Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. Nestled in the heart of the country, the capital is Ethiopia’s political, cultural, and geographic center. Settle in and prepare for the journey ahead.

This morning, fly to Gondar, the former royal capital known for its medieval castles. Continue by road to the Simien Mountains, enjoying breathtaking views en route. Upon arrival, begin your first exploration of the highlands from the scenic Simien Lodge.

Spend the day exploring the escarpments and valleys of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Search for endemic wildlife including the gelada baboon, Walia ibex, and thick-billed raven. The Simien’s surreal scenery makes it a paradise for photography and wildlife observation.

Return to Gondar, tour its castles, fortresses, and historic churches, including the exquisite Debre Birhan Selassie Church.

Return to Gondar and explore its historic sites, including the Royal Enclosure and Debre Birhan Selassie Church with its famed ceiling of angelic faces. Gondar’s rich past blends Ethiopian and European architectural styles.

Fly to Addis Ababa and connect to Dire Dawa. From there, drive to Harar, an ancient walled city in the Chercher Mountains. In the evening, experience the famous Hyena Feeding ritual with the Hyena Men of Harar.

Wander through the narrow alleyways of Harar’s ancient Jugol (old walled city), visit vibrant markets, mosques, and shrines, and enjoy a kite-feeding photography session. At night, return for another unforgettable Hyena Man encounter.

Drive into the arid Awash Valley to explore the Alideghe Wildlife Reserve. Spot sacred (Hamadryas) baboons, beisa oryx, summering’s gazelle, and golden jackals. With luck, you may witness a northern carmine bee-eater riding an Arabian bustard.

Begin the day in Alideghe and then move on to Awash National Park. Enjoy a game drive and hike along the Awash River’s banks to spot diverse wildlife, including warthogs, baboons, jackals, Nile crocodiles, and a range of bird species.

Journey south to the Great Rift Valley and arrive at Lake Ziway. The lakeshore offers excellent birdwatching and photography opportunities. Spot pelicans, herons, kingfishers, and the impressive African fish eagle.

Travel to Lake Langano in search of nightjars and endemic birds like the black-winged lovebird. Continue to Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary to see the rare Swayne’s hartebeest before reaching the lakeside city of Hawassa.

Enjoy early morning photography at Lake Hawassa, featuring species such as African pygmy geese and kingfishers. Then ascend into the Bale Mountains for your first photo session among its cool highlands.

Venture into the Afro-alpine Sanetti Plateau, one of the best places to see the rare Ethiopian wolf. Explore dramatic high-altitude landscapes while tracking wolves and other endemic wildlife.

Continue your highland exploration, focusing on endemic rodents like the endangered giant mole rat and Blick’s grass rat, which attract predators including the Ethiopian wolf. A day rich in ecological wonders and photographic opportunities.

Visit the Dinsho headquarters for close-up encounters with mountain nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck, and warthogs. This area also offers excellent bird photography including owls, starlings, and possibly the Verreaux’s eagle-owl.

After a final morning in the mountains, return to Hawassa. In the afternoon, visit a lakeside forest to photograph Guereza colobus monkeys and playful grivets up close.

Return to Addis Ababa for a cultural tour, including the National Museum (home of “Lucy”) and the Ethnographic Museum. Enjoy lunch and a traditional coffee ceremony, followed by a farewell dinner featuring live Ethiopian music and dancing before your airport transfer.