04 Dec 2024 - 20 Dec 2024 (17 days)
USD6,995 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Robert Williams
Tour price (Per person): USD6,995 * GBP5,326 * EUR6,307 * AUD10,487
Single Supplement: USD390 * GBP297 * EUR352 * AUD585
Can be linked with: Ethiopia - Lalibela Extension II 2024
02 Dec 2025 - 18 Dec 2025 (17 days)
USD7,695 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Quinton Paul Josop
Tour price (Per person): USD7,695 * GBP5,859 * EUR6,939 * AUD11,537
Single Supplement: USD470 * GBP358 * EUR424 * AUD705
Can be linked with: Ethiopia - Lalibela Extension II 2025
29 Nov 2026 - 15 Dec 2026 (17 days)
USD8,200 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD8,200 * GBP6,243 * EUR7,394 * AUD12,294
Can be linked with: Ethiopia - Lalibela Extension II 2026
Our 17-day Ethiopia birding tour comprehensively covers this unique country and every single endemic bird is targeted (Ethiopia has the second highest count of endemics on the continent). Up to five hundred species of birds and many rare mammals can be expected and the ease of the birding is quite remarkable. Ethiopia is also one of Africa’s most rewarding photographic destinations.
In central Ethiopia we explore massive Rift Valley lakes teeming with birds, moss-draped montane forests supporting a wide selection of endemics, the high Bale Mountains home to the critically endangered Ethiopian Wolf, the impressive Jemma Valley and Awash National Park, a Mecca for game and bird watching in Ethiopia (home to an incredible six species of bustard!). Key Ethiopian bird species we will seek include Spot-breasted Lapwing, Blue-winged Goose, Rouget’s Rail, Wattled Ibis, Ankober Serin, Yellow-fronted Parrot, White-backed Black Tit and Abyssinian Woodpecker.
Ruspoli's & White-cheeked Turacos; Stresemann's Bush Crow; Spot-breasted Lapwing; Blue-winged Goose; Rouget’s Rail; Wattled Ibis; Ankober Serin; Yellow-throated, Yellow-rumped, Brown-rumped & Salvadori's Seedeaters; Ethiopian Siskin; Yellow-fronted Parrot; Black-winged Lovebird; Erkel's, Clapperton's, Chestnut-fronted & Harwood's Spurfowls; White-backed Black Tit; Abyssinian Woodpecker; Donaldson-Smith's & Star-spotted Nightjars; White-tailed Swallow; Gillett's, Blanford's & Somali Short-toed Larks; White-winged Collared Dove; White-collared Pigeon; Nile Valley & Black-bellied Sunbirds; Arabian & Hartlaub's Bustards; Golden-breasted, White-crowned & White-billed Starlings; Red-naped Bushshrike; Black-billed Wood Hoopoe; Banded Barbet; Abyssinian Woodpecker; Ethiopian Oriole; Somali Crow; Thick-billed Raven; Somali & Dodson's Bulbuls; Somali Crombec; Boran & Ethiopian Cisticolas; White-rumped Babbler; Abyssinian Catbird; Montane White-eye; Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher; Rüppell's Robin-Chat; White-winged Cliff Chat; Moorland Chat; Rüppell's Black Chat; Sombre Rock Chat; Swainson's Sparrow; Red-billed Pytilia; Abyssinian Waxbill; Abyssinian Longclaw.
Ethiopian & Golden Wolves; Gelada, Olive & Hamadryas Baboons; Grivet & Bale Monkeys; Guereza; Mountain Nyala; Giant Mole Rat; Serval; Guenther's & Salt's Dikdik; Gerenuk; Lesser Kudu; Beisa Oryx; Soemmering's & Grant's Gazelles; Abyssinian Hare; Gambian Sun Squirrel; Unstriped Ground Squirrel; Somali Dwarf Mongoose; Spotted Hyaena; Common Hippopotamus.
montane forest, Afro-alpine moorland, Acacia savanna, Rift Valley lakes, semi-desert
temperate in highlands, hot and dry in lowlands
6 with 1 Rockjumper leader
moderate pace, mostly undemanding walks
comfortable to basic hotels
not challenging
475-500
spectacular montane scenery, interesting ancient farming methods
excellent
Stephen Lorenz, our tour leader, was exemplary especially in the face of some tour problems. At least two sites we could not access because of civil unrest. Stephen worked tirelessly with the local guides to find safe locations where we could still see endemics. He also handled some issues with one of the tour group who could be rather difficult. Stephen did an outstanding job making sure everyone felt at ease and included. He is also a fantastic birder!
Julian was a wonderful leader, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and attentive to our needs. The local guide, was also excellent and worked particularly hard when we had to change accommodation at short notice. The cultural guide was very knowledgeable and shared both his knowledge and his experience of Orthodox Christianity with us in a very helpful manner. We saw a lot of birds and a good variety of mammals. In addition the food was very interesting and the coffee outstanding.
Just a few comments on the recent Ethiopia Summer Highland Endemics tour guided by David Hodinott. First, I want to commend David on his skills as a leader and guide. His logistic and organizational skills are first-class and his knowledge of the bird life in Ethiopia matchless. His interpersonal skills with the group kept people on time, focused and successful in getting good looks at most species and great looks at many. That was his challenging task and he accomplished it with passion and patience, two qualities that are often difficult to combine.
"As expected, the accommodations and infrastructure in Ethiopia had their challenges. We find that as we are aging these challenges become more difficult. So our plan for the future is to do trips with higher end lodges, good sanitation and well paved roads. This is no reflection on Rockjumpers just the reality of our now being in our 70's. Time to do some easier trips! Our leader, David Hoddinott, was outstanding. His enthusiasm for the birds of Ethiopia was contagious, his knowledge incredible and his ability to handle all the logistics shows that he is a seasoned leader. Thank you to the entire team at Rockjumpers for another incredible trip. "
Greg de Klerk did a very good job managing the tour, was personable and was highly effective at bird spotting & identification.
Ethiopia - Lalibela Extension I 2024 - January 2024
Ethiopia - Endemic Birding I 2024 - January 2024
Ethiopia - Endemic Birding II 2023 - November 2023
Ethiopia - Summer Endemics 2023 - June 2023
Ethiopia - Endemic Birding (Small Group) 2023 - February 2023
Ethiopia - Brewer 2023 - January 2023
Ethiopia - Endemic Birding III 2022 - November 2022
Ethiopia - Endemic Birding (Small Group) 2022 - February 2022
Ethiopia - Budget Birding 2019 - November 2019
Ethiopia - Endemics Birding II 2019 - November 2019
Ethiopia - Summer Endemics 2019 - May 2019
Ethiopia - Endemics Birding I 2019 - January 2019
Ethiopia - Budget Birding 2018 - November 2018
Ethiopia - Mega Birding 2018 - January 2018
Ethiopia - Endemics Birding I 2018 - January 2018
Ethiopia - Endemics Birding III 2017 - November 2017
Ethiopia - Glendinning & Welman 2017 - February 2017
Ethiopia - Endemics Birding II 2017 - January 2017