NATIONAL PARKS SAFARIS ETHIOPIA

HIGHLIGHTS, WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW TO VISIT

AWASH NATIONAL PARK ANIMALS

AWASH NATIONAL PARK & FALLS TOUR & LODGE. Volcanic national park, beautiful canyon, semi-desert wildlife and hot springs

Awash National Park

Read all about Awash National Park, at ± 225km from Addis Ababa; 80+ mammals 300+ birds, Fabulous waterfall + Photos; Wonderful lodge; Spectacular canyon. The 75,600ha park can be reached in about 3 hours over the highway to Djibouti, which actually runs through it separating the Illala Saha Plains to the south from the Kudu Valley to the north. The Awash River runs through a canyon or gorge in the Southern part of the park where it falls off the cliffs of the famous Awash Waterfalls. The Awash Falls Lodge is located within the park at 5 minutes walking distance from the falls.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Most of our hundreds of pictures are favored in Google! Why? Because no other website has so many beautiful high resolution pictures, all taken by ourselves. Our pictures not only show you the beauty of Ethiopia, but they also show that we have been everywhere when we researched all parks for the Ethiopian Wildlife Autharity, photographing wildlife, plants, people and culture. Read our PDF report to the Government on Parks an Culture! So why consider booking our our Ethiopia Culture & National Parks modules? Because only we combine the culture of Ethiopia with its nature. We don't mislead you like many tour operators do. When the Blue Nile falls are dry.... we tell you. When fog clouds the lava lake of Erte Ale Volcano? We let you know. Just drop us a mail info@nationalparks-worldwide.com  and we will check it out for you.

Our tours take you to ALL famous cultural places of Ethiopia, and on top of that, you get to see up to 20 large parks accompanied by a conservation professional, not a mere guide. There is nothing similar on the market. Check out our tours in modules like: Historical Circuit; Danakil Depression; Eastern Route; Simien Mountains; Bale Mountains; Southern Parks Safari; Gambella; Addis Ababa. BUT WAIT: if you buy your international ticket with Ethiopia Airlines, they will sell the internal flights at a price that you can't even ride the bus for. But you MUST plan it all in one package and making changes may be very costly. So let us help you plan your entire trip and book your local flights for an incredibly low price after you booked your international flight with Ethiopian Airlines! Also: Ethiopia can be combined with other East African countries, we organize.

The Awash river never reaches the sea as it ends in the highly saline Lake Abbe, gradually losing its water to evaporating - and irrigated farming - as it runs through the arid Awash Valley. North of the highway, the landscape is dominated by the Fentale Volcano at the Northern border of the park where one can seen its last lava enormous lava flow of 1820. One also finds the Filwoha oasis with hot springs amid a palm grove at the Northeastern park limit.

Most of the park is covered by shrub savannah and open grassland, with exception of the left shore of the Awash River, which is a dense Gallery forest.

Wildlife in Awash National Park include animals like: the Oryx, Soemmerring's Gazelle, the tiny Salt Dik-Dik, the lesser and greater Kudus, Warthogs, Defarsa waterbuck, Anubis and Hamadryas baboons, Colobus and Grivet monkeys, Leopards, Lions, Black-Backed and Golden Jackals, Caracals, Servals and Wildcats.

The bird list has about 470 species, of which we mention:

• Six endemics: Banded Barbet, Golden-Backed Woodpecker, White-Winged Cliff Chat, White-Tailed Starling, Thick-Billed Raven and Wattled Ibis;

• On the open grassland plains one has a chance to see several species hawks and Secretary birds, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Carmine Bee-eaters, and the Abyssinian Roller;

• In the wooded vegetation one can find Emerald-Spotted Wood Dove, Green Wood-Hoopoes, Red and Yellow Barbets, Coucal, Turaco, Go-away bird, Silver-cheeked hornbill just to name a few.

Awash Falls

Half hidden in a side canyon, the Awash Falls are among the scenic highlights of Ethiopia. 

The Awash Falls during the dry season when water is clear but not quite as high.

Awash National Park entrance station.

The Park main entrance going to the Awash Falls.

Awash Falls Lodge at walking distance from the Awash Falls

Awash Falls Lodge Restaurant.

Creek flowing Filwoha Hotsprings lined by Palm trees.

Palm oasis at the Filwoha Hotsprings.

The Fentale Volcano with open grasslands in the foreground and shrub savanna on the foothill and slope.

Visitor bus on a shady parking place under the gallery forest of the Awash River.

Hamadryas Baboon in Awash National Park.

Ostriches at the grasslands of Awash.

East African Oryx are common in the shrub savannah and plains of Awash National Park.

Omnipresent Warthogs, mother with young near the Filwoha Hotsprings.

Lesser Kudus prefer the cover of dense vegetation of the woodlands and dense shrub savannahs.

Greater Kudus like to hide in the gallery forest along the Awash River.

Leopard or Panther is the adaptable predator that survives in most national parks, but is not all that often seen.

One can often hear the Black Maned Lion at night when one sleeps in the Afar Falls Lodge.

Silvery-cheeked Hornbills can be found in the Gallery forest of Awash National Park.

Endemic Wattled Ibis are often seen in the open grasslands in the park.

Carmine Bee-eaters like to flesh there bright colors as they perch on a branch on the lookout for insects.

Endemic Thick-billed raven are a common sighting in Awash National Park.

Chameleons are not often seen, as they are the perfect camouflage animals.

Like in most rivers in Ethiopia, African Crocs are common in the Awash River.

Awash National Park Tour: