12-Day Ethiopian Mammal Watching Tour

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Addis Ababa – Gondar

Upon arriving at Addis Bole International Airport, you'll meet your guide and catch a domestic flight to Gondar. Once at Gondar Airport, you'll meet the team and drive to the Simien Mountains, the sole UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in Ethiopia. After arriving at your lodge, you’ll check in and then begin exploring the picturesque Simien escarpment in search of the gelada baboons. Also known as “bleeding heart baboons,” geladas are indigenous to Ethiopia and sustain themselves primarily on herbs, grasses, roots, and occasionally insects like locusts. The geladas inhabit the rim and steep slopes of the escarpment, which is their refuge when danger threatens. Short hikes will allow you to witness the geladas amidst the stunning landscape of the Simien Mountains.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit September to December (Beautiful scenery)

High Season October to April (Lodges are busy)

Best Weather October to April

Wildlife in Simien Mountains NP

Gelada monkey Abundant

Walia ibex Occasional

Ethiopian wolf Rare

Klipspringer Rare

Bushbuck Rare

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Golden jackal Rare

Hyena Rare

Accommodation:

Simien Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Simien Mountains National Park

In the morning after breakfast, you'll head to the Chennek campsite area (3,620 meters). Here, you can enjoy excellent mountain views and encounter more gelada monkeys. As you ascend, the scenery becomes even more magnificent at this high point in the mountain range. Afterward, the journey continues from Chennek to Bwahit Pass (4,200 meters). From this vantage point, you'll have good views of the impressive rock formations of Imet Gogo and Inatiye, providing more opportunities to spot the endemic walia ibex (Capra ibex Walia) and the Ethiopian wolf—one of the world's most endangered mammal species.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Simien Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Simien Mountains National Park - Awash National Park

After breakfast in the morning, you'll drive back to Gondar and then catch a flight to Addis. Upon arrival in Addis, you'll drive to Awash National Park with a lunch stop on the way. In the late afternoon, you'll go on a game drive within the park. Your overnight stay will be at the camp.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Best Time To Visit Oct to Feb (Little rain and less hot)

High Season Sep to Apr (The park is never busy)

Best Weather October to February

Wildlife in Awash NP

Olive baboon Abundant

Beisa oryx Common

Soemmerring's
gazelle Common

Hamadryas baboon Common

Salt's dik-dik Common

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Lesser kudu Occasional

Desert warthog Occasional

Defassa waterbuck Occasional

Nile crocodile Occasional

Spotted hyena Occasional

Guereza monkey Rare

Ethiopian wolf None

Gelada monkey None

Walia ibex None

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Awash National Park

Before breakfast you will go on a game drive through the thorny bushes and grassland of Awash National Park, including a hike along the riverbank forest by the Awash River Falls. You may spot various mammals like 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 (among others).

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Awash National Park - Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve

Following an early breakfast, you’ll embark on a scenic drive to the Alideghi Wildlife Reserve, which is situated to the northeast of the Awash National Park. Here, indulge in a captivating game drive as you scan the expansive plains in search of Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, beisa oryx, simmering gazelle, Grant's gazelle, olive and hamadryas baboons, African golden wolf, Somali ostrich, and various other wildlife. Additionally, keep an eye out for a diverse array of avian species including the Abyssinian roller, Arabian bustard, kori bustard, and bee-eaters.

Main Destination:

Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Aledeghi WR

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve - Lake Langano

Today you will transfer to Lake Langano. On the way you’ll stop at Lake Ziway to observe aquatic birds. Upon arrival at Lake Langano, you’ll spend some time looking for hippos and take a night walk around the nearby forest to spot bat-eared foxes, aardvarks, crested porcupines, bush babies, and genet families.

Main Destination:

Lake Langano

Accommodation:

Hara Langano Eco Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Lake Langano

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary

After breakfast in the morning, you’ll depart from Langano and drive to Sankale Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to the endemic Swayne’s hartebeest and oribi. We’ll stop en route at Abjatta National Park to observe African ostriches, Grant's gazelle, and African golden wolves. In the late afternoon you’ll arrive at Awassa Lake for your overnight stay. While here you should seize the opportunity to see the African clawless otters.

Main Destination:

Senkele Swayne’S Hartebeest Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Best Time To Go October to March (Little rainfall)

High Season October to January (It is never busy)

Best Weather

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Hawassa

• Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains National Park

In the morning, head southeast to Bale Mountains National Park. Upon entering the park, you'll encounter mammals exclusive to the southeastern mountain chain of Ethiopia. Look for serval cats and caracals in the grasslands. The distinctive mountain nyala and Menelik's bushbuck, native to the area, add to the beauty of this park.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit Nov to Feb (Little rain)

High Season Oct to Jan (Park is never busy)

Best Weather November to February

Wildlife in Bale Mountains NP

Ethiopian wolf Common

Mountain nyala Common

Warthog Common

Menelik's
bushbuck Occasional

Guereza monkey Occasional

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Olive baboon Occasional

Bohor reedbuck Occasional

Starck's hare Occasional

Giant mole-rat Occasional

Bale monkey Rare

Giant forest hog Rare

Golden jackal Rare

Gelada monkey None

Walia ibex None

Accommodation:

Goba Wabe Shebelle Hotel

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains National Park

After breakfast, you'll drive to the Sanetti Plateau (situated above 4000 meters), featuring Afro-alpine Moorland and stunning alpine scenery. Here, you might catch sight of the rare and endangered Ethiopian wolf (since Sanetti is the largest alpine area in Africa). Expect to encounter various mammals such as Stark’s hare, rock hyrax, giant mole rats, and different species of grass rats on this expansive plateau.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Goba Wabe Shebelle Hotel

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains National Park

Today, you'll embark on an early game drive in the forest, which will increase your chances of spotting mammals like the giant forest hog and bush pig. Keep an eye out for the endemic Bale monkey feeding on Bamboo trees. In the evening, we’ll go on an evening game drive to observe nocturnal mammals in the forest. Your overnight accommodation will be at Harena Cultural Lodge.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Harenna Forest Hotel and Cultural Lodge

• Budget guest house located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains National Park

Today, you'll depart from the forest and explore the woodland and grassland sections of the park. In the grassland area, we’ll go on another evening game drive to enhance your chances of spotting mammals like civet cats, serval cats, African golden wolves, and caracals. Afterwards, you'll return to Goba for your overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Goba Wabe Shebelle Hotel

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains National Park - Addis

Today you'll head back to Addis with a few stops along the way. Upon reaching Addis in the evening, you'll have a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant where dancers and musicians representing various ethnic groups in the country will perform. Afterward, you'll be transferred to the airport for your international departure.

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.