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Wildlife Locations

8 recommended locations. Please contact us for further suggestions.

Awash National Park

Located in the Rift Valley, Awash National Park is arguably the country’s best wildlife reserve. Consisting of dry acacia scrub and supporting small numbers of larger mammals that have been hunted out elsewhere, it is the stunning scenery and plentiful birdlife which are the big attraction for wildlife enthusiasts. Find Out More

  • Where: Southern Afar Region
  • Ideal for viewing: beisa oryx, Hamadryas baboon, ostrich, Salt’s dik-dik, Soemmering’s gazelle
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching , Vehicle safaris

Awassa

The trees down Awassa’s main street are used by hundreds of marabou storks, while in the lake’s reedy shallows many species – from black crakes and African pygmy geese to hippos – are readily seen. Guereza colobus are common in old acacia trees, and the African spotted creeper may also be found. Find Out More

  • Where: Great Rift Valley
  • Ideal for viewing: black and white colobus monkey, malachite kingfisher, African fish eagle, hippo, great white pelican
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching ,

Bale Mountains National Park

The Bale Mountains form a high altitude plateau, broken by spectacular volcanic peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and mountain streams descending through deep rocky gorges into the lowlands. The area is home to an incredibly high number of endemics, including the world’s rarest canid, the Ethiopian wolf. Find Out More

  • Where: Oromia Region
  • Ideal for viewing: Ethiopian wolf, giant mole-rat, Menelik’s bushbuck, mountain nyala, Rougets’s rail
  • Excellent for: Wolf watching , Vehicle safaris

Lake Langano, Lake Abijatta & Lake Shalla

The freshwaters of Lake Langano are naturally red in colour and the area is rich with wildlife, including ibex, monkeys and baboons. Lake Abijatta and Lake Shalla are very different, but equally as rewarding in terms of wildlife; the birdlife is particularly excellent, and the islands are home to several breeding sites. Find Out More

  • Where: Oromia Region
  • Ideal for viewing: greater flamingo, lesser flamingo, lesser kestrel, pallid harrier, white-backed pelican
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching ,

Simien Mountains

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Simien Mountains are a place of dramatic scenery. Their rugged landscape was formed over a 3,000 year erosion period of basalt lava, and despite their altitude they sustain a fascinating range of mammals and birdlife, alongside isolated nomadic and rural communities. Find Out More

  • Where: Amhara Region
  • Ideal for viewing: caracal, Ethiopian wolf, gelada baboon, lammergeier, walia ibex
  • Excellent for: Vehicle safaris

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa enjoys a pleasant climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25°C. Addis (as it is generally known) has wide avenues of jacaranda trees, excellent museums of history, prehistory and culture, and the Mercato, one of the largest open-air markets on the continent. Find Out More

  • Where: Entoto Mountains
  • Excellent for: City stopover, History & culture, Wildlife

Gondar

Once the capital of Ethiopia, Gondar is one of the country’s richest historical and cultural areas. The city’s architecture is both Islamic and Christian influenced, especially the Castles of Gondar and palaces of the Royal Enclosure, which were built over 236 years by various rulers. Find Out More

  • Where: Gondar Province
  • Excellent for: History & culture

Lalibela

Considered by many to be one of the unofficial wonders of the world, Lalibela is one of the holiest sites in Ethiopia and renowned for its 13th century rock hewn churches. Many of the city’s buildings are decorated with well-preserved paintings, creating a unique architectural style. Find Out More

  • Where: Amhara Region
  • Excellent for: History & culture

View trips to these locations

Wildlife trips

Ethiopia combines spectacular scenery and history, with outstanding wildlife. The breathtaking Simien Mountains provide refuge to huge troops of gelada baboons, whilst the Bale Mountains are a stronghold for the rare Ethiopian wolf. With over 900 species of bird, including many endemics, Ethiopia also offers some of the finest birdwatching in Africa.

4 recommended trips. Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.

Ethiopian Wildlife Extravaganza

This wonderful introduction to Ethiopia takes you to each of the country’s major cultural highlights and provides you with the chance to see superb wildlife, such as gelada baboon, Menelik’s bushbuck, mountain nyala and one of the world’s rarest mammals - the Ethiopian wolf - all in stunning scenery. Find out more about Ethiopian Wildlife Extravaganza

  • Price (inc. flights): 12 days from £4,395
  • Trip type:
    Tailor-made Holiday
  • When to go:
    • J
    • F
    • M
    • A
    • M
    • J
    • J
    • S
    • O
    • N
    • D

Wolves & Baboons of Ethiopia’s Highlands

Ethiopia offers a wonderful array of unique wildlife species. This suggested itinerary begins in the picturesque Simien Mountains where you can enjoy huge herds of charismatic gelada baboons and walia ibex, before travelling to the spectacular Bale Mountains, in search of the endangered Ethiopian wolf. Find out more about Wolves & Baboons of Ethiopia’s Highlands

  • Price (inc. flights): 12 days from £3,595
  • Trip type:
    Tailor-made Holiday
  • When to go:
    • J
    • F
    • M
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Ethiopian Endemic Wildlife

Ethiopia boasts a wide diversity of birds, mammals, landscapes and plants which is hardly matched in Africa. The birdlife is a mixture of East and West African and Palearctic elements, with over 800 species recorded, including 37 endemics and this trip explores its key wildlife sites. Find out more about Ethiopian Endemic Wildlife

  • Price (inc. flights): 17 days from £6,250
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
  • When to go:
    • J
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Ethiopia: A Unique Wonder

Join award-winning environmental photojournalist and conservationist Ben Cherry on a trip through three unique locations in Ethiopia: the Simien Mountains, Lalibela and Bale Mountain National Park, and discover an entirely different take on African wildlife photography. Find out more about Ethiopia: A Unique Wonder

  • Price (inc. flights): 15 days from £6,795
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
    Tailor-made can be arranged
  • When to go:
    • J
    • F
    • M
    • O
    • N
    • D

When to go

Best visited during the dry season, October to March. April’s short rains are rarely enough to spoil a trip. May is very humid and avoid the main rains between June and September.

Seasons

  • Long dry season

    Sep to Feb: Winter months are colder in the highlands, but the general climate is drier
  • Short rains

    Mar to Apr: Much of Ethiopia experiences heavy rainfall, but travel remains possible to most locations
  • Short dry season

    May to May: May is the hottest month
  • Long rains

    Jun to Aug: Rainfall is at its heaviest and thunderstorms often occur

Wildlife events

  • Sep to Oct: Best time to visit as country is green and wild flowers are in bloom
  • Nov to Mar: Resident bird species are supplemented by Palearctic migrants