National Parks
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The best reason for coming to this national park is to see the spectacular views; with viewpoints allowing a panoramic look at the surrounding country, and some incredible geography. They are also notable for being the only mountain range in Africa which regularly has snow-topped caps; one must venture further than the foothills to observe it, however.
Ethiopia is home to several national parks:
1. Semien Mountains National Park
The Simien Mountain is one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to the highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen (4543m), which is the fourth highest peak in the continent. Although Simien is in Africa and not too far from the equator, snow and ice appear on the highest points and night temperatures often fall below zero. The national park has three general botanical regions. The higher lands are mountain grasslands with fescue grasses as well as heathers, splendid Red Hot Pokers and Giant Lobelia.Ethiopia's best for wildlife, and resident within its boundaries are three of Ethiopia’s endemic large mammals; the gelada baboon“bleeding heart on its chest”,Ethiopian wolf and Walia ibex. The baboons are the most common of the three, and Walia Ibex is limited at camp site of Chennek. Ethiopian wolf is rare here but probable to be seen at Bale Mountain National Park. Over 50 species of birds have been reported in the Simien Mountains.
2. Bale Mountains National Park
Bale Mountains National Park, established in 1970 is situated at about 400 kilometers from Addis Ababa. It is a magnificent high altitude (average elevation of over 4000 meters) plateau with numerous dramatic volcano plugs, tiny seasonal alpine lakes and cascading mountain streams. It stretches over an area of 2,400 square kilometers. Here are the largest Afro-alpine moorlands in the world. The dynamic of this ecosystem extends far beyond Ethiopia and is responsible for environmental changes and climatic conditions in Somalia and East Africa. As it is a place of endemism, the Bale mountains National Park inhabits endemic mammals such as mountain Nyala, Red fox and Menelik's Bush-buck. Moreover it is the shelter of Ethiopia's seven of 28 endemic birds. Formed by the Wabi River as it changes its course in the distant past and carved out a new channel through limestone foothills, the Sof Omar systems is an extraordinary natural phenomenon of breathtaking beauty. The cave which is now an important Islamic Shrine was named after the saintly Sheikh Sof Omar who took refuge here many centuries ago. The cave has a religious history that predates the arrival of the Muslims in Bale – a history calculated in thousands of years.Sofomar can be visited with Bale Mountains National Park Trip.
It was established in 1974, located to the east of Arba Minch, Park elevations range between 1108 and 1650 meters above sea level.The Park Protects the Nechisar “White Grass” Plains as well as the two lakes and the mountainous ‘Bridge of God’ dividing the lakes. There is a rich habitat density here, from acacia scrub to open grasslands, and there are 70 mammal and around 340 bird species that can be found here. There are also 15 endemic butterflies, and 8 endemic dragonflies which can be seen on the lakeshores. The park is beautiful and unusual, largely to the two lakes.
Wildlife in the park include Plains Zebra, Grant's Gazelle, Dik-dik, and the Greater Kudu as well as one of the last three populations of the endangered Swayne's Hartebeest, endemic to Ethiopia. A stretch of the northwest shore of Lake Chamo is known as Crocodile Market, where hundreds of Crocodiles gather to sun themselves. The park also has populations of bushbuck, bush pig, Anubis baboon, velvet monkeys, black-backed jackal and Burchell's zebra.
Birds: Nechisar National Park is considered an important habitat for bird populations particularly those migrating. It has a noted population of kingfishers, storks, pelicans, flamingos and eagles. Other birds include Falco naumanni and Circus macrourus, which are fairly common on passage, while small numbers of Phoenicopterus minor have been reported on Lakes Chamo and Abaya. Species typical of bush land habitats include Phoeniculus somaliensis, Lanius dorsalis and Cisticola bodessa and the open plains support three species that are very unknown elsewhere in Ethiopia: an isolated population of Mirafra albicauda, the endemic Caprimulgus solalaand the rare C. stellatus. The south-western corner of Lake Abaya supports one of only two Ethiopian populations of Myrmecocichla albifrons. Other species of note include Accipiter ovampensis, Aviceda cuculoides, Gypaetus barbatus, Macheiramphus alcinus, Chelictinia riocourii, Francolinus levaillantii, & Podica senegalensis.
Mago National Park is located at about 782 kilometers south of Addis Ababa. The 2162 square kilometers of this park is divided by the Mago River, a tributary of the Omo River, into two parts. The park office is 115 kilometers north of Omorate and 26 kilometers southwest of Jinka.
The Mago National Park was established in 1979, making it the newest & undeveloped among national parks. Its territory embraces savanna, acacia forest, and the Neri Swamp. Its highest point is Mount Mago. The broad grasslands teem with herds of buffalo, giraffe, elephants and kudu, while sometimes it is possible to find/ hear roaring lions, leopards and Burchell’s zebra. The abundant bird life here is typical of dry grasslands and river banks. The park’s best known attraction is the Mursi people, who inhabit villages along the Omo River, known for piercing their lips and inserting disks made of clay.
The Gambella National Park was established primarily to protect two species of endangered wetland antelopes: the White-eared kob and the Nile Lechwe. Other wildlife reported as living here include populations of elephant, African Buffalo, lion, roan antelope, tiang, Lelwel Hartebeest, olive baboon, and Guereza monkey. Several birds only found in this area include the shoebill stork, the Uelle Paradise Whydah and the Red-throated and Green Bee-eaters. In Gambela Region Aguak and Nuer ethnic groups are dominant
6. Abijatta-Shalla National Park
Located in the heart of Rift valley, near Langano is 225 kilometers south of Addis Ababa and comprises 887 square kilometers. The two lakes are separated by three kilometers of hilly land. The altitude of the park ranges from 1540 to 2075 meters, the highest Mount Fike, which is situated between the two lakes. Lake Shalla is thought to be the deepest lake in Africa (250 meters deep), north of the Equator. Despite their natural beauty, these lakes are best known for their bird life. Different kinds of water birds such as greater and lesser flamingos along with white-necked cormorants, several species of herons, storks, spoonbills, African ducks, gulls and Sterns can be seen around the these lakes. During the northern winter thousands of Asiatic and European ducks and Waders migrate to the Lake Abiyatta shores. Lake Shalla is well known for its large colony of great white pelicans, undoubtedly the most breeding site for these species in Africa.
Lying in the lowlands at the east of Addis Ababa and striding the Awash River, the Awash National Park is one of the finest reserves in Ethiopia. The Awash River, one of the major rivers of the horn of Africa, waters important agricultural lands in the east of Ethiopia and eventually flows into the wilderness of the Danakil Depression. The dramatic Awash Falls, as the river tumbles into its gorge, is the sight not to be missed in the national park. Awash national park, surrounding the dormant volcano of Fantale, is a reserve of arid and semi-arid woodland and savannah, with riverain forests along the Awash River. Forty six species of animals have been identified here, including beisa oryx and Swayne’s hartebeest. The bird life is prolific especially along the river and in the nearby Lake Besaka and there are fine endemic amongst the 392 species recorded birds. A special attraction is the beautiful clear pools of the Filwoha hot springs.
One of the most beautiful national parks in Ethiopia, its 4068 km of wilderness bordered by the Omo River, is home to an amazing range of wildlife. 306 species of birds have been identified here, while large herds of eland, some buffalo, elephants, giraffe, cheetah, lion, leopard, and Burchell’s zebra are not uncommon.
9. Yangudi Rassa National Park
Located in the Afar Region, the park’s 4730 square kilometers of territory include Mount Yangudi and the surrounding Rassa Plains, with altitudes from 400 to 1459 meters above sea level.This national park was proposed in 1977 in specific to protect the African Wild Ass. Other animals endemic to the park include Beisa Oryx, Soemmering's and Dorcas gazelle, gerenuk and Grevy's zebra. The Awash - Asseb highway crosses the Yangudi Rassa National Park, as does the Awash River.
Lake Awassa: is the most studied of the Rift Valley Lakes in Ethiopia, and it is a freshwater lake which indicates that even though it does not have a visible outlet, the water must leave through a subterranean outlet. Set in a volcanic crater, it has an abundance of plankton and fish, and supports a large city of the same name that has grown up on its edges. With a mountainous backdrop and beautiful vegetation, this is a beautiful lake to spend a night by. There is also a dyke which was built to stop flooding, which is perfect for bird watching – walking along it, fish eagle, black-winged lovebirds, yellow-fronted parrots and Ethiopian oriole are a few of the many species of birds that can be seen.
Lake Ziway: is also a freshwater lake, and it has five islands of which one is said to have housed the Ark of the Covenant during 16century in order to protect it from an Islamic warrior named Gragn as nickname. The lake is fed by the Meki and Katar Rivers, but does not always have an outflow; sometimes it overflows into Lake Abiata. The lake has plenty of hippo in it, and has a healthy population of birds. With large numbers of Tilapia nilotica, a fish that can weigh up to 1.5 kg, the fishing industry does well here and the fish are served fresh in many of the restaurants in the nearby town. The fish also attract a large number of water-associated birds, which can be seen in the reed-lined fringes of the lake. Lake Abiata is to the south of Lake Ziway, and to the north there are a number of hot springs which are important to the locals, and are also a popular tourist attraction. The lake is saline, and has recently undergone a decline in water level. This has resulted in the loss of fish-eating birds as the fish have died, but an increase in algae-eating birds such as greater and lesser flamingos.
Lake Langano:
Lake Langano is located 212 km South of Addis Ababa. It is a sand beach, popular resort for swimming aquatic sports, sunbathing camping and bird watching. The western side of the lake is covered with a thin acacia while the eastern shore is partially covered by dense forest patches.
