Awash National Park

History

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Awash is one of the best areas in Africa to observe hyenas.

Climate

By car

Awash National Park is 200 km by road from Addis Ababa, 3 hours drive using the Addis Ababa–Adama Expressway.
It's 105 km north-east from Adama (Nazreth), national highway 4.
The is located in between two towns: Metehara (14 km west) and Awash (16 km east).

Large areas of the park need a good 4×4 with high chassis, particularly to visit the northern part including the Hot Springs, where the dirt road is damaged. A standard car can access the southern area south of national highway number 4.

• Awash waterfalls

  address: south of the park
  Waterfalls are more impressive during or just after the rainy season. Sometimes, olive baboons cross the river on the rocks at the top of the waterfalls and are visible from the lodge. Downstairs, you can walk along the Awash River, and you may see crocodiles sleeping on the rocks when the water flow is quiet (dry season). Seeing crocodiles may need the help of a ranger, because of their colour.

• Animal tour in the parkBy car. Visible animals: oryx beisa, kudus, dik-diks, sulcata tortoises, Soemmerring's gazelles, olive baboons. Sometimes, there are Afar people and their camels.

• Viewpoint on the Awash River gorges

  address: south-east of the park, in defunct Kereyu Lodge
  Viewpoint on the Awash River gorges and one of its tributaries.

• Hot Springs

• Mount Fentale

Lodging

• Awash Falls Lodge

  address: inside the park, 10 km south by dirt road
  The only active lodge inside the park. Simple bungalows in a traditional style. A nice lodge to sleep in a natural landscape, with a view of the waterfalls. A room for driver is included.

Camping

Backcountry

• Sodere - a 1-hour detour on the way back to Addis Ababa, to see the natural hot springs and the Spa, near Awash River. 25 km south of Adama on national highway 8.