AWASH NATIONAL PARK
Awash National Park
has 756 square kilometers area, situated at 225 kms south east of Addis
Ababa on the highway leading to Djibouti 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 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