OVERVIEW

Sightseeing and excursions to the splendid lush and green sites around the central Ethiopia are dominated by exotic natural beauty. The Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes region is Africa’s natural marvels; a land of many alkaline lakes with the abundance of stunning bird life and sheer greenery with magnificent mountain ranges loomed on the horizon, while the northern central Ethiopia offers you stunning gorges carved their way deep into the earth forming dazzling escarpments, along with the near by grassy plateau and mountain picks some of which with spectacular view down to the Rift Valley.

Just 225 kilometres east of Addis Ababa, Awash National Park is Ethiopia’s oldest park rich in wildlife and birdlife. The Tiya Stelae, 88 km south of Addis, have been declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The near by Palaeolithic site in Ethiopia Melka Kunture consists of stunning exhibits on prehistoric Africa, geology and volcano logy and on pale anthropology. The state forest of Menagesha and Crater Lake Wenchi are scenic natural marvels for a day out escape from Addis Ababa.

ITINERARY
Scenic Sites/Central Ethiopia
Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Destinations:

Addis Ababa - Sululta plain/ Jemma River Gorge/ Debre Libanos Monastery-  Koka Dam,  Awash River/Lake Ziway –  Hawassa - Wendo Genet  – Langano -  Shalla and Abiata National Park -  Awash National Park/ Filwoha hot springs - Addis Ababa

Day 1: Arrival to Addis Ababa. Hotel - Debre Zeit

Day 2. Drive north of Addis, crossing the Sululta plain and stopping at the Jemma River Gorge for birding and taking a picnic lunch. After lunch, proceed to Debre Libanos, and important monastic and religious center for more than 700 years. Many endemic birds can be seen here and also an endemic mammal, the Gelada or bleeding heart baboon. Drive back to Addis. Hotel

Day 3. Drive southwards through - acacia woodland of the middle Rift system, stopping off at Koka Dam, Awash and Lake Ziway. Take lunch at Ziway and proceed to Hawassa. Hotel

Day 4. After breakfast, do some birding along the shores of Lake Hawassa and at the Crow Valley, and proceed to the mountain and spa resort of Wendo Genet. After lunch, have a jungle walk in the surrounding dense forest, which is a heaven for numerous colorful birds including the endemic yellow fronted parrot. Wendo Genet resort hotel

Day 5. After breakfast, drive to Langano. Rest of the day at leisure on the beach. Langano resort hotel

Day 6. Early morning, swimming or sunbathing at the shoreline and then drive to Shalla and Abiata National Park to see greater and lesser flamingo, greater white pelican and other bird species. Take a picnic lunch and proceed to Awash National Park. Awash River falls lodge

Day 7. Full day game viewing and birding in the park. Of the 445 recorded species of birds in the park, five are endemic. Camping
Day 8. After breakfast, more game viewing and birding in and around the park as well as at Filwoha hot springs. Drive back to Addis, stopping at Debre Zeit for having lunch and taking in the abundant bird life and scenery that surrounds this Crater Lake district. Hotel

Day 9. Full day enjoy Highlights tour of Addis Ababa city. In the evening, be our guest for a farewell dinner with traditional music and dance. After the cultural night, transfer to the airport for departure.

Click here to read more about the attractions in central Ethiopia.