Overview
This journey pairs Ethiopia’s endemic wildlife with its cultural treasures. Begin in the Bale Mountains, where the Sanetti Plateau offers the best chance in the world to see the Ethiopian wolf, alongside mountain nyala and rare highland birds.
Then head north to Lake Tana and Gondar, spend two nights in the Simien Mountains among gelada troops and finish in Lalibela. It is a superb itinerary for naturalists, birders and photographers.
Route
Highlights
- Ethiopian wolves on the Sanetti Plateau
- Mountain nyala and endemic birds
- Gelada in the Simien Mountains
- Lake Tana monasteries
- Lalibela's churches
Activities
- City tour
- Coffee ceremony
- Cultural dinner
- Wildlife drives
- Guided walks
- Birdwatching
- Boat trip to monasteries
- Blue Nile Falls walk
- Market visit
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1:
Welcome to Addis Ababa
Addis AbabaArrive at Bole International Airport and transfer to your hotel. After a rest, visit the National Museum to meet "Lucy", then drive up Entoto Hill for views over the city. In the evening, enjoy a traditional dinner of injera with music and dance.
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Day 2:
Bale Mountains
Bale MountainsAfter breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from Addis Ababa to Robe. Drive to the Bale Mountains. In the afternoon, walk in the Gaysay grasslands near Dinsho, home to mountain nyala and Menelik's bushbuck.
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Day 3:
Sanetti Plateau & Ethiopian Wolves
Bale MountainsDrive up onto the Sanetti Plateau, the highest all-weather road in Africa, to search for Ethiopian wolves hunting giant mole rats. Watch for Rouget's rail and blue-winged goose on the high-altitude lakes.
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Day 4:
Harenna Cloud Forest
Bale MountainsDescend the southern escarpment into the Harenna Forest, with moss-draped trees, colobus monkeys and the chance of Bale monkeys, then return to the plateau for a final search for wolves.
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Day 5:
Lake Tana Monasteries
Lake Tana & Bahir DarAfter breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from Bale Mountains to Bahir Dar & Lake Tana. Arrive in Bahir Dar and take a boat across Lake Tana to the Zege Peninsula, walking through coffee forest to Ura Kidane Mehret monastery, whose round church is covered in vivid murals.
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Day 6:
Blue Nile Falls
Lake Tana & Bahir DarDrive to Tis Abay and walk to the Blue Nile Falls, crossing a 17th-century Portuguese bridge on the way. In the afternoon, visit the Bahir Dar market or watch the sunset over the lake.
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Day 7:
Castles of Gondar
GondarAfter breakfast, continue by road from Bahir Dar & Lake Tana to Gondar (about 3 hours). Explore the Fasil Ghebbi royal enclosure with its castles and palaces, then visit Debre Berhan Selassie church to see its famous ceiling of painted angels.
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Day 8:
Into the Simien Mountains
Simien MountainsAfter breakfast, continue by road from Gondar to Simien Mountains (about 2.5 hours). Take your first walk along the escarpment edge near Sankaber, where the land drops away for hundreds of metres and gelada troops graze on the grassy slopes.
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Day 9:
Trek to Geech
Simien MountainsTrek from Sankaber past the Jinbar waterfall, which plunges into a vast gorge, and climb to the village of Geech, where you can visit a local family. Spend the afternoon among giant lobelias and grazing geladas.
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Day 10:
Lalibela's Rock-Hewn Churches
LalibelaAfter breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from Simien Mountains to Lalibela. After lunch, begin exploring the northern cluster of rock-hewn churches, including Bete Medhane Alem, the largest monolithic church in the world, with its forest of columns.
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Day 11:
Bete Giyorgis & the Eastern Churches
LalibelaRise early to see pilgrims at prayer, then explore the eastern cluster of churches through tunnels and trenches. In the afternoon, visit Bete Giyorgis, the cross-shaped Church of Saint George, carved 12 metres into the rock — the most photographed site in Ethiopia.
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Day 12:
Lalibela to Addis Ababa
LalibelaEnjoy a final early-morning activity and breakfast, then transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Addis Ababa. You will be met on arrival and transferred to Bole International Airport for your onward journey, or to a day room on request.
Meals: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.
Accommodation
This itinerary is priced with mid-range accommodation. Every property is chosen for its location, guiding and service; final properties are confirmed at booking and we can upgrade or adjust any night.
- Addis AbabaBoutique hotel in the Bole area1 night
- Bale MountainsMountain lodge near Dinsho3 nights
- Lake Tana & Bahir DarLakeside hotel in Bahir Dar2 nights
- GondarHotel near the royal enclosure1 night
- Simien MountainsMountain lodge near Sankaber and supported camping2 nights
- LalibelaHotel with views across the valley2 nights
Meals: Full board on tour days; breakfast and dinner in cities
What's included
Included
- Private vehicle with driver and an expert English-speaking guide
- Accommodation as listed (or similar, subject to availability)
- Meals as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Entrance fees to churches, monasteries, museums and parks
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Bottled drinking water during the safari
- All government taxes and levies
- 24-hour in-country support from our Nairobi office
- Domestic and light-aircraft flights as described in the itinerary
- Park scouts, local guide and mule support in the Simien Mountains
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Comprehensive travel insurance (required)
- Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Drinks other than drinking water, unless stated
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and souvenirs
- Camera and photography fees at some churches and villages
Travel information
Best time to travel
November to March.
What to pack
- Neutral-coloured, lightweight clothing (khaki, olive, beige)
- A warm fleece or jacket for early mornings and evenings
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
- Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards
- Insect repellent and personal medication
- Soft-sided duffel bag — light aircraft allow around 15 kg per person
- Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees, and a scarf for women
- Socks for church visits (shoes are removed)
- A small torch for dark church interiors
- Warm layers, hat and gloves for nights at altitude
- Broken-in hiking boots and walking poles
Experiences on this safari
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This itinerary runs privately for your own group, with your own vehicle and guide. It can start on any date, and we can adjust the route, pace and accommodation to suit you.
What does the price include?
The guide price from USD 4,200 per person is based on two people sharing mid-range accommodation in the low season. It includes accommodation, the meals and activities listed, park fees and transfers. Prices vary by season and group size; we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Is there a luggage limit on the flights?
Yes. Light aircraft and some domestic flights allow around 15 kg per person including hand luggage, packed in soft-sided bags. We can store extra luggage for you.
What are the chances of seeing an Ethiopian wolf?
On the Sanetti Plateau, sightings are very likely on a full day of searching, particularly in the morning.
Gallery
Open image: Addis Ababa skyline, Ethiopia
Open image: Bete Giyorgis carved into the rock at Lalibela
Open image: Highland moorland in Bale Mountains National Park
Open image: Lake Tana near Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Open image: Blue Nile Falls (Tis Abay), Ethiopia
Open image: Fasilides Palace in the Fasil Ghebbi royal enclosure, Gondar
Open image: Escarpments of the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
Open image: Male gelada in the Simien MountainsEnquire about this safari
Every date is available on request. Tell us when you would like to travel and we will send a tailored quote — adjustments welcome.
