Ethiopia Tourism

The Awash National Park

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Lying in the lowlands at the east of Addis Ababa, and as triding 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 north 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 the Fentale, 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 Heartbeest. The bird life is prolific especially along the river and in the nearby lake Basaka, and there're fine endemic amongst the 400 species recorded. A special attraction is the beautiful clear pools of the Filwoha hot spring.

The park's other most important geographical feature is the 2007 meters-high semi-dormant Fantale volcano. The slopes of the volcano comprise an extensive area of pools, a Crater Lake and mineral hot-springs surrounded by doom palms. One extraordinary feature of the volcano are a series of rocky blisters which, elsewhere in the world, can only be seen in Hawaii.

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Ethiopia Tourism