Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be welcomed driven to your hotel.
Your day will start by having a tour of Haile Selassie’s former palace which is now the home of the Ethnological Museum. Next is a visit to the National Museum, known to be the best museum in Africa, where cultural and archaeological relics, including a plaster cast of "Lucy," the 3.2 million-year-old Hominid, are displayed. There is a visit to Trinity Cathedral Church.
Overnight stay at your hotel.
Today you will fly to Awassa. Upon arrival you shall drive to bale mountains via the Bale mountains park HQ Dinsho, stopping several times in route for highland specialities such as White-collared Pigeon, Botta’s Wheatear, Erlanger’s Lark, Black winged and Spot-breasted Lapwings, Abyssinian Long-claw, Black-headed Siskin and at Dinsho you will have the opportunity to see Abyssinan Catbird, Brown Woodland Warbler, White backed Tit and Rufous-Chested Sparrowhawk along with two endemic mammals; mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck.
Overnight stay at Bale Mountains Lodge
Another day is spent walking in the mystical Harenna forest in search of wildlife, with plenty of great birding opportunities. Then you head to Welman River Falls and cave, a birding paradise.
We drive to the spectacular Harenna Escarpment where we will have our picnic lunch and enjoy some remarkable views. If the weather is dry and the road conditions favorable, we might even try to descend a part of the escarpment to look at the fabulous forests it supports. This outstanding feature, on the southern side of the national park, presents a fascinating environment Blue-winged Geese Giant Lobelias - Bale Mountains and, provided that the weather is clear, some quite amazing scenery. Lions, Hunting Dogs, Red Duiker and Giant
Overnight stay at Bale Mountains Lodge. (B, L, D
After an early breakfast we shall drive to Sanetti Plateau where you may spot several endemic flora and fauna species including the illusive Ethiopian Wolf (Simien Fox) and indigenous plants like the giant Lobelia and giant heath.
You will also visit Mount Tullo Deemtu, the second highest mountain in the country with an altitude of 4377 meters and journey to the Harena forest before returning to the lodge for the night.
Overnight stay at Bale Mountains Lodge. (B, L, D)
In the morning you will drive to Langano which is a popular resort area.
Visit the Abiata-Shalla National Park, famous for flocks of flamingos and great white pelicans. Though the park has been intruded upon by settlers with their domestic animals and plantations, it is still worth a visit. Abiata is a shallow brackish lake home to colonies of flamingos. Lake Shalla is a crater lake has a depth of about 820 feet and is surrounded by sculpture.
Overnight at Sabanna Resort. (B, L, D)
After a relaxing morning near the resort area, you will drive back to Addis Ababa. If you have time before your departure, you will visit the markets and do some shopping.
Your tour concludes by being dropped to Bole International Airport by a Jacaranda staff to catch your flight home. (B)
