Looking for info for planning a 11-day trip to Ethiopia (April 26)
A friend and I are planning a mammal watching 13-day trip to Ethiopia in April (2th till 13th). Originally we wanted to visit both the Senetti plateau looking for Ethiopian wolves and the Somali region, but we have nothing decided yet. We are more then happy to read you recommendations about how to organize the trip, where to go (and where not to) and which species will be able to spot.
Thanks,
Guillem
Post author
6 Comments
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Ian
My wife and I went to Ethiopia in 2019 so more stable times. We specifically wanted to see Ethiopian wolves and headed for the Bale mountains. We had excellent viewings of them on the plateau even when we were simply transiting and at close quarters although they were wary. We also saw Bale mountain monkeys and Colobus. We went up to the Simien mountains where the Gelada monkeys were very abundant. Sitting as they wandered around you in a large troupe was fantastic. We had sightings of Menelik’s bush buck and mountain jackal.
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Jon Hall
With a good local ground agent you should be able to organise a permit for binoculars. It’s quite ridiculous that you have to do this of course, but they know how to do it. Magic Lands, who organised my 2024 trip to the Somali Region and Sannetti are very highly recommended. Indeed if you want to get into the Somali Region I don’t know if anyone else could get you there. Details are here https://www.mammalwatching.com/community-post/looking-for-dibatags-in-ethiopias-somali-region-2024/
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benbalmford
We’re in Ethiopia ATM just at the end of our trip. We had a contact arrange binocular permits for us (email: Ben.balmford@gmail.com as I am currently checking they’re happy for details to be shared for them to do this again). This took a bit of doing, including a little money to ensure speedy (1mo) turnaround, but was ok and has worked at all airports and no problems at check points.
Our trip was almost exactly this length:
Flew to Robe
3n bale mountains (1n each of Gaysay/Sanetti plateau/Harenna)
1n Laganà/Abiata-Shalla
1n Allideghe park HQ
1n Doho Lodge
1n Addis for early flight next day (to Gondar)
3n Simiens
Importantly the simiens are currently safe. There is fighting further north in Tigray but not affecting Amhara region. Full list by site below.Bale mountains
(Gaysay)
Mountain Nyala
Serval
Bohor reedbuck
Common duiker
Warthog
Olive baboon(Sanetti plateau)
Mountain nyala
Rock hyrax
Ethiopian wolf
Starcks hare
Giant root rat
Blicks grass rat
Black-clawed brush-furred rat
Heller’s vlei rat
White tailed Ethiopian rat
Gray tailed Ethiopian rat
Common duiker(Harenna)
Menelik’s Bushbuck
Guereza colobus
Bale monkey
Olive baboon
Common warthog
Bush pig
Northern lesser galago
White tailed mongoose
Spotted hyena
Bush hyrax (at night)Langano/Abijata Shala
Guereza colobus
Hippo
Reedbuck
Gambian sun squirrel
Warthog
Brights gazelle
Ethiopian hareDrive to Allideghe
Hamadryas baboonAllideghe
Warthog
Soemmerings gazelle
Beisa oryx
Gerenuk
African golden wolf
Abyssinian hare
Nile grass rat (dull brown, longish thick black-ish tail. Hb 12cm, tail 12-14cm)
Black-tailed gerbil (gerboa like rat, not huge, long tail thick black tip)
Unstriped ground squirrel
Bat eared fox
Aardwolf (*3 at night, 2 on AM drive)
African wild cat
Porcupine
Spotted hyena
Honey badger
Salt’s dik-dik
Grevy’s zebra
Grivet monkey (Doho)Awash
Hamadryas baboon
Olive baboon
Abysinnian hare
Golden wolf
Soemmerings gazelleSimien mountains
Gelada baboons
Otomys typus (all at Ayna Meda – and elsewhere around Chennek)
Arvincathus abyssinicus
Lophuromys simiensis
Common duiker
Walia Ibex
Ethiopian wolf
Klipspringer
Menelik’s Bushbuck
(Heard only: guereza colobus)
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vmoser
I was thinking about visiting this year but decided otherwise (the binocular thing was a big issue, even if there are ways around). However, I received some information that is is possibel, and most parts are stable again. It seems to be easiest with a 4×4/driver from a tour company, because logistics (permits/checkpoints) and road conditions can be tricky. Also: binoculars are not allowed to be taken into the country, unless you have a permit arranged in advance, so plan for that, and I would also make sure you have a local backup plan (borrow/rent locally).