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.
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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.
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Where: Great Rift Valley
Ideal for viewing: black and white colobus monkey, malachite kingfisher, African fish eagle, hippo, great white pelican
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.
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A hidden gem, this national park in Ethiopia’s lush wild coffee growing district of Kafa is a superb, up-and-coming wildlife hotspot. Covering 1,250 square-kilometres of montane cloud forest and wooded grassland, this ecosystem is home to elephant, buffalo, hippo, waterbuck, bush pig and De-Brazza’s monkey.
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Where: Kafa district
Ideal for viewing: African elephant, Cape buffalo, hippo
This stunning gorge is home to one of Ethiopia’s most accessible populations of gelada baboons, as well as a fantastic array of birdlife. The site is most known for its monastery dating back to 1284, but the surrounding plateau is an excellent location to observe the social geladas and find rare birds.
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Where: Oromia Region
Ideal for viewing: gelada baboon, lammergeier, Verreaux’s eagle
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.
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Set within Ethiopia’s remote and wild Southern Nations district, Maze is one of the country’s best examples of savannah woodland. The park supports the highest density of the endangered Swayne’s hartebeest in Ethiopia, with over 800 individuals. It's also home to oribi, greater kudu, waterbuck and lion.
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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.
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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.
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Where: Entoto Mountains
Excellent for: City stopover, History & culture, Wildlife
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.
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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.
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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.
6 recommended trips.Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
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
This 15-day small group tour discovers the extraordinary country of Ethiopia, a destination with wildlife and landscapes unlike any other in Africa. With a focus on its endemic mammals and birds, this tour takes in wonderful and little known national parks in the south of the country.
Find out more about Ethiopia Wildlife Highlights
Photograph one of the world’s rarest and most enchanting mammals on this dedicated photo tour led by wildlife photographer Bret Charman. Explore the vast mountain plateaus of the Bale Mountains, and experience exceptional encounters with this stunning wolf, as well as an excellent variety of other wildlife.
Find out more about Ethiopian Wolf Photo Safari
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
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 Z) Ethiopia: A Unique Wonder
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 Z) Ethiopian Endemic Wildlife
Price
(inc. flights): 17 days from £6,250
Trip type:
Group Tour
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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
