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Awash National Park
Awash National Park is located 225 km east
of Addis Ababa, the Park stretches 30km east to west and a little
less from north to south. The terrain is mainly acacia woodland and
grassland.
Wildlife
At all places and all times it is possible to see game: Oryx,
Soemmerring's gazelle and wild pig are common. Slightly less
frequent are the furry waterbuck which tend to appear near the river
in the late afternoon. The tiny dik-dik, not easy to spot in the
speckled shade of the acacia thorn, zebra grazing the plains to the
west of Fantale, cheetah, serval and leopard are also there but it
is not easy to spot them; baboons, both anubis and hamadryas, kudus,
lesser and greater, the giant tortoise, hippo, reedbuck, aardvark
and caracal are also represented. Klipspringer inhabit the higher
slopes of the mountain and curious hyrax peer at you curiously from
behind their rocks. In the bottom of the gorge you can spot the
black and white colobus monkey.
Birdlife
Over four hundred species are recorded for the park: (The check list
is available at the museum at park Head quarters). They range from
the great ostrich, frequently and easily observed, and the less
common Secretary Bird and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, to the flashes
of brilliant pink which are the Carmine Bee-eaters, and the
Abyssinian Roller with turquoise and purple, wings. And between
these two extremes, birds of the riverine forest, Coucal, Turaco,
Go-away Birds; birds of prey; and birds of the savannah.
Attraction
The park itself is traversed by a series of well-maintained tracks,
which take in the most spectacular of the many scenic attractions.
It is possible, and perhaps advisable, to hire a park guide.
To the north at Filwoha lies the hot springs oasis in its groves of
palm trees. It is reached by either one of two scenic tracks which
start opposite the main gate on the far side of the road and bearing
right, progress either along the floor of the Awash Falls lower
Valley or along the top of the ridge.
The Awash river gorge in the south of the park has some spectacular
waterfalls near the park headquarters.
Access
Less than three hours' drive from Addis Ababa, or one and a half
from Nazaret is the Awash National park and Game Reserve. The main
entrance is at the 190 km. mark and you have already passed the park
boundary as you crossed the railway track just before Fantalle
Crater, which rises 600 m. from the valley floor on the left. At
this point there is a track to the left and it is possible to drive
either up to the crater rim or right round the park to the hot
springs although the road is such that the prospect will not tempt
everyone. It is probably wiser to enter the main gate first and
travel comfortably down towards the Awash River which constitutes
the southern boundary of the park. Here is park Headquarters, sited
near the dramatic Awash falls where the river enters its gigantic
gorge.
Accommodation
A small bar and museum are conveniently near the camping site. The
main lodge is several kilometres away across the IIala Sala plains:
perched on the very rim of the gorge are several luxurious
air-conditioned caravans and just on the edge, a restaurant and
small swimming pool.
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