- Reserve area: 756 square meters. km
- Foundation date: 1966.
Approximately 200 km east of Addis Ababa , near the city of Avash is a national park bearing the same name. It was founded in 1966 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Geography of the park
Approximately 200 km east of Addis Ababa , near the city of Avash is a national park bearing the same name. It was founded in 1966 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Geography of the park
The territory of the reserve has an area of more than 756 square meters. km. The territory divides into two parts the highway leading from Addis Ababa to Dyre-Daua ; north of the highway is the valley of Illala-Saha, and to the south - Kidu.
From the south the border of the park passes along the Awash River and Lake Basaka. The territory of the park is stratovolcano Fentale - the highest point not only of Avash Park, but also of the entire Fentale district: the mountain reaches a height of 2007 m and the depth of the crater is 305 m. The researchers believe that the last eruption of the volcano occurred around the 1810s.
On the territory of the park, thanks to the volcanic activity that has not ceased, there are many hot springs that tourists are happy to visit. The park also offers rafting on the Awash River.
Paleontological finds
The Awash River in Ethiopia (more precisely, the valley of its lower reaches) has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1980 thanks to the amazing paleontological finds that have been made here. In 1974, there were found fragments of the skeleton of the famous Australopithecus Lucy.
In addition, here were found the remains of prehuman hominids, whose age is about 3-4 million years. It is thanks to the finds near the Avash River that Ethiopia is considered the "cradle of humanity".
Flora and fauna of the reserve
The park consists of two eco-regions: a grassy plain and a wooded savanna, where acacia is the predominant species of vegetation. In the Kudu valley, on the shore of small lakes, whole thickets of palm trees grow.
In the park there are more than 350 species of birds, including:
- motley kingfisher;
- several species of pigeons;
- a magnificent ibis (another name is hagedash);
- sacred ibis;
- African beak;
- ostrich;
- bird secretary;
- turako.
Mammals in the park live 46 species, from tiny antelope diks to gigantic hippopotamuses. Here you can see wild boars, kudu - small and large, Somali gazelles, oryx, as well as many different primates: olive baboons, hamadryles, green monkeys, black and white colobus.
There are predators here: leopards, cheetahs, servals. The river in some areas is simply teeming with crocodiles, which, however, does not prevent local children who graze goats on its shores, bathe.
Accommodation
In the park there are lodges, where tourists can stay for overnight if they wish. The houses in them are made in a traditional manner - woven from branches and smeared with clay, but each has a shower and a toilet with a sink.
In the lodge you can take a guide to go for a long walk along the river. Prices for accommodation in the houses are very moderate, with a must surely grab a repellent - there are a lot of mosquitoes. Another danger that should be avoided is the curious primates. Hammadry and baboons walk through the territory of the lodge and easily enter the houses; in search of something delicious they can scatter, and even spoil things.
How to visit the park?
Access to Avash Park from Addis Ababa is possible by car on Road 1; the journey will take approximately 5.5 hours. You can go and public transport: from the central station to the city of Avash go by buses. You can get there with a transfer: from Addis Ababa to Nazareth, and from there to Avash.