National Parks

Simien Mountains National Park, in northern Ethiopia is a spectacular landscape, where massive erosion over millions of years has created jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices dropping some 1,500 m. The park is of global significance for biodiversity conservation because it is home to globally threatened species, including the iconic Walia ibex, a wild mountain goat found nowhere else in the world, the Gelada baboon and the Ethiopian wolf.

Bale Mountains National Park has one of the highest numbers of endemic animals of any land habitat in the world. The park is approximately 2,150 km2, and is divided into five distinct and unique habitats: the Northern Grasslands, Northern Woodlands, Afro-alpine Meadows (Sanetti Pleateau), Erica Moorlands, and the Harenna Forest. The park is known for being home to the largest populations of both the endemic and endangered Ethiopian Wolf and Mountain Nyala, as well as the endemic Bale monkey.

Lying 350km northeast of Addis Ababa, this 2,700 sq km park is located in the arid northern rift lowlands. It is traversed by the Awash River and inhabited by among its unusual animals the Somali Wild Ass ancestor of the domestic Donkey. Other mammals within the park are typical of the arid Horn of Africa; including Gravy’s Zebra, Greater and Lesser Kudu, Gerenuk and the Cheetah. Other equally important Sanctuaries to be visited are the Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary, Kunni Muktar Mountain Nyala Sanctuary, Babile Elephant Sanctuary and Yabello Abyssinian Bush Crow (endemic bird species) Sanctuary is very interesting for visitors.

Nechisar National Park is in southwest Ethiopia. Its varied terrain spans escarpments, swamps and forest. Zebras and gazelles roam the vast savannahs of the Nechisar Plains. The large, brown-red Lake Abaya sits on the north side of the mountainous “Bridge of God” isthmus. To the south is Lake Chamo, known for its big Nile crocodiles. The park is home to many birds, including the rare Nechisar nightjar.

Omo National Park is a national founded in 1980. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region on the west bank of the Omo River, the park covers approximately 4,068 square kilometers, about 870 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa; across the Omo is the Mago National Park.

Located east of the Omo River, the vegetation is mainly savannah grassland and savannah bush, some forested areas around the Neri River which is extending across an area of 2,160 sq km. The park is rich in wildlife with few human inhabitant (is home of the Mursi tribes). Mammal’s species total 81, including Hartebeest, Giraffe, Roan Antelope, Elephant, Lion, Leopard and perhaps even a rare Black Rhino.

Chebera-Churchura National Park has a good variety of animals. The game rangers are skilled at tracking elephants and buffalos. Other wildlife you might spot while hiking includes lesser and greater kudu, defassa waterbuck, hippo, bushpig and giant forest hog. Guereza monkeys are common in the riverine forest, while vervet monkeys offer lots of entertainment in the campsite.

The park covers an area of 756 square kilometres, comprised mainly of acacia and grassland, but with an interesting range of volcanic landscapes. In the open areas and grass plains you should see grazing zebra alongside Beisa oryx, kudu, Soemmerring’s gazelle and Swayne’s hartebeest. Olive and hamadryas baboons, as well as colobus and grivet monkeys, can be seen near the river, and the tiny dik-dik is often well camouflaged in the shade of the acacia thorn. Cats such as cheetah, serval, and leopard are also present (although less easy to spot) and lion, black-backed and golden jackals, and caracals can occasionally be seen.

Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park was primarily created for its spectacular numbers of aquatic birds, especially Great white Pelican and Lesser Flamingo the bird breeding islands in Lake Shalla, and its scenery. It is a famous and significant ornithological site in the country. Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park is found 207 kms south of Addis, situated in the main Rift Valley it’s a park back grounds the two beautiful Rift Valley Lakes Abijata and Shalla. It is located on the co-ordinates 7030’N and 38030’E. The general area is within an altitude range of 1540-2075m asl.