Day 1. Flight from Addis Ababa to Gondar
You will be met by our representative who will take you to the airport for your flight to Gondar. On arrival, you will drive to the Simien Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The journey takes you through the beautiful landscapes of northern Ethiopia.
After checking into camp, we will go out to look for the Gelada baboons. These baboons are only found in Ethiopia and are still many in the Simien Mountains. They mainly eat roots, grass, herbs, insects, and locusts. They are usually found near the escarpments, where it is safer for them.
Overnight at Simien Lodge.
Day 2. Simien Mountains National Park
We will drive to the Chenneck Campsite, which is about 3,620 meters above sea level. From here, we will enjoy great views of the mountains and track the Gelada baboons. Later, we will drive to Bwahit Pass, which is about 4,200 meters high. This area is known for its huge rock formations. We will also try to see the Walia Ibex, a rare animal found only in the Simien Mountains.
Overnight at Simien Lodge.
Day 3. Drive to Awash National Park
We will drive back to Gondar and take a flight to Addis Ababa. Once in the capital, your guide will drive you to Awash National Park. We will stop for a hot lunch and reach the park in the late afternoon in time for an evening game drive.
Overnight camping.
Day 4. Awash National Park
After an early breakfast, we will go for a game drive. The park is covered with grasslands and thorny bushes. We will stop at the Awash Falls along the Awash River. Animals we may see include Salt’s Dik-dik, Lesser Kudu, Warthog, Hamadryas Baboon, Olive Baboon, Black-backed Jackal, Spotted Hyena, Abyssinian Hare, Aardwolf, Aardvark, Grivet Monkey, and Nile Crocodiles.
Overnight camping.
Day 5. Drive to Alideghe Wildlife Reserve
After breakfast, we will drive to the northeastern part of Awash National Park, to the Alideghe Game Reserve. We will search for Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, Swayne’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, African Golden Wolf, Somali Ostrich, and Hamadryas Baboons. Birds we may see include Abyssinian Roller, Arabian Bustard, Kori Bustard, and bee-eaters.
Overnight camping.
Day 6. Drive to Harar
Today will be a long drive, around 300 kilometers, so we will start early. We head to Harar, a historic town surrounded by walls. It is important in Islamic history. At night, we will have a chance to feed the hyenas, a tradition that helps keep them from attacking homes.
Overnight at Ras Hotel.
Day 7. Harar – Awash
After breakfast, we will take a city tour of Harar. We will visit the house of Arthur Rimbaud, a famous French poet, and see both the National Museum and the Harar City Museum. We will also visit the house of Emperor Haile Selassie’s father. Later, we return to Awash for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Gennet Hotel.
Day 8. Drive to Langano with Stops
Today we drive to Lake Langano. On the way, we will stop at Lake Ziway to watch water birds and other aquatic life. In the afternoon, we continue to Langano, where we may see hippos. At night, we take a forest walk to look for nocturnal animals like the crested porcupine.
Overnight at Hara Langano Lodge.
Day 9. Drive to Senkale Wildlife Sanctuary
After breakfast, we leave Langano for Senkale Wildlife Sanctuary. This area is known for Swayne’s Hartebeest and the Oribi. On the way, we will stop at Abijatta National Park, where we may see African Ostriches, Grant’s Gazelle, and African Golden Wolves. We continue to Awassa for dinner and overnight. Look out for the African Clawless Otter here.
Overnight at Haile Resort.
Day 10. Drive to Bale Mountains National Park
We head to Bale Mountains National Park in the southeast of Ethiopia. This park is part of the Great Rift Valley. We will explore the crater lakes of Debre Zeit. In the afternoon, we drive through valleys and volcanic mountains to the park.
Lake Beseka is another place to see birds such as Wattled Ibis, Pink-backed Pelican, African Fish Eagle, and Saddle-billed Stork. We will also see the Kereyu tribe, who herd camels in this region. In the evening, we enjoy a game drive and visit the Awash Falls. You may also see animals like oryx, baboons, greater and lesser kudu, warthogs, gazelles, and colobus monkeys.
Overnight at Wabe Shabelle Hotel or similar.
Day 11. Bale Mountains Sanetti Plateau
We wake up early and head to the wilderness of Bale Mountains National Park. Our goal is to reach the Sanetti Plateau before sunrise. It’s a good place to see the Ethiopian Wolf, which is rare and only found in Ethiopia. This plateau is one of the largest and highest in the region. We will also stop at Tulu Dimtu, or Red Mountain, the tallest peak in Ethiopia at 4,377 meters.
Overnight at Wabe Shabelle Hotel or similar.
Day 12. Bale Mountains Harenna Forest
After breakfast, we visit the Harenna Forest. You’ll enjoy the escarpment views at the edge of the forest. This is the second-largest rainforest in Ethiopia. We continue to the village of Rira, where we will have lunch and try local drinks. You can also take a 2-hour village walk if you feel up to it. Later, we head to a waterfall with two levels. Watch out for black-and-white colobus monkeys and the rare Bale monkey.
Overnight at Harena Cultural Lodge.
Day 13. Bale Mountains Gassay Grasslands
We explore the Bale Mountain area once more as we travel to Goba, where we will spend the night. Possible animals to see include Civet Cat, Serval Cat, African Golden Wolf, and Caracal.
Overnight at Wabe Shabelle Hotel.
Day 14. Return to Addis Ababa
After breakfast, we head to the airport for our flight back to Addis Ababa.
