What makes Gambella special?

Gambella is unrivalled in Ethiopia for wildlife experiences. With population numbers challenging that of the large game reserves in Tanzania and Kenya, Gambella offers a unique safari opportunity in East Africa - the chance to journey into a remote and difficult to access wilderness, retreating to exclusive tented camps after a day's adventuring. 

Huge migrating herds of antelope and buffalo can be found here, along with elephants, giraffes, warthogs, lions, warthog, hippo, cheetah, leopard, hyena, and more. 

This is proper adventure travel.

A typical safari at Gambella

Day 1: The adventure begins

Fly into Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa. Upon landing, clear Immigration, collect your luggage and exit the airport to meet your driver guide for a city tour and introduction to Ethiopia. The city tour will take in a few highlights like the National and Ethnological museums, Trinity Cathedral and St Georges Church and gallery. 

Overnight : Sheraton Hotel

Meals: Lunch & Dinner


Day 2

Transfer to the airport for a charter flight west to Gambella National Park, arguably the most remote wilderness in Ethiopia. Met by the camp team upon landing, you will be transferred to the tented camp. Evening walk in the vicinity of the tented camp. The camp is situated in a grove of trees close to the pan handle of the park which joins the Baro river. It is an ideal location from which to explore the northern boundary of the park, which tends to get most of the Kob Migration.

Overnight: Gambella tented camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Day 3

Wake up to fresh coffee in a total wilderness environment. Take a charter flight across the swamp lands of Gambella, looking for Shoebills, Nile lechwe as well as big herds of buffalo and lion. Depending on time of year, you'll see incredible numbers of Kob on the edge of the park. Evening walk in the vicinity of the camp.

Overnight: Gambella tented camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Day 4

Drive down (2 hours) to the plains in the northwest corner of the park to see big herds of Kob and visit Nuer cattle camps. Overnight in a fly camp on the river of flooded oxbow, you'll find a multitude of birds in this region. 

Overnight: Fly camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Day 5

Drive back to the tented camp (2 hours). Board the Cessna and fly across to the drier southwest of the park in search for elephant and giraffe. The lakes and pans down here have the most incredible bird life. Evening walk/drive in the vicinity of camp. 

Overnight: Fly camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Day 6

Transfer to Gambella town for the commercial, Ethiopian Airlines, flight back to Addis. Collect your luggage and exit the airport to meet your driver for transfer to the hotel where a room is included for day use. Last evening spent out at a good restaurant in town, before being transferred back to the airport to fly home.

Overnight: Hyatt Regency  (day use)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Swoop Says background image

Brilliant says

Visiting Gambella is an experience of a lifetime. A frontier adventure, exploring this incredible region of the country requires charter flights and a specialised support team. 

Trips including Gambella

Ready to plan your Ethiopia adventure?

1
Listen

Listen

We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.

2
Match

Match

Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.

3
Reserve

Reserve

We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.


Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.

+1 315 645 2889