Ethiopian Endemic Mammals Watching Tours
The Bale and Simien Mountains National Parks are Ethiopia’s high-altitude wonders, home to Africa’s rarest wildlife such as the Walia Ibex, Ethiopian Wolf, and Gelada Baboon. Amid dramatic cliffs, Giant Lobelias, and sweeping grasslands, we’ll search for Mountain Nyala, Ethiopian Bushbuck, Klipspringer, and birds like the Bearded Vulture, Golden Eagle, and Wattled Ibis.
A highlight is spending time among the gentle Gelada Baboons, who calmly graze nearby as their young play around us. As the sun sets, we’ll watch them return to their cliffside nests — an unforgettable sight. For those continuing, the adventure extends east to the arid bushlands of Awash National Park.
DAY 1: Arrive at Bole International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s lively capital and cultural hub. Visit the National Museum, home to the famous fossil “Lucy.” In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow travelers and overnight at one of the city’s top hotels.
DAY 2: We take the morning flight to Gondar, a 17th-century royal city of Ethiopia. Afterwards, we head for the World Heritage Site of Simien Mountains National Park. The drive between Gondar and Debark is very scenic. In the afternoon, from our dramatically situated lodge (Simien Lodge), we begin our photographic exploration of the extraordinary Simien Mountains. Overnight at nearby accommodation or camping.
DAY 3: After an early breakfast, we head to Chenek Guard Post with a picnic lunch. The scenery here is stunning, with dramatic cliffs and granite peaks beneath the Simien escarpment. We’ll look for the endemic Walia Ibex and possibly the rare Ethiopian Wolf. Other wildlife may include Klipspringer, Bushbuck, Bush Duiker, and raptors like the Bearded Vulture and Tawny Eagle. Overnight nearby or camping.
DAY 4: The Simien Mountains boast jagged peaks over 4,000 m, deep valleys, and dramatic cliffs, including Ras Dashen, Ethiopia’s highest peak. Home to the Ethiopian Wolf, Walia Ibex, Gelada Baboon, and rare birds like the Thick-billed Raven, the park offers incredible wildlife and scenery. Its forests and moorlands dotted with Giant Lobelias make it perfect for wildlife photography. We’ll also observe the remarkable Gelada Baboons. Overnight nearby or camping.
DAY 5: Drive 185 km to Gondar through the scenic Amhara region, stopping at the Awra Amba Community, known for its gender equality. In Gondar (2,200 m), explore the royal castles, King Fasilidas’ bath, and the Debre Berhan Selassie Church with its iconic angel-painted ceiling. Overnight at a top hotel in Gondar.
DAY 6: After our flight to Addis, we drive into the Great Rift Valley and arrive at Lake Langano, staying at Har Langano Lodge by the lakeside. Nearby Lake Ziway offers excellent bird photography, featuring pelicans, kingfishers, fish eagles, herons, and more. Overnight at Har Langano Lodge.
DAY 7: In the morning, we explore the northern end of Lake Langano, where we often find Greyish Eagle-Owls, Slender-tailed Nightjars, and the endemic Black-winged Lovebird. Continuing south, we reach Senkelle Wildlife Sanctuary, the last stronghold of the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest. The grasslands here are also home to White-bellied Bustard and Northern Carmine Bee-eater. Later, we continue to Awassa for the night. Overnight at Haile Resort.
DAY 8: Our lakeside hotel in Awassa provides excellent opportunities for early morning photography of African Pygmy Goose, Squacco Heron, Black Crake, Woodland Kingfisher, and African Fish Eagle. After breakfast, we drive into the Bale Mountains for a three-night stay at Goba or Bale Mountain Lodge. This afternoon, we enjoy our first photography session in these beautiful mountains. Overnight at Goba or Bale Mountain Lodge.
DAY 9: We spend much of the day exploring the Afro-alpine moorlands of the Sanetti Plateau, where we find the rare Ethiopian Wolf. These wolves patrol territories, greet each other, rest, and hunt rodents, particularly the endemic Giant Mole Rat. The density of rodents here is extraordinary, estimated at four tons per square kilometer. We will attempt to photograph these unusual creatures along with the wolves that depend on them. Overnight at Robe in one of the best hotels or camping.
DAY 10: This morning we explore the tropical rainforest, home to the endemic Bale Monkey. We then continue to the Gesse Grasslands near Dinsho, where Mountain Nyala, Ethiopian Bushbuck, and Warthogs are habituated and allow close photography. Birding highlights include the African Wood Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, and the Abyssinian Owl. We may also see Bohor Reedbucks and Olive Baboons. Overnight at Goba, Wabe Shabelle Hotel.
DAY 11: After breakfast, we head to Awash National Park for a game drive in the thorn bush, grasslands, and along the Awash River Falls. Mammals include Salt’s Dik-dik, Lesser Kudu, Warthog, Olive Baboon, Spotted Hyena, Aardwolf, and Aardvark. Birds include Somali Ostrich, Abyssinian Roller, bustards, hornbills, and Rosy-patched Bushshrike. In the evening, we relax at Doho Lodge, enjoying the natural hot springs. Overnight at Doho Lodge.
DAY 12: In the early morning, we drive to Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve, where we can see Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra, and Waterbuck. After breakfast, we return to Addis Ababa with birding stops and lunch along the way. In the evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with cultural dances and music representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups. Finally, we transfer to the airport for international departure.
The tour package does not include domestic flights. Guests are advised to bring sunglasses, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes for outdoor activities
