National parks

Ethiopia is also a land of natural contrasts, from the tops of the rugged Simien Mountains to the depths of the Danakil Depression, at 120 meters below sea level one of the lowest dry land points on earth. The cornucopia of natural beauty that blesses Ethiopia offers an astonishing variety of landscapes: Afro-Alpine highlands soaring to around 4,300 meters, deserts sprinkled with salt flats and yellow sulphur, lake lands with rare and beautiful birds, moors and mountains, the splendor of the Great Rift Valley, white-water rivers, savannah teeming with game, giant waterfalls, dense and lush jungle the list is endless.

Ethiopia's many national parks and sanctuaries enable the visitor to enjoy the country's scenery and its wildlife, conserved in natural habitats, and offer opportunities for travel adventure unparalleled in Africa. There are ten national parks and six Sanctuaries are found in Ethiopia.

1. National Parks: there are ten beautiful  national parks in the country which having different ecology, wildlife’s and man-made creatures   

1.1.Yangudi Rassa National Park

Lying 350 kilometers north-east of Addis Ababa, this 4,700-square kilometer 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, geranuk and the cheetah

1.2.Semien Mountains National Park

The Simien Mountain massif is a broad plateau, cut off to the north and west by an enormous single crag over 60 kilometres long. The tableland is divided by gorges 1,000 metres deep that can take more than two days to cross. 150 kilometres north-east of Gondar, the Simien Mountains National Park covers 179 square kilometres  of highland area at an average elevation of 3,300 metres. Ethiopia's highest peak, 4,620-metre Ras Dashen, stands adjacent to the park which the fourth highest mountain in Africa. The vegetation is principally Afro-alpine, montane savannah and heather. Maximum temperatures during the day are about 15o Centigrade ( 60o Fahrenheit). At night the temperature usually drops to 3 - 5 o C (35o -40o F). . It is home to the endemic mammals of Walia Ibex, Semien Fox, Gelada Baboons and many species of birds and plants apart from its spectacular scenic beauty. 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. Here live the Walia (Abyssinian) ibex, Simien red wolf and Gelada baboon - all endemic to 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.  

1.3.Omo National Park

Far to the south-west lies Omo National Park, the largest in the country, with an area of 4,068 square kilometers. 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-anthro-pological  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. Much of Africa's volcanic activity is concentrated along the immense 5,000-kilometre crack in the earth's surface known as the Rift Valley. It is the result of two roughly parallel faults, between which, in distant geological time, the crust was weakened and the land subsided. The valley walls - daunting blue-grey ridges of volcanic basalt and granite - rise sheer on either side to towering heights of 4,000 meters. The valley floor, 50 kilometers or more across, encompasses some of the world's last true wildernesses.

1.4.Maze National Park

Situated 510km south of Addis near the town of Arba Minch, in between Lakes Abaya and Chamo.  A wide variety of plains game roam freely amongst 514m2 of savannah, dry bush and groundwater forest, which are also the habitat of 188 recorded species of birds. Animals to be seen are Bushbuck, Swayne's Hartebeest, Burchell's Zebra, Grant's Gazelle, Guenther's Dik-dik, Greater Kudu, Crocodile, Anubis Baboon, Grey Duiker. Birds seen include Red-billed Hornbill, Grey Hornbil,l Fish Eagle, Kori Bustard, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill..  A backdrop of hills and mountains combine to make this one of the most attractive national parks in Ethiopia, and its location makes it very accessible. In the far eastern part of the park hot springs bubble to the surface

1.5.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 kilometres. Mammal species total 81, including hartebeest, giraffe, roan antelope, elephant, lion, leopard and perhaps even a rare black rhino. Temperatures swing between 14°C and 41°C and rainfall is low.

1.6.Gambela National Park

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 are found all the elements of the African safari, enhanced by a distinctly Ethiopian flavor.

Nile perch weighing  100 kilos can be caught in the waters of the Baro, snatched from the jaws of the  huge crocodiles that thrive along the riverbank. The white-eared kob also haunts the Baro, along with other riverbank residents that include the Nile lechwe, buffalo, giraffe, tiang, waterbuck, roan antelope, zebra, bushbuck, Abyssinian reedbuck, warthog, hartebeest, lion,  elephant and hippopotamus.

1.7.Bale Mountains National Park

With their vast moorlands, extensive heath, virgin woodlands, pristine mountain streams and alpine climate, the Bale Mountains remain an untouched and beautiful world. Rising to a height of more than 4,000 metres, the range borders the southern highlands of Ethiopia. The establishment of the 2,400 square kilometres park was crucial to the survival of the mountain nyala, Menelik's bushbuck and Simien red wolf. The Bale Mountains offer some fine high-altitude horse and foot trekking, and the streams of the park are well stocked with rainbow and brown trout. The park contains the highest peak in southern Ethiopia, Tullu Deemtu. The centre of the park is the high Saneti plateau of 4,000 metres, which is crossed by the highest all-weather road in Africa. A good area to explore first is Gaysay, which provides a good wildlife watching. The area derives its name from the little Gaysay River. Colobus monkeys are often seen in the Hagenia forest. The area guarantees views of the endemic nyala, grey duiker, warthog and Menelik's bushbuck. Occasionally leopards can also be sighted.

1.8.Awash National Park

Awash National Park is the oldest and most developed wildlife reserve in Ethiopia. Featuring the 1,800 metre high Fantalle Volcano, mineral hot-springs, and extraordinary volcanic formations, this natural treasure is bordered by the Awash River and lies 225 kilometres 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 kilometres. Another feature of the park is the hot springs, or Filwoha. The water of these springs and rivers is in the region of 36°C. The unbelieveably clear blue pools. Surrounded by doum palms, invite the traveler to wash off the dust

1.9.Abijatta-Shalla National Park

215 kilometres from Addis Ababa, the park covers 887 square kilometres, of which more than half is water. Lake Shala is thought to be the deepest lake in Africa north of the Equator. Lake Abijatta is circled by 60 kilometres of white shoreline. Both lakes are saline and several hot springs bubble up by the shore and flow into Lake Shalla. Despite their natural beauty, these lakes are best known for their bird life. At Abijatta, never more than 10 metres deep, greater and lesser flamingos abound, along with white-necked cormorants, herons, storks, spoonbills, ibises, African ducks, gulls and terns. During the northern winter thousands of Asiatic and European ducks and waders migrate to Abijatta's shores. Lake Shala is well known for its large colony of great white pelicans - the most important breeding colony for this species in Africa.

2. Wildlife Sanctuaries

2.1.Harar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Harar Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as the Babille Elephant Sanctuary) is a protected area in Ethiopia. It is located in the Misraq (East) Hararghe Zone of the Oromia Region, south of Babille, with a central latitude and longitude of 8°45′N 42°38′ECoordinates: 8°45′N 42°38′E. Encompassing 6,982 square kilometres, the Sanctuary embraces the valleys of the Erer, Daketa and Fafen as well as the Gobele and Borale rivers; all are tributaries of the Shabelle River. Elevations range from 1000 to 1750 metres above sea level, with the lowest elevations at the southern part of the protected area.

The Sanctuary was created to for the conservation of the native elephant sub-species (Loxodonta africana oleansie), and is also home for the black-maned lion.Conditions at this sanctuary are primitive, and it is not equipped for tourists,[3] although the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced plans to remedy this shortcoming.

2.2.Kuni-Muktar Mountain Nyala Sanctuary

Kuni-Muktar Mountain Nyala Sanctuary is a protected area and wildlife sanctuary in Ethiopia. It was set up in 1989 through the intervention of the Zoological Society of London to safeguard a small decreasing population of the critically endangered Tragelaphus buxtoni or Mountain Nyala.

Mountain Nyala, endemic to Ethiopia, are that country's biggest and rarest antelope, but also a most prized hunt for a few, the total cost of a photo and a head trophy ranging between 35,000 and 50,000 USD. Though this animal was reported extinct in the sanctuary by 1996, it was found present in small numbers by a local count in 2002, and an Italian mission confirmed its presence in 2008. The remnant population is estimated at 70-80 by Vigano based on ground observation and counts and at 200 by Evangelista, based on satellite photography and a prediction method. The same mission noted actions by a local hunter to obtain permission to obtain trophies through a stratagem. The Ethiopian Environment Protection Authority reportedly began legal action against the hunter in December 2008

2.3.Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary

The Senkelle Wldlife Sanctuary is located 48km west of Hawassa; it is 340 kms south of Addis Ababa and covers an area of 54km2. The sanctuary was originally established to protect the endemic and endangered antelope species called Swayne’s hartebeests. The sanctuary is located in between Oromia and SNNPRS and managed by the Ethiopian Wildlife Cconservation Authority. The open acacia woodland of the reserve is quite scenic and some of the animals are easily spotted, specially the Swayne’s hartebeests, the population of which is currently estimated at between 600 and 800. The sanctuary harbor other wild animals including Bohor, reedbucks, greater kudus, orbis antelopes, spotted hyenas, serval and civet cats, caracals, warthogs, common jackals as well as 91 species of bird

2.4.Stephanie Wildlife Sanctuary 0911408148

Stephanie Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area and wildlife sanctuary in Ethiopia

2.5.Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary

Yabello Sancutury lies 565 Km south of Addis Ababa on the Awasa-Moyale highway. It is 10km east of Yabello town in Borena Zone, Oromia Regional State. It was primarily set up to protect and conserve the Swayne’s Hartbeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynii, an endemic Hrtbeest. While the average elevation throughout is 1700 masl, it can range from 1400 to 2000 masl. Areas around Yabello recive an annual rainfall of around 700 mm. The main rainy season extends from April to May. Shorter and less reliable rains occur during October. Mean annual temperature is 190C with a mean minimum and maximum of 13 and 250C, respectively. High temperature are usually recorded from January to February. The dominant vegetation community is savannah with different woody and herbaceous plants. The major trees are Acacia drepanalobium, A.brevispica, and A. horida. Lower altitudes exhibit Balanties aegyptiaca and Commiphora-Terminalia Vegitation mixtures. Juniperus procera and Olea europea subsp cuspidate forests used to cover most of the hills in the past. Remnant forest trees can still be observes around the hills surrounding Yabello even today. The Borena pastoralists are the dominant tribe here and they still practice pastoralism in the rangelands of Borena. The park is important for a number of mammals as well as rare bird species. At least 210 species of birds have been recorded of which 62 are Somali-Masai Biome species. Mammal species include Swayne’s Hartebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Grant ’s gazelle and Guenther’s Dik-Dik. The park affords protection to the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest and is the home of the endemic and vulnerable Ethiopian Bush Crow and White-tailed Swallow are also restricted-range species. Other non-endemic but globally threatened species includes the Taita Falcon. With 62 Somali-Masai Biome birds, the site affords protection to 64% of Ethiopia’s Somali-Masai Biome assemblage. Other interesting birds found here include Ostrich, Short-tailed Larck, Pringle’s puff-back, Northern Grey Tit, Abyssinian Grosbeak Canary, Vulturine Guinea Fowl, Somali Sparrow, Black-capped social Weaver, Donaldson-Smith Nightjar, Star-spotted Nightjar, Grey-headed Social Weaver and Magpie Starling. The site is good for Burchell’s Zebra and smaller numbers of Grant’s Gazelle and Gerenuk