plains - seasonally wet highland grasslands - where we may find Blue-winged Goose, Botta's Wheatear, Wattled Ibis, Black-winged Lapwing and Rouget's Rail. Overnight Ghion Hotel in Addis Ababa (Full Board). Day 15 (Saturday) outbound
Departure from Addis for Johannesburg (or other arrangements).

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