Ethiopia adds up to a truly bird-filled
experience in an usual country: it offers numerous endemics, a rich
assemblage of montane and arid savanna species and an influx of
Palaearctic migrants. Unrivalled scenery, unique mammals and fascinating
cultures enhance the feeling of outlandishness. On our tours we
visit a wide range of habitats.
Highland grasslands and moorlands hold unusual endemics such as
Blue-winged Goose,
Spot-breasted Lapwing and
Rouget’s Rail, whereas rocky areas
are home to Rueppell’s Black Chat
and White-billed Starling.
In forest patches in the central highlands we will search for White-cheeked
Turaco, Ethiopian Oriole, Abyssinian
Catbird, Yellow-fronted Parrot,
Black-winged Lovebird, Abyssinian Woodpecker and
White-backed Tit.
The rift valley's arid savannas and numerous lakes teems with birds,
including a good diversity of bustards. In the remote south of the
country we may find three of Ethiopia's most sought after endemics,
fabled Prince Ruspoli's Turaco, Stresemann's
Bush Crow and unusual White-tailed Swallow.
We offer two consecutive tours to Ethiopia. The main tour concentrates
on the wide range of habitats comfortably accessible from Addis
Ababa, including montane forests and moorlands at Debre Libanos
and the Bale Mountains, and savanna birding in the rift valley around
Lake Langano and Awash. The second tour is for the more adventurous
and heads to remote south in search of Prince Ruspoli’s
Turaco and Stresemann’s Bush Crow,
among many others.
For more information on our Ethiopia birding tour itineraries, please
contact
us.
Featured
Leaders: Callan Cohen
Callan & Deirdre recommend:
This tour is well suited to world listers, keen birders and
mammal enthusiasts.
Callan Cohen
founded Birding Africa 12 years ago and has written two books on
birding in Africa, including the definitive birding site guide to
southern Africa and Madagascar. Callan has over 20 years of birding
experience in the region.
Deirdre Vrancken is a primatologist whose expertise
in lemurs will add an extra dimension to the tour. She has studied
Pronghorn Antelopes in Montana, African Elephants in East Africa,
and our closests living relatives, Bonobos, in the jungles of the
Congo.
* Cost per person sharing a room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, Birding
Africa printed booklet with species lists, domestic flights within
Madagascar, boat trips as indicated on the itinerary, road transport,
guide fees, entry fees for the parks, reserves and botanical gardens,
full board accommodation and drinking water on the bus. Not included:
international flights, drinks, optional tips, and items of a personal
nature are not included.
* Cost per person sharing a room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, Birding
Africa printed booklet with species lists, domestic flights within
Madagascar, boat trips as indicated on the itinerary, road transport,
guide fees, entry fees for the parks, reserves and botanical gardens,
full board accommodation and drinking water on the bus. Not included:
international flights, drinks, optional tips, and items of a personal
nature are not included.
Practical tour information
Focus
For keen birders and mammal
enthusiasts. Designed to see as many as possible endemic birds,
but while on the walks we spend a lot of time looking for other
aspects of wildlife such as mammals. We can also customise any
itinerary to suit to the keen birder, the wildlife enthusiast
or both.
Photography
Many participants on our trips are amateur wildlife photographers.
And when we get excellent views of a bird or mammal, some time
is usually spent watching and photographing it. However, this
is not a photographic tour and once the majority of the people
have felt that they have absorbed the animal or bird to their
satisfaction, then we move on in search of the next encounter.
Thus, while the photographic opportunities
are very good, the group will only occasionally wait for somebody
who wants to spend even longer getting better photos.
Fitness
Little fitness is required. The few walks are generally in
relatively flat areas with occasional small inclines.
Timing
Please enquire.
Climate
Warm to hot in the lolands and cool in the forests and highlands
Comfort
Basic to moderate comfort in local small hotes and guest houses.
Transport
We travel by minibus or four wheel drive vehicle.
Group Size
This depends on the specific tour. Please enquire.
Top birds
Ethiopian endemics including Spot-breasted Lapwing, Rouget's
Rail, Abyssinian Catbird, Stresemann's Bush Crow and Blue-winged
Goose.
Your
booking can be secured with a booking
form and deposit of USD 400. You will receive
confirmation and our tour information pack with practical information
on what to expect and how to prepare for the tour. The balance
is due 3 months before the tour. Email
us about availability.
About Birding Africa
Birding Africa is a specialist birding tour
company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed
holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies,
botany and other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa's
and Madagascar's most diverse birding destinations. Our guides'
knowledge of African birds and birding areas is our greatest strength
and together we have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations
with the birding community and had a fun time exploring our home
continent. We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best
birds. Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and
we are dedicated to making professional, best value trips filled
with endemic species and unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997,
we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders,
small birding groups and top international tour companies. We've
run Conservation Tours
in association with the African Bird Club and work with and consult
for a number of other top international tour companies and the BBC
Natural History Unit.
