National Parks

Wildlife Surprises…
Millions of years of isolation of extensive areas with unusual conditions into highlands of Ethiopia have led to the evolution of unique species at all levels, especially those smaller species less able to travel or to be carried across in a hospitable habitat. Endemism is rife, particularly amongst large and small mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish.

Simien Mountains National Park

The Simian Mountain massif is a broad plateau, cut off to the north and west by an enormous single crag over 60 kilometers long. The tableland is divided by gorges 1,000 meters deep that can take more than two days to cross. Here live the Walia (Abyssinian) ibex, Simien red wolf and Gelada baboon-all endemic t Ethiopia- as well as the Hamadryas baboon, klipspringer and bushbuck. The lammergeyer, Augur buzzard, Verreaux’s eagle, kestrel and falcon also soar above this mountain retreat.

150 kilometers north-east of Gondar, the Simien Mountains national Park covers 179 square kilometers of highland area at an average elevation of 3,300 metres. Ethiopia’s highest peak, 4620-metre Ras Dashen, stands adjacent to the park. The scenery is spectacular. The vegetation is principally Afro-alpine, montane savannah and heather. Temperatures drop below freezing at night.

Simien Mountains

Ethiopia, in fact, has a recorded list of 242 land mammals, of which 28 are endemic. The Simien wolf is endemic and confined to mountain plateaux with dense tree heather and thickets, intermixed with bogs and swamps with sedge grass and giant lobelias.

Awash national Park

Awash National Park is the oldest and most developed wildlife reserve in Ethiopia. Featuring the 1,800 meter high Fantalle Volcano, mineral hot-springs and extraordinary volcanic formations, this natural treasure is bordered by athe Awash River and lies 225 kilometers east of Addis Ababa. Oryx, bat-eared fox, caracal, aardvark, colobus and green monkeys, Anubis and hamadryas baboons, klipspringer, leopard, bush-buck, hippopotamus, Soemmering’s gazelle, cheetah, kudu and 450 species of bird all live within the park’s 720 square kilometers.

Another feature of the park is the hot springs, or Filwoha. The water of these springs and rivers is in the region of 360C. The unbelievably clear blue pools, surrounded by doum palms, invite the traveler to wash off the dust.

Yangudi Rassa National Park
Lying 350 kilometers north-east of Addis Ababa, this 4,700-square park is in the arid northern Rift lowlands with vegetation that ranges from semi desert and scrub to savannah and open woodland. The park is traversed by the Awash River and among its unusual animals is the Somali wild ass- ancestor of the domestic donkey. The 36 mammals within the park are typical of the arid Horn of Africa and include Grevy’s zebra, greater and lesser kudu, Gerank and the cheetah.

Nechisar
National Park
The park was established as a sanctuary for the endemic (and endangered) Swayne’s hartebeest. The 514-square kilometer park is in the Rift Valley, 2,000 metres above seal-level between lakes Abaya and Chamo in south-central Ethiopia. Although mainly open grassland, it also contains areas of savannah woodland and highland forest. The park’s 84 mammal species include hippo, zebra, buffalo, greater kudu, reedbuck, Gran’ts gazelle, lion and leopard. Seventy-eight square kilometers of the park is water- parts of lakes chamo and Abaya. The lakes support many species of fish including Nile perch and tiger fish, as well as hordes of hippos and crocodiles.

The best point from which to explore the national park, which includes part of lakes Abaya and Chamo, is from Arba Minch. Much of the Nechisar national Park can be enjoyed in a full day’s drive.

Mago National Park

East of the Omo river, and stretching south towards the Chew Bahir basin, Mago National Park is rich in wildlife with few human inhabitants. The vegetation is mainly savannah grassland and savannah bush, extending across an area of 2,160 square kilometers. Mammal species total 81, including hartebeest, giraffe, roan antelope, elephant, lion, leopard and perhaps even a rare black rhino. Temperatures swing between 140C and 410C and rainfall is low.