ETHIOPIA - BIRDING THE ROOF OF AFRICA

Ethiopia’s geographical position, where Africa meets Arabia, means that an already rich avifauna is augmented by a wide variety of wintering birds from the western Palearctic and other points further north. This is ‘the roof of Africa’ and this corner of the continent has an amazing diversity of habitats from the highland plateau and Afro-alpine zone of the Bale Mountains, down to mid-elevation woodland, and the more expected and familiar savanna with its numerous lakes set in the Great Rift Valley. Amidst all of this an outstanding variety of birds can be found and they are extremely numerous, approachable and offer outstanding photographic opportunities in this beautiful country. In fact over 850 species have been recorded here, and with 30 or so endemics and other species extremely restricted in range to this corner of Africa we are sure of an extremely bird-filled holiday. We will travel to Debre Libanos, Debre Birhan and Jemma Valley north of Addis Ababa in search of such highly-prized endemics as Harwoods Francolin, White-winged Cliff Chat, Red-billed Pytilia, Ankober Serin and Yellow-throated Seedeater before dropping down through the Rift Valley to Awash National Park. It is here we hope to find the impressive Arabian Bustard amongst a vast range of other possibilities and highlights from our previous visits here include Hartlaub's Bustard, Star-spotted Nightjar, Yellow-breasted Barbet and others. And then we drop into the Rift Valley and its numerous lakes thronging with pelicans, herons, egrets, ducks & waders, and African Spotted Creeper. From here the dramatic Bale Mountains and Sanetti Plateau will see us looking for Wattled Crane, Rouget’s Rail, Spot-breasted Plovers, and the rare Simien Wolf amongst a rather unique landscape. Further south, we visit areas close to the Kenyan border for Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco, Sidamo Lark, Stresemann’s Bushcrow and White-tailed Swallow. We also visit the fabulous Bishangari Lodge along the shores of Lake Langano for the endemic Yellow-fronted Parrot, before finishing at Gibe Gorge where Red-billed Pytlilia resides. And we'll visit everywhere in between these sites during our comprehensive tour to this fascinating country that will provide you with one of the greatest African birding adventures!