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Ethiopia Birdwatching Tour
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Ethiopia Birdwatching Tour
When: Sat 6 Nov - Sat 27 Nov 2010
Leader: Chris Doughty |
Ethiopia Birdwatching Tour
Melbourne/Melbourne (22 days) $8,605
Single Room Supplement $690
Ground Content (ex Addis Ababa) $6,194 |
| Millions of years ago eastern Africa was subjected to immense and violent volcanic activity that tore apart the earth's crust; the resulting slash on the surface of the planet, thousands of kilometres long, became the Great Rift Valley. It is by far the most dominant geographical feature in this corner of Africa, cutting through Ethiopia from north to south. The highland plateaus that formed on either side of the Rift are Africa's largest areas of alpine habitat and encompasses some of the most stunning scenery in Africa. Isolated for thousands of years, Ethiopia's remote mountains are home to a large variety of creatures, seemingly forgotten by time. Mammals such as the bizarre Giant Mole Rat and the secretive Ethiopian Wolf inhabit this stark and beautiful landscape. The birdlife is spectacularly abundant, and at this time of year large numbers of Palearctic migrants enrich an already impressive avifauna, with the result that over 840 species of birds have been recorded from the country. Of these, 37 species can be found nowhere else on earth and we have a chance of finding all of them on this unique and carefully planned tour to the 'Roof of Africa.' Ethiopia sits on a cultural and historical crossroads; Ethiopians have a record of their rulers that stretches back 5000 years; the Queen of Sheba's son, Menelik 1, is regarded as the first emperor of Ethiopia, his dynasty ended with Haile Selassie, who ruled from 1930 until 1974. This ancient land is an exciting mix of race and religion, a land of countless tribes and still more languages, all blended together by time and history. Our Ethiopia Birdwatching Tour starts with some initial birding around Addis Ababa then we travel through the rolling grasslands of the high plateau and on to the Jemma Valley, a vast panorama of arid gorges and rugged mountain ranges. Moving on we visit the small town of Ankober, perched on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley, overlooking the Danakil Desert far below, here we search for the extremely localised Ankober Serin. Descending to the floor of the Great Rift Valley we visit the bird-rich Awash National Park and lakes Zwai, Abiato and Langano, which are home to huge numbers of wetland birds. We then climb up into the southeastern highlands to the extraordinary Bale Mountains National Park where we will marvel at the stark beauty of these wild uplands as we search for Spot-breasted Plover, Rouget's Rail and the mysterious Abyssinian Catbird. Next we visit Sof Omar, searching for Salvadori's Serin, before visiting the remote southern towns of Negelle and Yabello in our quest for some of Africa's least known species of birds, such as Prince Ruspoli's Turaco, Sidamo Lark, the incredible Stresemann's Bushcrow and the beautiful White-tailed Swallow. Turning back north we visit the remnant forest at Wondo Genet, before returning to Addis Ababa. |
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