Awash national park
Year of Establishment: 1966 G.C
Area: 756 sq.km
Found: in Afar and Oromia regions 215 km away from Addis Ababa (the
capital city).
Key species: 46 species, including Beisa Oryx, Greater & lesser Kudu, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Swayne’s hartebeest, lion, Hamadryas and Anubis baboon and their hybrids, Defassa waterbuck, Salt’s dik-dik. There are 5 endemic birds among the 392 species to be found in the park. Resident species include green wood hoopoe, red-and yellow barbet, emerald spotted wood dove, carmine bee-eater several bustard species, fish eagle, tawny eagle, lanner and pygmy, falcon, black shouldered kite, dark chanting goshawk, several varieties of kingfishers and rollers, ostrich and lammergeyer.
Unique physical feature: dramatic Water fall, hot springs, Fentale
crater, Doumplam forest.
General description: Awash national park is the oldest and most
developed wildlife reserve in Ethiopia. Featuring the 1,800-metre
Fantalle Volcano, extensive mineral hot-springs and extraordinary
volcanic formations, this natural treasure is bordered to the south
by the Awash River. The wildlife consists mainly of East African
plains animals. Oryx, bat-eared fox, caracal, aardvark, Columbus and
green monkeys, Anubis and Hamadryas baboons, klipspringer, leopard,
bushbuck, hippopotamus, Soemmering's gazelle, cheetah, lion, kudu
and 450 species of bird all live within the parks.
Visitor facilities: Standard lodges on the edge of Awash gorge, camp
site beside river, and there is also a museum. (Tour itinerary)
Bale Mountain national park
Year of Establishment: 1970 G.C
Area: 2200 sq.km
Found: in Oromia region 400km away from Addis Ababa.
Key species: the park was originally established to protect Mountain
Nyala, and Ethiopian Wolf. There are 64 species of mammal in the
park, 11 of them endemic, including Menelik’s Bushbuck, bohor, reed
buck, grey dulker, worthhog, serval cat, colbus monkey, giant
molerat, African wild dog, bushpig, giant foreshog, lion, and Anubis
baboon. There are 220 bird species of Birds in Bale of which 16
endemic species, many of which are easily seen. These include
Wattled Ibis, Black-winged love bird, blue-winged goose, Rouget’s
rail, and thick billed raven.
Unique physical feature: Mount Batu, Harena forest and Sanate
Plateau (the largest Afro-alphine habitat in Africa)
General description: The Bale Mountains, with their vast moorlands
and virgin woodlands, pristine mountain streams and alpine climate
remain an untouched and beautiful world. Rising to a height of more
than 4,000 meters, the range borders Ethiopia's southern highlands,
whose highest peak, Mount Tullu Deemtu, stands at 4,377 meters.
Bale mountain national park was crucial to the survival of the mountain Nyala, Menelik's bushbuck and the Simien red fox. The fox is one of the most colorful members of the dog family and more abundant here than anywhere else in Ethiopia. All three endemic animals thrive in this environment, the Nyala in particular often being seen in large numbers.
Visitor facilities: Self-catering lodge and campsite at park
headquarters, camping allowed in park while trekking. Hotels in
nearby Goba & Robe, and there is also a Museum. (Tour itinerary)
Gambella national park
Year of Establishment: 1974 G.C
Area: 5061 sq.km
Found: in Gambella region 777 km away from Addis Ababa
Key species: the park contains 41 species many representative of
neighbouring Sudan and not found else where in Ethiopia, Such as
Nile lechwe and the white-eared kob, the latter migrating in large
numbers. Roan Antelope, Topi, Elpephant, Buffalo, Lelwel hartebeest,
Lion and Giraffe are also present. There are also 154 bird species.
Such as the Whale-headed stork, an unusual large billed, tall bird
has seen standing in the swamps.
Unique feature: largest wet land in the country including 4 big
rivers.
General Description: The Baro River area, accessible by land or air
through the western Ethiopian town of Gambela, remains a place of
adventure and challenge. Traveling across the endless undulating
plains of high Sudanese grass, visitors can enjoy a sense of
achievement in just finding their way. This is Ethiopia’s true
tropical zone and here is found all the elements of the African
safari, enhanced by a distinctly Ethiopian flavor.
Visitor facilities: No development yet. (Tour itinerary)
Omo National Park
Year of Establishment: 1967 G.C
Area: 3566 sq.km
Found: in Southern Nation Nationality and people region 867 km away
from Addis Ababa.
Key species: Common Eland Buffalo, Elephant, Cheetah, Lion, Giraffe,
Topi, Brazza’s Monkey.and 306 species of Birds, one of which, the
black-winged love bird is endemic to Ethiopia
Unique physical feature: Belts of forest along the Omo and Mui
rivers, hotsprings, extensive wilderness. The grass plains are
relieved by bands of hills to the north and south of the centrally
located park headquarters.
General Description: It is a vast expanse of true wilderness,
adjacent to the Omo River, which flows southwards into Lake Turkana
and is one of the richest and least-visited wildlife sanctuaries in
eastern Africa. Eland, oryx, Burchell's zebra, Lelwel hartebeest,
buffalo, giraffe, elephant, waterbuck, kudu, lion, leopard and
cheetah roam within the park's boundaries. The Omo Valley is
virtually free of human habitation but is rich in palaeo-anthropological
remains. According to scientific research done in 1982 by the
University of California at Berkeley, hominid remains from the Omo
Valley probably date back more than four million years.
Visitor facilities: Campsite on Mui River, and also Museum. (Tour
itinerary)
Simien Mountains National Parks
Year of Establishment: 1966 G.C
Area: 412sq.km
Found: in Amhara region 800 km away from Addis Ababa.
Key species: Walia Ibex, Ethiopian Wolf, & Gelada Baboon, Grey
duilker, and klipspringer are among the 21species of mammals.
Unique physical feature: Spectacular scenery, gorges and
escarpments, just outside the park is Mount Ras Dashen, Ethiopia’s
highest peak, 4543 meters above sea level.
General Description: The Simien Mountain massif is a broad plateau,
cut off to the north and west by an enormous single crag over 60
kilometers long. To the south, the tableland slopes gently down to
2,200 meters, divided by gorges 1,000 meters deep which can take
more than two days to cross. Insufficient geological time has
elapsed to smooth the contours of the crags and buttresses of
hardened basalt.
Within this spectacular splendor live the Walia (Abyssinian) ibex,
Simien red fox and Gelada baboon - all endemic to Ethiopia - as well
as the Hamadryas baboon, klipspringer and bushbuck. Birds such as
the lammergeyer, augur buzzard, Verreaux's eagle, kestrel and
falcon also soar above this mountain retreat.
Visitor facilities: 5 stars Hotel just near to the park gate is
available and camping is allowed in the main part of the park.
Abijatta-Shalla National Park
Year of Establishment: 1970 G.C
Area: 887sq.km, including the Rift Valley lakes of Abijatta and
Shalla
Found: in Oromiya region 220 km away from Addis Ababa to the east of
the Ziway- Shashamene highway
Key species: white Pelican, Greater and lesser Flamingoes, African
fish eagle
Unique physical feature: Abijita, Shala (the deepest lake in Africa)
and Chitu lakes, hot springs bubbling around lake Shala.
General description: The two lakes are separated by three kilometers
of hilly land. Although its intent was to protect wildlife, few wild
animals can be viewed there. There were, nevertheless, quite a few
bird species in evidence. Park personnel said the national
government was working on a plan to resettle the nomads somewhere
outside the park, but this plan seemed rather indefinite.
Besides the two lakes, the primary attraction of this national park
are a number of hot springs on the northeast corner of Lake Abijatta,
and large numbers of flamingoes on the lake.
Visitor facilities: Hotels (Government and private) and camping on
nearby lake Langano, self catering rest house at Gike. (Tour
itinerary)
Mago National Park
Year of Establishment: 1974 G.C
Area: 1942 sq.km
Found: in the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region
about 800 km south west of Addis Ababa touching the East bank of
Mago River via Arba Minch, konso and Jinka.
Key species: Buffalo, Girafffe,Elephant, Topi and Lelwel Hartebeest,
lion Chieetah, leopard, Burchel Zebra, Gerenuk, Oryx, and Greater &
lesser Kudu. There are also 153 species of birds recorded four of
them endemic; the white winged cliff chat, the black-headed forest
oriole, the thick billed raven, and the Wattled Ibis.
Unique physical feature: the highest point is mount Mago (2528m)
situated in the north of the park
General Description: The Park is 115 kilometers north of Murele and
40 kilometers southwest of Jinka.
The Mago National Park was established in 1979, making it the newest
of Ethiopia's several National Parks. Its territory embraces
savanna, acacia forest, and the Neri Swamp. Its highest point is
Mount Mago. The park's perhaps best known attraction are the Mursi
people, who inhabit villages along the Omo, known for piercing their
lips and inserting disks made of clay.
Visitor Facilities: Campsite by Neri River near the headquarters of
the Park. (Tour itinerary)
Nechisar National Park
Year of Establishment: 1974 G.C
Area: 514 sq.km
Found: in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region
immediately to the east of Arba Minch, its 502 km away from Addis
Ababa, the territory include the "Bridge of God" (an isthmus between
Lakes Abaya and Chamo), the Nechisar plains to the east of the
lakes.
Key species: Swayne’s Hartebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, Grant's Gazelle,
Greater & lesser Kudu, Grant’s Gazelle, Colbus monkey, vervet monkey
Nile Crocodile and hippopotamus. There are also 188 bird species,
including 2 endemic birds of Red-billed and grey hornbills are
common here.
Unique physical feature: Lake Abaya and Chamo, Nechisar plain, rift
valley escarpment, a stretch of the northwest shore of Lake Chamo is
known as Crocodile Market, where hundreds of Crocodiles gather to
sun themselves.
Visitor facilities: campsite in forest near Kilfo River and Hotels
nearby town of Arbaminch. (Tour itinerary)
Yangudi Rassa National Park
Year of Establishment: 1977 G.C but the steps needed to officially
establish this park have not been completed as of 2002.
Area: 4731 sq.km of territory includes Mount Yangudi and the
surrounding Rassa Plains.
Found: Yangudi Rassa National Park is Located in the Afar Region 430
km away from Addis Ababa
Key species: 36 species of mammals, including Wild ass, Greby zebra,
gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, Hamadryas Baboon, Soemmering’s gatelle, Dorcas
Gazelles, and alt’s dik-dik. This park also has 136 species of birds
including 2 endemics.
Unique physical feature: Awash River, Mount Yangudi.
Visitor facilities: not yet developed/Billen lodge can be served
hotel in Gawane. (Tour itinerary)
Alatish National Park
Year of Establishment: 2005 G.C
Area: 2666 sq.km
Found: in north western Ethiopia to the Sudan Border in Metema
District; Amhara region 1025km away from Addis Ababa
Key species: Elephant, Greater Kudu, Lesser Kudu, red headed Agama
Unique feature: Dinder/Hayma and Gelgelu rivers, Sudan-Guinea Savana
Biome. (Tour itinerary)
Kafta Sheraro National Park
Year of Establishment: 2007 G.C
Area: 5000 sq.km
Found: in Tigray region 1015 km away from Addis Ababa.
Key species: Greater Kudu, and also contains 42 mammals, 163birds, 9
reptiles and it also holds large number of elephants.
Unique physical feature: Arid lowland. (Tour itinerary)
Geraille park
Year of Establishment: 2006 G.C
Area: 3858 sq.km
Found: in Somali region 890 km away from Addis Ababa.
Key species: Elephant, Greater Kudu, lesser Kudu
Unique physical features: is known for its semi-arid vegetation and
different small creature like scorpion. (Tour itinerary)
Babile Elephant Sanctuary
Year of Establishment: 1970 G.C
Area: 6982 sq.km
Found: in Somali and Oromia regions 557km away from Addis Ababa.
Key species: Elephant (Loxodonta Africana).
Unique physical feature: Gobele and Erer valleys, Jurassic Limestone
rocky appearances.
Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary
Year of Establishment: 1972 G.C
Area: 54 sq.km
Found: in Oromia and Southern NNP regions 300 km away from Addis
Ababa.
Key species: Swayne’s Hartebeest, Bohor reedbuck, Oribi, Greater
Kudu.
Unique physical feature: Spectacular view on the Lalima/Borena
hills.
Mazie National Park
The park was established in 2005.it is 210 square kilometer wide and
490 km away from Addis Ababa. it is known for holding the endemic
mammal, Swaynes hartebeest. (Tour itinerary)
Chebera-Churchura national Park
It is 1215sqkm wide and is 460 km away from Addis Ababa. It was
established in 2005.key species include buffalo and elephant.
Bahir Dar Blue Nile River Millennium Park
Established in 2008 known for its beautiful scenery and landscape,
the park is about 4729sqkm wide and 32 km south east of Bahir Dar.
Dati Wolel National Park
It is about 431sqkm wide and located in Oromia regional state. It is
known by its thick dense forest and different variety of bird
species. It was established in 1998. (Tour itinerary)
Gibe sheleko National Park
Established in 2001 with an area of 248sqkm wide is a place for its
magnificent gorges and rivers. It is found in southern nation
nationalities and people’s regional state.
Loka Abay National Park
Found in southern nation nationalities and peoples regional state
with an area of 500sqkm wide was established in the year 2001.
Yabello National Park
Located in Oromia regional state with long stretched grass land
holds an ample number of Swaynes heartbeats endemic to Ethiopia. It
was registered in 1978 with an area of 2500sqkm wide.
Borena saynt National Park
Established in 2001 with an area of 4325sqkm wide occupies varieties
of fauna and flora life. It is found in Amhara regional state.
Control Hunting Areas
Billen Hartele
Located in Afar regional state with an area of 1090 sq.km.
Chifra Hunting Area
Located in Afar regional state with an area of 510 sq.km.
Telalak Dewe Hunting Area
Located in Afar regional state, with an area of 457sq.km.
Arbagugu Hunting Area
Established in 1995 with an area of 341 sq.km. It is found in
Oromoia regional state.
Dindin Hunting Area
Located in Oromia regional state with an area of 280 sq.km.
Munessa-Kuke hunting Area
Established in 1993 with an area of 111 sq.km. It is found in
Oromoia regional state.
Hanto Hunting Area
Established in 1991 with an area of 190 sq.km. It is found in
Oromoia regional state.
Besmena-Oddubilu Hunting Area
Established in 1993 with an area of 350 sq.km. It is found in
Oromoia regional state.
Abbasheba-Demero Hunting Area
Established in 1994 with an area of 210 sq.km. It is found in
Oromoia regional state.
Sororo-Torgam Hunting Area
Established in 2000 with an area of 78 sq.km. It is found in Oromoia
regional state.
Haro Abadiko Hunting Area
Established in 2000 with an area of 200 sq.km. It is found in
Oromoia regional state.
Urgan Bula
Established in 2000 with an area of 78sq.km. It is found in Oromoia
regional state.
Hurfa Soma Hunting Area
Established in 2000 with an area of 215 sq.km. It is found in
Oromoia regional state.
Adaba-Dodola Hunting Area
Established in 2000 with an area of 736 sq.km. It is found in
Oromoia regional state.
Shedem Berbere Hunting Area
Located in Oromia regional state, with an area of 170 sq.km.
Murulle Hunting Area
Located in Southern Nation regional state, with an area of 690 sq.km.
Welshet-Sala Hunting Area
Located in Southern Nation regional state, with an area of 350 sq.km.