Village - Ethiopia

VE 003B, 14 days. Rift Valley, Bale Mountains, camping and trekking itinerary

Day 1: Depart Europe p.m. on Ethiopian Airlines.

Day 2: Arrive Addis Ababa, transfer to Ghion Hotel. Visit to Entoto National Park. See Day 2 of VE 001B for this day's activities. o/n Ghion.

Day 3: Leave Addis Ababa for the main Ethiopian Rift, passing Lakes Koka and Zwai. See Day 3 of VE 001B for this day's activities. o/n camping on the southern shores of Lake Langano.

Day 4: Today we explore the forest along the shores of the lake, that stretches up to the escarpment forming the eastern Rift Valley wall. We can expect to see Yellow-fronted Parrot, Black-headed Forest Oriole, White-cheeked Turaco, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Broad-billed Roller, Double Toothed Barbet, various sunbirds and kingfishers. o/n camping.

Day 5: We leave our camp and visit the Shalla and Abiyata National Park (see Day 4 of VE 001B for a description), then continue to Wondo Genet (See Day 8 of VE 001B for further information about the site.) o/n Wondo Genet Lodge.

Day 6: After breakfast we set off for the Bale Mountains National Park. We stop at Dinshu, where we will set up camp in the grounds of Dinshu Lodge. After lunch, we explore the Gaysay area and Mount Boditi, which is covered in woodland and montane grasslands. Here we will be looking out for the Abyssinian Catbird, White-winged Black Tit, Black-winged Lovebird, Thick-billed Raven, Rouget's Rail, Blue-winged Goose, and Abyssinian Longclaw. Among the animal species: Mountain Nyala, Menelik's Bushbuck, Bohor Reedbuck and Grey Duiker. o/n camping at the H.Q. at Dinsho.

Day 7: We start our trek through the Bale Mountains, the highest tract of moorland in Africa, with rocky peaks and crags, and striking fauna and flora. In addition to the many endemic birds we will see (please see Days 6 and 7 of VE 001B), we will also see the Simien Wolf, Abyssinian Hare, Rock Hyrax (a distant relative of the elephant), Cerval Cat, Klipspriger and Giant Mole Rat. Camping at the water fall at Fincha Berra.

Day 8: We pass trout filled streams and crater lakes to camp at the foot of Mount Wassama.

Day 9: We pass several mountains and peaks to camp at Garba Guracha or Black Lake.

Day 10: Today we finish out trek, meeting our vehicles at Konteth peak. After a picnic lunch, we will spend the afternoon visiting the forest below the Harena Escarpment (see Day 7 of VE 001B) before proceeding to Goba for hot showers and a warm bed at the Wabe Shabelle Hotel.

Day 11: We retrace out path back to the Lakes region for a couple of nights at Lake Awassa. See Day 4 of VE 001B for information. o/n Awassa Wabe Shebelle #1.

Day 12: Full day birding in Lake Awassa and surroundings. o/n Awassa Wabe Shebelle #1.

Day 13: Return to Addis Ababa, stopping off at Debre Zeit for lunch and a trip to Green Lake (see Day 16 of VE 002B), arriving back in time for some souvenir shopping. o/n Ghion Hotel.

Day 14: Transfer to the airport for mid day departure.

For those visitors arriving on Lufthansa or Alitalia:

Departure (from Europe) and arrival will be on Day 1. On Day 2 a full rather than half day will be spent with picnic lunch in the Entoto National Park. (If clients wish, we can visit the Entoto National Park on horseback.) On Day 12 we can spend a little longer around Debre Zeit, visiting the Chelekleke Wetland, before returning to Addis Ababa. On Day 13 there will be a morning excursion to Gefersa reservoir, some 20 km west of the city, where we can expect to see Rouget's Rail, Abyssinian Longclaw, Blue-winged Goose and Black-headed Siskin. Rest of afternoon at leisure (day rooms will be hired). Souvenir shopping can be arranged. Depart late evening.