Located 253 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley, Awash National Park is the destination for this short wildlife safari. The park was created as a leisure area by the royal family in 1966.
The park has over 460 species of birds and some mammals like the Olive Baboon, Hamadryas Baboon, Lesser Kudu, Beisa Oryx, Desert Warthog, Grivet’s Monkey, African Wildcat, Aardwolf, Bat-eared Fox, Salt’s Dik-dik, Abyssinian Hare, and Spotted Hyena, along with some other rare mammals.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Addis Ababa – Awash National Park
Awash National Park is about 230 km from Addis Ababa. Arrive early. On the way, you will see the Debre Zeit Crater lakes. After lunch, continue through mountains and valleys shaped by volcanic eruptions toward Awash National Park.
Stop along the way to see how lava has changed the land on both sides of the road. Later, visit Beseka Lake, home to many birds like Wattled Ibis, African Fish Eagle, Saddled Stork, and Pink-winged Pelicans. The nomad Kereyu tribe brings large herds of camels here to drink.
We will travel to Awash National Park at sunset to see the beautiful Awash Falls. There may be a chance for an evening wildlife drive. You might see oryx, warthogs, gazelles, greater and lesser kudu, baboons, and colobus monkeys.
There is a better chance to spot other cats. Tonight’s lodge is in a beautiful part of the park facing the Awash River waterfall.
Day 2: Awash National Park – Ali Dege National Park
Early morning, enjoy a game drive through Awash National Park and the Ilala grassland near the falls. You may see many local birds as well as Olive Baboons, Beisa Oryx, Bushbucks, and Waterbucks.
After the drive, visit Doho Hot Springs. Doho Lodge overlooks Doho Lake, formed by several hot springs in the area. Spend the rest of the morning resting or relaxing at the hot springs.
You can also visit the nomadic Afar villages here. In the late afternoon, travel the last 70 kilometers to Ali Dege. You might see Kori Bustard, Arabian Bustard, Summering Gazelle, Gerenuk, and Grevy’s Zebra, among other wildlife.
Day 3: Awash – Addis Ababa
Drive back to Addis Ababa in the morning via the expressway and Debre Zeit. You can stop and relax at one of the beautiful resorts in Debre Zeit. Arrive in Addis Ababa by late afternoon.
