Ethiopia’s Unique Wildlife

Ethiopia is a land of surprises; it fuses sightings of the endemic rust-coloured Ethiopian wolves stalking giant mole rats across a lonely, misty mountain top with watching families of elephant nuzzling amongst montane forests.

It’s one of the most fascinating countries in Africa, with spectacular wildlife that’s matched by dramatic scenery and cultures that have carried across centuries.

If you’re fortunate enough to have already experienced the joys of more classic safaris in better known destinations across southern and eastern Africa, then Ethiopia needs to be next on your list.

The country is rich in wildlife, from spectacular and endemic mammals to exceptional birdlife. Despite such unique natural history, Ethiopia receives far fewer visitors than it deserves. The tourism infrastructure has until recently been limited, and the insecurity that still affects some parts of the region has also impacted visitor numbers. Yet Ethiopia has so much to offer, and with much of the country open, and new lodges available, now’s a great time to visit. Through sensitive ecotourism we also help support guides, rangers, communities and conservation efforts in remote areas with highly endangered species.

For our new Ethiopia’s Wildlife Highlights tour, we take you on a journey to some of Africa’s least-known national parks. With a visit to an escarpment, north of the capital, we start with sightings of the expressive gelada and mighty lammergeier against a backdrop of ancient hills.

We then journey to the newly-established Chebera-Churchura National Park, a beautiful landscape of riverine and montane forest interspersed with Savannah and home to over 400 elephants. There are herds of buffalo, warthog, waterbuck and bohor reedbuck wallowing in marshy clearings and secretive sounders of giant forest hog and bushpig snuffling at the sides of the tracks. The strikingly coloured De Brazza’s monkey and white-cheeked turaco are amongst the treasures found along the river valleys.

Moving on, we visit a more typical golden Savannah at Maze National Park, a remote grassy plain where we can expect to see the rare Swayne’s hartebeest, oribi and both greater and lesser kudu. Predators such as lion, cheetah and spotted hyena are always possible here too, alongside a fantastic diversity of birdlife.

Next, we head into the Great Rift Valley for a stay by the shores of Lake Awassa. This is a surprisingly rewarding area for wildlife with hippo, Nile crocodile, great white pelican and African fish eagle galore.

For our finale, we venture into Ethiopia’s must-see destination for wildlife, the Bale Mountains. For the variety of both wildlife and habitats, this national park is unmatched. Mountain nyala, bushbuck and serval roam the grasslands, while the eerie cloud forests of the Harenna escarpment are home to the localised Bale monkey and crowned eagle.

The highest all-weather road in Africa takes us through the majestic Sanetti Plateau, a landscape you wouldn’t imagine existed in Africa. This is the stronghold for the stunning Ethiopian wolf, one of our planet’s most beautiful and endangered canids. Despite this, it’s easily observed hunting its favoured prey, the bizarre giant mole rat, on the other worldly Afro-alpine moorlands.

Offering comfortable accommodation throughout and a perfect balance of contrasting wildlife experiences, this exciting new tour is an excellent option for those keen to experience some of Africa’s rarest wildlife.

If Ian has inspired you to discover the natural history of Ethiopia, find out more about our Ethiopia Wildlife Highlights group tour today! Contact us to book your place.