Awash National Park

The Awash National Park is located in the lowlands at the heart of the rift valley, east of Addis Ababa (approx. 250 km) adjacent to the Awash River. It is one of the finest nature reserves in Ethiopia. The Awash River is one of the major rivers of the Horn of Africa and waters important agricultural lands in the northeastern parts of Ethiopia. The Awash National Park, surrounding the dormant volcano of Fentale, is a reserve of arid and semi-arid woodland and savannah, with riverine forests along the Awash River.
The Awash Falls
The beautiful Awash Falls is an impressive site, especially in the rainy season. A short walk leads to the falls and the riverine forest supports good birdlife and (vervet) monkeys.
Wildlife
The park offers a good variety of wildlife but the numbers are small. The beisa oryx, Soemmering’s gazelle and Salt’s dik-dik need to be mentioned but also lesser and greater kudu, defassa waterbuck and warthog are common. Big predators like lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena (spotted and striped) are present but not often seen.
Birdlife
The different habitats in the park support a wide range of bird species. Over 450 species are recorded in the park, among them some endemic or near-endemic species. This makes the park a prime destination for enthusiast birders..