Awash
National Park
Wildlife
Bird life Other
Attractions Getting There
Accommodation
Click
here for Tour Information
Awash National
Park is Located in the lowlands 225 km east of Addis Ababa,
the south
boundary of
the park is formed by the Awash river which swings North soon after leaving the
park and eventually disappears into the Afar (Danakil) region. The Park covers
an area of 827 square kilometers, most of it lies at an altitude of 900 meters.
In the middle of the park is the dormant volcano of Fantale, reaching a height
of 2007 meters at its top. Temperatures in the park are hot and can reach as
high as 42 degrees Celsius. Nights are cooler with temperatures between 10 and
22 degrees Celsius. Rain falls between February and August with an average of
619 mm. The terrain is
mainly acacia woodland and grassland.
Getting
there
Less than three hours drive from Addis Ababa, or one and a half
from Nazareth along the main Addis-Harar highway, a good tarmac
road, is the Awash National park and Game Reserve. The main
entrance is at the 190 km. mark and you have already passed the
park boundary as you crossed the railway track just before Fantale Crater, which rises 600 m. from the valley floor on the
left. At this point there is a track to the left and it is
possible to drive either up to the crater rim or right round the
park to the hot springs although the road is such that the
prospect will not tempt everyone. It is probably wiser to enter
the main gate first and travel comfortably down towards the Awash
River which constitutes the southern boundary of the park. Here is
park Headquarters, sited near the dramatic Awash falls where the
river enters its gigantic gorge.
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Wildlife
The wildlife of
Awash reflects its dry nature, at
all places and all times it is possible to see its population of
mammals such as the Beisa Oryx, Soemmerrings Gazelle and Wild Pigs are common. Slightly less
frequent are the furry waterbuck which tend to appear near the
river in the late afternoon. The tiny Salts Dik-Dik, not easy to spot in
the speckled shade of the acacia thorn, Zebra grazing the plains
to the west of Fantale, Cheetah, Serval and Leopard are also there
but it is not easy to spot them; Baboons, both Anubis and Hamadryas,
Kudus, lesser and greater, the Giant Tortoise, Reedbuck, Aardvark and Caracal are also represented. Klipspringer
inhabit the higher slopes of the mountain and curious Hyrax peer
at you curiously from behind their rocks. In the bottom of the
gorge you can spot the black and white Colobus Monkey. Crocodile
and Hippopotamus are seen both in the Awash river and in the cooler parts of the
hot springs and rivers in the north.
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Bird life
The birds of Awash are numerous, over 350 species are recorded for the park: (The check list is
available at the museum at park Head quarters). They range from
the great ostrich, frequently and easily observed, and the less
common Secretary Bird and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, to the
flashes of brilliant pink which are the Carmine Bee-eaters, and
the Abyssinian Roller with turquoise and purple, wings. And
between these two extremes, birds of the riverine forest, Coucal,
Turaco, Go-away Birds; birds of prey; and birds of the savannah.
(for more information about Bird-watching see our Bird-watching
Page)
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Other
Attractions
The park itself is traversed by a series of well-maintained
tracks, which take in the most spectacular of the many scenic
attractions. It is possible, and perhaps advisable, to hire a park
guide.
To the north at Filwoha lies the hot springs oasis in its groves
of palm trees. It is reached by either one of two scenic tracks
which start opposite the main gate on the far side of the road and
bearing right, progress either along the floor of the Awash Falls
lower Valley or along the top of the ridge.
The Awash river gorge in the south of the park has some
spectacular waterfalls near the park headquarters. Rafting
is also a possibility, one or two days rafting trips can be organized on the
Awash river, with its spirited rapids, wildlife, and impressive rugged cliffs
and side canyons
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Accommodation
In Awash National Park Camping is far out the best alternative,
camping sites are located on the edge of the river above the
falls, Large spreading trees provide not only shade but also they
shelter a wonderful collection of birds. A museum is near the camping site.
Top
boundary of
the park is formed by the Awash river which swings North soon after leaving the
park and eventually disappears into the Afar (Danakil) region. The Park covers
an area of 827 square kilometers, most of it lies at an altitude of 900 meters.
In the middle of the park is the dormant volcano of Fantale, reaching a height
of 2007 meters at its top. Temperatures in the park are hot and can reach as
high as 42 degrees Celsius. Nights are cooler with temperatures between 10 and
22 degrees Celsius. Rain falls between February and August with an average of
619 mm. The terrain is
mainly acacia woodland and grassland.
