Email: info@nextgensafaris.com. Tel: +256 781282 344. Whatsapp: +49 1575 4442208

17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Explore Tours

17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari Overview

There is no other place in sub-Saharan Africa where one can enjoy great wildlife, landscape photography and combine it with extraordinary cultural experiences. Ethiopia has all of this and more: the awesome landscapes and wildlife of the Bale and Simien Mountains, the spectacular water birds of the Rift Valley lakes and the palaces of Gondar, home of many of Ethiopia’s kings and emperors. Our special 17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari combine all of these wonders.
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival to Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Meet our team on arrival at Bole International Airport and be transferred to your hotel. Located in the center of the country, Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s geographic, political and cultural hub. Addis is distinct from many other African capitals because it was not developed under colonial rule. One of its best-known sites is the National Museum of Ethiopia, which houses the remains of “Lucy,” a bipedal hominid who lived 3.2 million years ago and was discovered in 1974. We will gather for a welcome dinner with our fellow travelers this evening.

Main Destination: Addis Ababa (City)
Accommodation: Da’amat Hotel
Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)
Meals & Drinks: Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 2: Flight to Gondar – Simien Mountains

Will take the morning flight to Gondar, a 17th century royal city of Ethiopia. Afterwards, we will 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 will start our photographic exploration of the extraordinary Simien Mountains.

Main Destination: Simien Mountains National Park
Accommodation: Simien Lodge
Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 3 Explore Simien Mountains National Park

The Simien Mountains is the refuge for the endangered endemic Ethiopian (or Simien) wolf, the extraordinary gelada baboon and the endangered walia ibex, a wild goat unique to Ethiopia. It is also home to endemic birds such as the thick-billed raven and wattled ibis. In addition to its wonderful scenery and wildlife, the park is also famous for its Afromontane forest, Hypericum woodland, Afromontane grassland and Afro-alpine moorland dominated by giant lobelias.

We will explore the scenic Simien escarpment in order to find the endemic gelada baboons. Nicknamed ‘bleeding heart baboon’ and ‘lion-monkey’ for reasons that will soon be obvious to all, gelada baboons are peculiar to Ethiopia and Eritrea, still being numerous in the Simien Mountains. Geladas are mainly vegetarian, living on herbs, grasses and roots, but they also eat insects including and locusts. Geladas live along the rim and steep slopes of the escarpment, which is their refuge when danger threatens.

Main Destination: Simien Mountains National Park
Accommodation: Simien Lodge
Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 4: Explore Simien Mountains National Park

Created by massive erosion, the Simien Mountains is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world: jagged mountain peaks with many summits over 4,000m (roughly 13,000ft), deep valleys and 1,500m sheer precipices. After an early breakfast, we will leave the lodge for Chenek guard post, taking a picnic lunch. The scenery around Chenek is even more awesome than further west near our lodge, with huge peaks, crags and cliffs in the foreground and distant granite domes below the Simien escarpment.

Here we can look for the endemic walia ibex. As well as photographic opportunities with the ibex, we will also be hoping for an encounter with the handsome Ethiopian (or Simien) Wolf, a declining species that still occurs regularly around Chenek. We also have a high chance of spotting wildlife such as Ethiopian klipspringer, Menelik’s bushbuck, bush duiker and raptors including the huge steppe eagle, tawny eagle and the magnificent bearded vulture or lammergeier.

Main Destination: Simien Mountains National Park
Accommodation: Simien Lodge
Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife

Day 5: Drive to Gondar

In the morning after breakfast, we will drive back to Gondar. This city in northern Ethiopia is famed for its 17th-century stone castles and fortresses that evoke the feel of an African Camelot. Founded in 1636 by the great Emperor Fassiladas, this UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once the royal capital of Ethiopia enjoys a striking setting atop tree-studded hills. We will visit various castles and churches built by Fassiladas and his descendants, including the emperor’s own palace. The most impressive is Debre Birhan Selassie church, whose walls and ceilings are intricately decorated with scenes of biblical lore and medieval history.

Main Destination: Gondar (City)
Accommodation: Haile Resort Gondar
Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife

Day 6: Flight to Addis then Fly to Dire Dawa

We take a morning flight to Addis, from Addis Ababa we will take a flight eastwards to the city of Dire Dawa. From there, we’ll drive up into the Chercher Mountains to the city of Harar, where we will spend two nights. We will arrive in time to enjoy a first exploration of the city and then have our first session this evening with the ‘Hyena Men’. Harar is an ancient city also called “The City Of Peace”.

This city was already important by the 13th century and later became the capital of the Adal Sultanate and its successor state, the Emirate of Harar, in the 16th century. The various legends about feeding hyenas include stories that they were publicly fed porridge so that they could act as impromptu soothsayers through their style of eating it. It’s also said that they were fed to discourage them from eating livestock or even people during droughts, or even that Muslim saints communicated with their clan leaders and persuaded them not to do harm in return for handouts.

Main Destination: Harar (Town)
Accommodation: Wonderland Hotel
Mid-range hotel
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 7: Harar City

This morning, we ‘ll explore the ancient Medina of Harar and its surrounding fortifications, known as the Jugal (or Jugol). The walled old city dates back to around the 16th century and is a fascinating warren of small alleyways, markets, mosques and ancient buildings. Harar is widely considered to be the 4th holiest city in Islam, after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, but today it is famed for its tolerance of other faiths. Harar is a wonderful place for photography, especially if you get out early while the light is at its best. We will also enjoy a photographic session with one of the ‘kite men’ of Harar.

Feeding the yellow-billed kites is a recent development, not some ancient tradition, but it is fun to watch and photograph the kites swooping down and often squabbling in mid-air over small pieces of meat from a ‘kite man’s’ hands. At dusk, we will of course return for a second session outside the town walls with our ‘Hyena Man’, something none of us will ever forget!

Main Destination: Harar (Town)
Accommodation: Wonderland Hotel
Mid-range hotel
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 8: Drive to Alideghe Wildlife Reserve

In the morning after breakfast, we will drive down into the arid Awash Valley region. The dry plains of this part of the Awash River region hold the near-endemic sacred (or Hamadryas) baboon, as well as soemmering’s gazelle, beisa oryx, the long-necked northern gerenuk and the delightful little salt’s dikdik. There is a good chance of photographing the newly ‘promoted’ wolf (golden jackals) of Africa in this area. With a bit of luck, we will also encounter northern lesser kudu.

With persistence and just a bit of luck, we will come across an Arabian bustard with one or more northern carmine bee-eaters riding on its back! Birdlife is varied and among the most appealing photographic targets are the huge Somali ostrich, lappet-faced vulture, tawny eagle, pallid and montagu’s harriers, pygmy and lanner falcons, buff-crested, hartlaub’s and white-bellied bustards, black-headed lapwing, the superb Abyssinian roller, hornbills, Somali fiscal and the lovely rosy-patched bushshrike.

Main Destination: Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve
Accommodation: Doho Lodge & Hot Springs
Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 9: Drive to Awash National Park

In the morning after breakfast, we will spend the early morning in the area if need be and then head to the nearby Awash National Park. We will go for game drive in the thorny bushes and grassland of Awash National Park, including the hike in the riverbank forest by the Awash River Falls. We will have a chance to spot mammals such as the salt’s dikdik, lesser kudu, warthog, hamadryas baboon, olive baboon, black-backed jackal, spotted hyena, Abyssinian hare, aardwolf, aardvark, grivet monkey, Nile crocodiles in the shores of the river and more wildlife and numerous birds.

Main Destination: Awash National Park
Accommodation: Genet Hotel Awash
Mid-range hotel located less than 1hr drive from Awash NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 10: Drive to Lake Ziway

In the morning after breakfast, we’ll drive towards the Great Rift Valley. After some time, we will arrive at Lake Ziway, where we will overnight at a comfortable hotel right at the lakeside. Lake Ziway is a great place for photography the kind we will not enjoy while in the Bale or Simien. We can walk out directly onto either of the two promontories that start at our hotel.

Enjoy the spectacle of numerous water birds, most of which are highly approachable. (An important aspect of Ethiopia, and one which makes it so good for wildlife photography, is that birds and indeed most creatures are not harmed by local people.) Large flocks of great white pelicans are a feature here and we are likely to get surprisingly close to these huge and impressive birds. Among the many other stars are the jewel-like Malachite kingfisher, the long-toed African jacana, the huge Goliath heron, the strange hamerkop, the noisy African fish eagle and the superb saddle-billed stork and numerous other species.

Main Destination: Lake Ziway
Accommodation: Haile Resort Ziway
Mid-range hotel located at Lake Ziway
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 11: Drive to Sankalle Wildlife Reserve

We will set off early and drive the short distance to the northern end of Lake Langano. The grounds of a rather run-down hotel usually hold many cryptically-colored slender-tailed nightjars. While looking for these nightbirds we are likely to find and photograph the endemic black-winged lovebird and red-throated wryneck, as well as namaqua dove, white-bellied go-away-bird, the weird-looking speckled mousebird, little bee-eater, Eurasian hoopoe, black-billed wood hoopoe, and colourful greater blue-eared, Rüppell’s and superb starlings.

From Langano, we’ll continue south to the town of Shashamane for lunch. Then, during the late afternoon, we will explore the rarely-visited Senkelle Wildlife Sanctuary, last stronghold of the endemic Swayne’s hartebeest. These impressive chestnut-coloured antelopes are still common here and the grasslands also feature white-bellied bustard and the gorgeous northern carmine bee-eater. Then we will head to Awassa for our overnight stay.

Main Destination: Senkele Swayne’S Hartebeest Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)
Accommodation: Haile Resort Hawassa
Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 12: Drive to Bale Mountains

Our hotel is situated right at the lakeshore and the grounds and surroundings are a great place for early morning photography. Along the adjacent lakeshore, more photogenic birds include the delightful little African pygmy goose, African fish eagle, squacco heron, the perky little black crake and woodland kingfisher. African spotted creeper, a very uncommon and patchily-distributed bird, also occurs here, but we cannot honestly claim it will be at the top of most folk’s targets! After the day starts to heat up, our thoughts will turn to cool, high mountains, so we will head up into the Bale Mountains for a four nights stay at Goba. This afternoon, we will enjoy our first photography session in these beautiful mountains.

Main Destination: Bale Mountains National Park
Accommodation: Wabe Shebelle Hotel Addis Ababa
Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 13: Explore Bale Mountains National Park

We will be spending much of our time exploring the wild and spectacular Afro-alpine moorlands of the high Sanetti Plateau, one of the best places in the Bale Mountains to find the Ethiopian wolf. The handsome Ethiopian (or Simien) wolf has had a difficult time in recent decades, suffering from distemper epidemics introduced by domestic dogs (incursions of which have become more common as the region’s human population has increased). This is now the world’s rarest canid, although, happily, a recent campaign to vaccinate local dogs, organized by the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme has brought about a welcome rebound in the population.

The wolves tend to go around singly or in small groups and during the course of our visit we should have repeated encounters with them, watching them patrol their territories, greet each other, relax or hunt rodents and other prey. While we should be able to see them catch rodents, you can consider yourself lucky if you witness a close-up ‘kill’.

Main Destination: Bale Mountains National Park
Accommodation: Wabe Shebelle Hotel Addis Ababa
Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 14: Explore Bale Mountains National Park

The number of rodents here is quite extraordinary, and of course they provide a bonanza for predators. It is estimated that their density is such that combined weight of rodents per square kilometer (or about 0.4 square mile) is no less than 4 tons! The great majority on the moorlands (and the main prey species of the Ethiopian wolf) consist of three Ethiopian endemics: Blick’s grass rat, black-clawed brush-furred rat and the extraordinary, endangered giant mole rat.

The latter, a huge blind rodent with very goofy teeth, is constantly enlarging its burrows to reach new food supplies. We will have some fun trying to sneak up on them to take some photos. They have good hearing and also detect vibrations, so in spite of their blindness, a close approach is not easy!

Main Destination: Bale Mountains National Park
Accommodation: Wabe Shebelle Hotel Addis Ababa
Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 15: Explore Bale Mountains National Park

While the handsome mountain nyala is regularly seen on the moorlands, the landscape is open and approaching them closely on foot is often unsuccessful. For far better opportunities, we will head for the Bale Mountains National Park headquarters at Dinsho. Here, some of the nyalas have become unafraid of humans and will allow a close approach, as will Menelik’s bushbucks and especially the ultra-tame common warthogs, which one can get to within a couple of metres!

Dinsho is also a good place for bird photography, often including African wood owl, the huge Verreaux’s eagle-owl and the uncommon endemic Abyssinian owl. (Cape eagle-owls also occur here, but are usually too distant for good images.) Not far away is a good area for photographing Bohor reedbucks and olive baboons.

Main Destination: Bale Mountains National Park
Accommodation: Wabe Shebelle Hotel Addis Ababa
Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 16: Drive to Awassa

After a final photography session in the Bale Mountains, we will return to Awassa for an overnight stay. On the late afternoon, we will go to the forest near the Lake Beautiful, black and white Guereza Colobus monkeys with long bushy tails frequent the area and, since the hotel staff give them a few tidbits, are very confiding, allowing for great shots. Mothers with tiny infants are especially appreciated. Playful grivet monkeys also occur here including numerous birdlife.

Main Destination: Awasa (City)
Accommodation: Haile Resort Hawassa
Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
 
17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

Day 17: Flight to Addis – City Tour

One of its best-known sites is the National Museum of Ethiopia, home of the remains of “Lucy,” a bipedal hominid who lived 3.2 million years ago and was discovered in 1974. Visit the Ethnographic Museum located in Addis Ababa University’s main campus for a collection of traditional and contemporary artifacts. You’ll have delicious lunch at one of the Ethiopian cultural restaurants with a traditional coffee ceremony. Afterwards, you’ll visit one of the holiest churches of Ethiopia known as the Holy Trinity church.

Then we will see the tombs of emperor Haile Silase with the amazing painting of the church. You’ll later enjoy amazing views of Ethiopia’s capital city from Enoto. In the evening, we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for your international departure.

Main Destination: Addis Ababa (City)
Accommodation: No accommodation

End of 17 Days Ethiopia Wildlife Safari

INQUIRE NOW

GENERAL INFORMATION ON A ETHIOPIA SAFARI
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: All visitors to Ethiopian must have a valid passport with at least 4 consecutive blanks pages.  Any applicable visa and/or relevant documentation are the responsibility of the traveller.  For further information on Visa requirements visitors are advised to contact their nearest Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate.
LANGUAGE:English
TIME: GMT +3
VOLTAGE: 220 Volts/AC50Hz. Sockets are UK style, 3 pin square plugs. Power is from the government in the city/major towns and generator with inverter back up in the Safari Lodges and Camps.
CURRENCY: Foreign currency must be changed at the Bank, Bureau de Change, and Hotel/Safari lodge/Camp/Resort.   Major Credit Cards, Master card, Visa, American Express, are usually accepted throughout the country.  Where credit cards are accepted, the payment will normally be recorded in US$ regardless of the card’s default currency.
CLOTHING: Dress is mainly informal and should be comfortable as well as practical. Something warm should be brought along for early morning and evenings. Safari clothes are available from hotels/lodges/camps.
BAGGAGE: Where possible, travel light. Baggage space on safari is limited to medium suitcase or soft bag per person plus reasonable amount of hand luggage. There is 15 Kilogram per person limit on all flights to the wildlife sanctuaries. Excess luggage must be stored in your arrival hotel.
WATER: You will find many different of opinion of what is safe and what is not. We recommend for peace of mind, to drink local Bottled Mineral water. It is important to drink plenty of water especially during the hotter months. We would recommend that guests drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration.
HEALTH; East Africa is a safe and secure destination; however, it is a good idea to take a few precautions.  Kindly consult your GP or local doctor at least 6 weeks before you travel, with regards: Malaria prophylactics. East Africa is a known malaria area and preventive measures are essential. You are advised to take one of the recommended anti-malarial drugs.  Be sure to wear long sleeved shorts and trousers after sunset and spray the exposed parts of your body with a mosquito repellent spray Remember to protect yourself from direct sun rays with sunscreen cream or safari hat.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS: For those guests with specific dietary requirement, please ensure we are notified prior to travel
GRATUITIES: As a guideline and dependent on how happy you are, we would suggest the following: The General Hotel/Lodge/Camp Staff – Approximately U$ 10.00 per person per day Driver Guides – Approximately US$ 15.00 to US$ 20.00 per person per day.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Please be careful when photographing public buildings, airports, bridges, the national flag and people in uniform.  Ensure that you have sought permission before photographing local people and their villages.  If in doubt, please check with your guide.

Book a Customized Safari

Read about

10 Things you Should NOT DO on an African Safari.

What to expect on a safari in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

How to Choose the Best Tour Operate for Your Safari in Africa

Lake Mburo National Park

12-Day Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi

Some of our Gorilla and wildlife Safaris

1 Day Jinja Ultimate tour Experience

1 Day White Water Rafting in Jinja

3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Habituation via Rwanda

3 Day Birding Safaris and Photography in Uganda

3 Day Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park

3 Day fly in Gorilla Trekking Safari from Masai Mara

3 Day Grand Gorilla Trekking Safari

3 Day Grate Lake Mburo Safari

4 Day Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Safari

4 Day Murchison Falls and Jinja tour

5 Days Uganda Primate Tour

9 Days Uganda Safari

Included/Exclude

  • Park fees(For non-residents)
  • All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
  • All flights during the tour
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinks(As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • International flights(From/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Tour Amenities

Accepts Credit Cards
Car Parking
Free Coupons
Laundry Service
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Restaurant
Smoking Allowed
Wireless Internet

Tour Plan

Related Tours

Review Scores

No reviews yet

More Adventure

error: Content is protected !!