Mago National Park
Mago National Park is situated in the Omo Valley. This valley is a smaller part of the Great Rift Valley system. The highest point on the northern part of the park is called Mount Mago and has an altitude of 2528 meters (8292 ft.) the Mago river starts at the foot of mount Mago to join the Omo river after a long journey. The Neri river which joins Mago river in the Central Mago Park is frequented by elephants and buffaloes from the surrounding area in short supply of water.
Mago National Park can be accessed after 540kms from Awassa, or 270 kms from Arbaminch or 35 kms from Jinka. The Ethiopian Air Lines flies twice a week to Jinka and the landing air strip in the park near Neri river serves small aircrafts. There are clean camping sites near the park’s administration office by the bank of River Neri. Mago and Omo are the only two parks in Ethiopia inhabited by hordes of elephants and buffaloes. There are about 2000 buffaloes and 200 elephants within the park. Endemic Rift Valley mammals and bird species abound in Mago and Omo National parks. Lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, greater and lesser kudus, reed bucks, spotted hyenas, Jakals, water bucks and baboons live in the park wilderness. The Burchell’s zebra lives in the plains beyond Mursi Hills.
Hartebeest lelwel, Tiang, Grants Gazelle, Wild cats inhabit the flat plains of the park. Wattled Ibis, thick billed raven, white cliff chat and black headed forest Oriole are four bird species native to Ethiopia. There are a total of 81 mammals and 153 bird species in the Mago National Park.
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