Overview
This 6-day journey combines Bale Mountains National Park with the Rift Valley lakes and southern Ethiopia’s green landscapes. Highlights include Addis Ababa sightseeing, endemic wildlife around Dinsho, the Sanetti Plateau, Harenna Forest, hot springs at Wendo Genet, Lake Awassa’s fish market, hippo spotting, Lake Langano, and Lake Ziway. The tour is ideal for travelers interested in wildlife, birding, scenic drives, and varied Ethiopian landscapes.
Tour Highlights
- Addis Ababa sightseeing
- Visit Bale Mountains National Park
- Look for mountain nyala and Menelik’s bushbuck
- Explore the Sanetti Plateau
- Chance to spot the Ethiopian wolf
- Visit Harenna Forest
- Relax at Wendo Genet hot springs
- Visit Lake Awassa fish market
- Boat trip for hippo spotting
- Relax by Lake Langano
- Visit Lake Ziway and Rift Valley birdlife
Day 1: Arrival and Addis Ababa Sightseeing
Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to your accommodation. Begin sightseeing with Mount Entoto for panoramic views, then visit the National Museum to see the famous fossil “Lucy.” Continue to Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Ethnographic Museum, and Merkato, one of East Africa’s largest markets.
Day 2: Addis Ababa to Goba via Dinsho
After breakfast, depart for Bale Mountains National Park. Stop at Dinsho, the park headquarters, where you may see mountain nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck, and highland birdlife. Continue to Goba for the overnight area.
Day 3: Sanetti Plateau and Harenna Forest
Take a full-day excursion to the Sanetti Plateau, one of Africa’s highest plateau landscapes and an important habitat for the Ethiopian wolf. Continue to Harenna Forest, one of Ethiopia’s largest forests, known for biodiversity, birdlife, and cool mountain atmosphere. Return to Goba after the excursion.
Day 4: Goba to Wendo Genet and Yirgalem
Leave Goba and drive toward Wendo Genet, where natural hot springs and birdlife make a relaxing stop. After lunch, continue toward Yirgalem through green countryside, coffee-growing areas, fruit farms, and Sidama cultural landscapes.
Day 5: Yirgalem to Awassa and Lake Langano
Drive to Awassa and visit the lively fish market on Lake Awassa. Take a boat trip to look for hippos and enjoy lakeside birdlife. Continue to Lake Langano, known for its relaxed atmosphere and opportunities for lakeside rest and water activities.
Day 6: Lake Langano to Addis Ababa via Lake Ziway
After breakfast, drive back to Addis Ababa. En route, visit Lake Ziway, one of the upper Rift Valley lakes and an important bird habitat. Continue sightseeing along the way. In the evening, enjoy an optional cultural dinner with traditional food, music, dance, and coffee ceremony before departure.
