DET 023 - Birding VI - (Awash + Bale Mountains)

DET 023- Birding VI-(Awash+ Bale Mountains)

Day 1: Arrive at Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa) and transfer to the Hotel.
Day 2: Continue driving to Koka Dam :this is an artificial lake  you will spot various species of water birds like: Yellow billed Stork, Marabou Stork, Great White Pelican, Great White Egret & Little Egret, Goliath  & Grey Heron, Hamerkop, Sacred Ibis, Egyptian  Goose, Spur-Winged Lapwing & Black Smith Lapwing The remainder of the day will be spent birding along  the shores of the lake Langano and proceed to Wondo Genet to see the endemic yellow fronted  parrot along with the Black headed forest Oriole and the  Golden backed  wood pecker, redwing  starling, mounting wagtail, Malicite Kingfisher and Black Rough wing swallow.  Overnight hotel at Wondo  Genet.

Day 3: After breakfast drive through the farmlands of southeast Ethiopia, to Dinsho the headquarter of Bale mountains national park-the home of endemism. Stop for  the Long-eared Owl at Kofele, and thereafter  Spot-breasted Plover(E) can be found and at Dinsho, Abissinian Ground Thrush, Abyssinian Catbird (E),  Abyssinian Long Clow (E), and White backed Black Tit occur and you will have a chance to see the endemic mammals such as Mountain Nyala,and Menelik’s Bushbuck along with Warthog, Bohor Reedbuck and Grey Duiker can also be occur. Overnight Dinsho Lodge.   E=endemic

Day 4: In the morning, after breakfast, drive to the Afro-alpine setting of the Sanetti plateau to see birds like:  Ruget’s rail (E), Blue winged goose (E), thick billed  raven (E), white-winged cliff chat (E) ,banded  barbet E), Golden Eagle, Chestnut-naped Francolins, Wattled Crane, Thekla Lark, Black Saw-wing, Moorland  Chat, White-backed Black Tit, Red-Billed Chough, Black-Headed Siskin (E) all occur. You   can also see the endemic Ethiopian Wolf and the Gaint Mole rat. In the afternoon drive back to Goba for overnight in Hotel.

Day 5: Early morning drive to Awash National park through Arsi on the way spot various species of birds and have stop over at  Beseka Crater Lake western end of  Awash NP supposed to have good water birds.  Overnight Kereyou lodge.

Day 6: After breakfast, enjoy a game drive in Awash National park before returning to the lodge for the evening, Awash national park has over 350 species of bird that have been recorded in this savannah grassland and you will spot birds like: Ruppell’s Vulture, Black-billed-Chat, Boran Cisticola, Scarlet-Chested & Shining Sunbird, Tawny Pipit, Yellow –throated Serin (E), Carmine bee-eater, Lilac-Breasted & Abyssinian Roller, Arabian Bustard, and Great Grey Shrikes.  Overnight at keryou Lodge.

Day 7: After breakfast drive back to Addis Ababa en route you will visit the crater lakes at the town of Debre Zeit, with a five chain of crater lakes.  At these lakes, you can spot different water birds and various species of swallows and weavers. Among the other species to be seen, spur-winged plover, great and little Egret, and cormorant. And proceed to Addis for overnight Hotel. In the evening you will go to one of the famous traditional restaurant for welfare dinner party with Ethiopian traditional music and dance.

Day 8: Day at leisure and sightseeing tour of Addis and night departure.