Africa

Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Parks

Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park is situated in the Great Rift Valley, 200 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, and in the Lake Langano recreational areas, the Abijatta Shalla lakes National Park attracts numerous visitors. Using Lake Langano as your base, it is an easy trip to visit the National Park, which is 887 square kilometers in size, 482 of these being water.

The altitude of the park ranges from 1540 to 2075 meters, the highest peak being mount Fike, situated between the two lakes. The network of tracks in this park is always developing. At present you can enter at four different points, three of which are inter connected. Approaching from Addis you first reach the Horakello entrance, where the small Horakello stream flows between lakes Langano and Abijatta.

It was created primarily for its aquatic bird life, particularly those that feed and breed on lakes Abijatta and Shalla in Large numbers. The park compresses the two lakes, the isthmus between them and a thin strip of land along the shorelines of each. Developments have been limited to a number of tracks on land, and the construction of seven outposts. While attention is focused on the water birds, the land area does contain a reasonable amount of other wildlife.

Lake Abijatta
Two different lakes in one park, the two lakes are both terminal lakes and their beaches are unstable and saline, but they are very different in character. Abijatta is shallow at about 14 meters with a mysterious fluctuating water level. Fresh water flows into it trough the small Horakello stream. The steam mouth is a source of relatively fresh water, much frequented by water birds for drinking and bathing. The Lake is surrounded by gentle, grass covered slopes and acacia woodlands.

Lake Shalla
by contrast , surrounded as it is by steep, black cliffs and peaks that reflect in its waters, is the deepest lake of the Rift Valley (260 meters (853 feet). , It is exceptionally beautiful, with shores that give a scent of mystery with their hot sulphurous springs that bubble up and flow into the lake.

There are over 400 bird species recorded here, almost half the number recorded for the whole country. Although the islands in Lake Shalla are a real birds paradise, the birds fly to Lake Abijatta to feed. Abijatta itself is very alkaline but shallow, so flamingoes can be seen scattered over most of its surface, and especially along the windward edge where their algal food source concentrates. You can approach quite closely, but beware of treacherous deep and mud if the lake is low. Large numbers of flamingos gather here, together with great white pelicans and a wide variety of other water birds.

Besides of the rich Bird life, some mammals can be spotted at the Lake Abijatta-Shalla National Park, especially Grants gazelle, Oribi warthog and the Golden Jackal.

Hot springs: The headquarters houses a small museum, which gives an excellent idea of the wealth of bird life in the park. A further track leads on from Dole to the shores of Lake Shalla where hot steam, mud and water bubble to the earths surface. Revered locally for their medicinal properties, the hot springs have a sense of primeval mystery about hem, especially in the cooler early mornings. They are relics of the massive volcanic activity that has formed this amazing country and landscape

Other Attractions in the regions
Other Attractions In association with the Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park is Senkello Swaynes hartebeest Sanctuary, some 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the town of Shashemene, and close to the Chitu entrance of the park. The sanctuary was established for this endemic subspecies of the hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) which once roamed the plans of Somalia and Ethiopia in thousands, but is now restricted to four small localities in Ethiopia. The sanctuary is small but well worth a visit. Set beneath a small rounded hill, over 2,000 of these rich, chocolate colored hartebeest are packed into this area of wooded grassland, along with bohor reedbuck (Redunca Redunca), Oribi Warthog and many different species of birds.

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.

Omo National Park

Omo National Park is situated at the south-west on the west bank of Omo River. This park is 870km south-west of Addis Ababa, covering an area of approx 4,070 sq km

Omo National Park is home for buffalo, elephant, giraffe, cheetah, lion, leopard, zebra, kudu, hartebeest, oryx, Anubis baboon and many other animals. Over 306 species of birds exist in this national park. This is also a wonderful area for visiting local peoples and experiencing their cultures.
The park is not easily accessible. The park HQ is 75km from Kibish settlement. However, a new airstrip is available close to the HQ and to a pleasant campsite on the Mui River.

Nechi Sar National Park

This park is situated 510km south of Addis near the town of Arba Minch, in between Lakes Abaya and Chamo.

This park has a wide variety of plains game roam freely amongst 514m2 of savannah, dry bush and groundwater forest. This forest is also the habitat of 188 recorded species of birds also home to some wild animals like Bushbuck, Swayne’s Hartebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, Grant’s Gazelle, Guenther’s Dik-dik, Greater Kudu, Crocodile, Anubis Baboon, Grey Duiker. Birds seen include Red-billed Hornbill, Grey Hornbil,l Fish Eagle, Kori Bustard, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill..

A backdrop of hills and mountains combine to make this one of the most attractive national parks in Ethiopia, and its location makes it very accessible. In the far eastern part of the park hot springs bubble to the surface

Semien Mountains National Park

The breathtaking mountain landscape and vegetation provide some of the finest scenery in the country. Many of the animals living in the Simien Mountains exist only in Ethiopia and some exist only in the Simiens. Lammergeier vultures, whose wingspan reaches up to 10 ft/3 m, have been reintroduced and are now protected by national park rules. Other endemic animals include the Simien wolf (an endangered species), Gelada baboons (which seem to have lost all fear of humans) and walia ibex. (While there are only about 100 walia ibex left in the world, we saw six of them on our last trip.) The Simiens are also home to several endemic plants, including the giant lobelia, whose hollow seedpod can grow up to 20 ft/6 m high and was often used by soldiers for stashing arms.

The park’s headquarters are at Debark, on the main road. Park authorities will provide a guide and an armed scout (in case of poachers) and will arrange for the rental of mules to carry additional food and gear. The guide, scout, trekking permit and mules should cost about US$200 for a week. Visitors can buy supplies and rent camping stoves in Debark, but tents and warm sleeping bags should be brought from home. Take warm clothing as well as protection from the sun and rain. (The rainy season is May-October.) Although only limited food is available in the small towns within the park, the Muslim villagers (who have lived in this mostly Christian region since the 17th century) are happy to supply nonalcoholic barley beer to thirsty hikers. 325 mi/525 km northwest of Addis Ababa.