Quick Summary
12-Days Ultimate Ethiopia Wildlife Safari is a 12 days tour in Ethiopia via the Ethiopia route, starting from USD 4400. Below you'll find the latest itinerary, inclusions & exclusions, and how to book.
12 days
Ethiopia
USD 4400
Kitano Tours & Safaris
ABOUT 12-Days Ultimate Ethiopia Wildlife Safari
This specially designed itinerary is perfect for nature enthusiasts, animal lovers, and culture seekers. Ethiopia is home to a wide variety of indigenous flora and fauna, including a rich array of bird species. The Great Rift Valley region boasts numerous lakes that are teeming with avian life, while wild animals can be found throughout the parks and reserves. Simien Mountains National Park is one of the highlights of this itinerary, famed for its dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife.
- Duration: 12 days
- Route: Ethiopia
- Starts at: USD 4400
Highlights for 12-Days Ultimate Ethiopia Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Fly to Gondor and drive to Debark
Day 2: Simien Mountain National Park
Day 3: Imet Gogo
Day 4: Moutain Buahit and Limalimo Lodge
Day 5: Fly back to Addis Abbaba
Day 6: Drive to Bale Mounatains National Park
Day 7: Bale Mounatains
Day 8: The great Rift Valley
Day 9: Lake Langano and sorounding Area
Day 10: Drive to Awash National Park
Day 11: Awash National Park
Day 12: Drive Back to Addis ababa
Itinerary Overview
| Day | Title |
|---|---|
| Day 01 | Fly to Gondor and drive to Debark |
| Day 02 | Simien Mountain National Park |
| Day 03 | Imet Gogo |
| Day 04 | Moutain Buahit and Limalimo Lodge |
| Day 05 | Fly back to Addis Abbaba |
| Day 06 | Drive to Bale Mounatains National Park |
| Day 07 | Bale Mounatains |
| Day 08 | The great Rift Valley |
| Day 09 | Lake Langano and sorounding Area |
| Day 10 | Drive to Awash National Park |
| Day 11 | Awash National Park |
| Day 12 | Drive Back to Addis ababa |
Day 01: Fly to Gondor and drive to Debark
>> Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, catch a connecting domestic flight to Gondar where your guide will meet you at the airport.
Upon Arrival at Gondar, you will have a Short Sightseeing Of the Historical Part Of the city; Fasil Ghebbi, Debre Birhan
Selassie Church, Mentewab Empress Castle And a Drive to The Simien Mountains National Park. (138km Rough But Good
Road). On The Way Near The Town Of Gondar; Short Visit Of Woleka – A Place Of The Felasha Or The Black Jewish People
For Their Synagogue And Black Pottery Shop. Jews Have Amazing Histories In Ethiopia Even Before The Time Of Gonderine Civilization (17-19century). Thenn Continue Driving To Debark (101km Fromar) overnight. At Debark; We will Collect Entrance Tickets And A Scout For The Park.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: Budget hotel located in Debark (Town) Meals & Drinks: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Ras Dejen Hotel Budget hotel located in Debark (Town)
Day 02: Simien Mountain National Park
>> The first day of proper hiking starts with breakfast before you head out to the trail along the ridge. There’s a wonderful vantage point offering incredible views over the foothills ~800 meters below. The mountains are known worldwide for their biodiversity and your guide will point out all point out flora and fauna of note. Along the trail, Gelada Monkeys, Klipspringer, and Walia Ibex make regular appearances and birds soar on the thermals beneath you as you look out over the views. The
highlight of today’s trek is Genbar Falls, a waterfall over a sobering 500m sheer drop. The falls plummet into the Geech Abyss - a vast canyon cut into the main wall of the escarpment. After a break for lunch, you’ll carry ontowards Geech, a remote traditionalvillage with thatched roofs.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Simien Mountains NP
Day 03: Imet Gogo
>> Today you’ll head to Imet Gogo, a headland at the edge of the ridge that stands close to 4000 metres altitude with unbelievable 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. From here, you can witness stunning 360-degree views of the mountains surrounding the region. You can see the westward direction, where Sankaber and Geech are located. While trekking, you'll trail through Giant Erica woodlands before finally emerging on the moorland top at Inatye, which is the second highest peak located in the western section of the park. After enjoying the stunning vistas from the top, you'll have to drop down to Chenek camp through a path that provides some of the most impressive views of the lowlands beneath. Chenek camp is the best spot to witness the beauty of Ethiopian Wolves and Walia Ibex, and it will be your overnight stay. Make sure you don't miss the chance to enjoy the stunning views and take in the region's natural beauty.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinks not included
- Accommodation: Budget camping
Day 04: Moutain Buahit and Limalimo Lodge
>> Mount Buahit is Ethiopia’s third highest peak, standing at an impressive 4430 metre. Your route
to Mount Buahit follows footpaths off the road alongside a stream that trickles down the hill. This is quite a steep walk, but you can take regular breaks at great viewpoints en route. This is your best chance to see Walia Ibex.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 05: Fly back to Addis Abbaba
>> Spend the morning relaxing around the lodge and soaking up the last of the incredible views. After an early lunch, transfer to Gondar airport to catch a flight back to Addis.
This day will will be your relaxing day and admiring the place preparing for the next adventure.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Magnolia Hotel Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)
Day 06: Drive to Bale Mounatains National Park
>> After breakfast, we continue our journey through Shashamane to Dinsho, where the Bale Mountains National Park headquarters are located (approx. 5 hours). In the afternoon we undertake a gentle, very interesting walk around
the headquarters in Dinsho and almost certainly encounter animals such as warthogs, the endemic Menelik bushbuck or the Mountain Nyala as well as a variety of birds.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Goba Wabe Shebelle Hotel Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP
Day 07: Bale Mounatains
>> Today it will take us approx. 5-6 hrs to explore the Senetti Plateau, usually the best place to see the Ethiopian wolf.
Afternoon drive further down to Harenna Forest for birding includes the Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker,
White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Yellow-crowned Canary, Somali Chestnut Winged Starling, Olive Pigeon and Mountain Buzzard.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Goba Wabe Shebelle Hotel Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Bale Mountains NP
Day 08: The great Rift Valley
>> Morning, start driving to Lake Langano, where we will spend the night. We will bird this and other lakes, among them
beautiful Lake Ziway, and wetland sites of the Great Rift Valley, looking for Black Crowned Crane, Collared Pratincole, African Snipe and several other shorebird species, various Tern species including Gull-billed, Lesser and African Jacanas, Fulvous
Whistling-Duck, African Pygmy Goose, Western Marsh Harrier, and many others. Other highlights today might be Greater Spotted Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Clapperton’s Francolin, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Buff-bellied Warbler, Northern Black Flycatcher, Blackstar, Black-headed and Pygmy Batises, the striking Masked Shrike, Green-winged Pytilia, and Red-fronted Warbler, as well as many others.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Sabana Beach Resort Mid-range resort located at Lake Langano
Day 09: Lake Langano and sorounding Area
>> Morning, start driving to Lake Langano, where we will spend the night. We will bird this and other lakes, among them
beautiful Lake Ziway, and wetland sites of the Great Rift Valley, looking for Black Crowned Crane, Collared Pratincole, African Snipe and several other shorebird species, various Tern species including Gull-billed, Lesser and African Jacanas, Fulvous
Whistling-Duck, African Pygmy Goose, Western Marsh Harrier, and many others. Other highlights today might be Greater Spotted Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Clapperton’s Francolin, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Buff-bellied Warbler, Northern Black Flycatcher, Blackstar, Black-headed and Pygmy Batises, the striking Masked Shrike, Green-winged Pytilia, and Red-fronted Warbler, as well as many others.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Sabana Beach Resort Mid-range resort located at Lake Langano
Day 10: Drive to Awash National Park
>> After breakfast, drive to Awash National Park. Lunch in Nazareth and We pass Lake Beseka and enter the
Awash National Park for a game view. The dramatic Awash Falls, as the river tumbles into its gorge, is a sight not to be missed in the national park. Awash National Park, surrounding the dormant volcano of Fentale, is areserve of arid and semi-arid woodland and savannah, with riverine forests along the Awash River. Forty six
species of animals have been identified here, including Beisa Oryx and Swayne’s hartebeest. The bird life is prolific especially along the river and in the nearby Lake Beseka and there are fine endemics amongst the 392 species of recorded birds. A
special attraction is the beautiful clear pools of the Filwoha hot springs. You will proceed to the beautiful Doho lodge to spend the night.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 11: Awash National Park
>> Awash is one of Ethiopia’s premier national parks, which has a rich diversity of birds aswell as mammals such as the Golden Jackal, Caracal but rare chance, hyena cave for spotted hyena, Beisa Oryx, and Soemmerring's Gazelle. We’ll look for
African Swallow-tailed Kite, a host of Bustards including Arabian, Buff-crested, Hartlaub’s Black-bellied, and White-bellied,
Bruce’s Green Pigeon, and tons more. During our time here we also hope to find Somali Ostrich, African Collared Dove, SingingBush Lark, Gillett’s Lark, Chestnut-backed and Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Larks, Boran and Ashy Cisticolas, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Pale and African Grey Flycatchers, Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, four of Africa’s most lovely Sunbirds, namely Eastern Violet-backed, Nile Valley, Beautiful, and Shining, Southern Grey Shrike, Somali Fiscal, Woodchat Shrike,
Northern Masked Weaver, Cut-throat Finch, and many others.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 12: Drive Back to Addis ababa
>> In the morning, free outdoor private or Group hot spring bath with a spectacular view of the
surrounding palm trees. Breakfast in Lodge and drive back to Addis Ababa.
- Time: 8-10Hrs
- Meals: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Inclusions
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- Camping equipment
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Sleeping bag
- Bath towels
Exclusions
- 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