AWASH NATIONAL PARK
Photo by Klemens
756 square kilometers area Awash national park is situated at 225 kms
south east of Addis Ababa on the highway leading to Asseb and Hararge.
The Awash National Park is the oldest and relatively the most developed
wildlife reserve in the country. The park is entirely established on the
plain of rift valley. With the exception of 600m high mountains Fantalle,
the park area is predominantly covered with acacia trees and Savannah
grass land. The main tourist attractions of the park include: • The 400
plant species growing in the park, the 46 major species of mammals and
453 species of birds among which six species are endemic to the country.
All the mammals are mainly composed of East African plain animals like
greater and lesser kudus, Oryx, bush buck, dik-dik, gazelle, fox, klipspringer,
cheetah, lions and others. The bird species include secretary birds, Abyssinian
ground hornbill, carmine bee eater, Abyssinian Roller and birds of riverine
forest like coucal, tureca and go away birds. • The Awash River at the
end of its slow and quite flowing in relatively plain surface suddenly
drops in to a gorge where the waters hit the bottom basaltic rocks to
form a smoky water falls that offers delight ful sensation. • Fantalle
Mountain, which rises majestically over the surrounding low land with
its fascinating feature of volcanic origin, and depression on top of the
mountain that form a rugged surface with clouds of volcanic steam rising
here and there. • The palm springs of the northern part of the park, where
hot water springs from the wall of hill flows down making a stream and
a natural swimming pool amidst palm trees. • The museum in the park head
quarters where trophies of animals living in the park are displayed.