Highlights: Awash National Park, Eastern Region of Ethiopia
Awash National Park
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Worth Noting:
Type:
- National parks
- Game drives
- Bird watching
- Trekking
- Geographical sites
- Lake
Difficulty:
- Moderate level of fitness
Park Fees:
- Under 50 USD
About Awash National Park
Awash National Park was formed by extreme volcanic activity: underground movement from around 40 million years ago thrust hot springs, craters and gorges from the earth’s crust and formed the striking landscape that can be seen today. This rich and varied park was gazetted in 1966.
Fantale Mountain, a strato-volcano with a large summit caldera, is the highest point in the park, standing at just over 2,000m. The volcano has erupted a few times in the last millennium, the most recent of which was 1820, and the lava and ash from these eruptions has made the soil fertile. The flora that grows here is diverse, and includes grassland, acacia scrub, palm forest and riverine forest.
Lake Awash, Awash Falls and the deep and striking gorge carved by the Awash River are other notable geographical formations – all of which are remarkable to look at. The water of the natural hot springs is believed to have healing powers; the list of ailments it’s said to cure is long and surprisingly detailed.
The wildlife resident in the park includes a number of rare species; the beisa oryx, soemmerring’s gazelle, and greater and lesser kudu are found here. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded here including a few endemic species and several raptors. Activities in the park include game drives, bird watching, trekking, camping and swimming in the therapeutic hot springs.
Other Highlights In The Eastern Region
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Awash National Park was formed by extreme volcanic activity: underground movement from around 40 million years ago thrust hot springs, craters and gorges from the earth’s crust and formed the striking landscape that can be seen today. This rich and varied park was gazetted in 1966. Fantale Mountain, a strato-volcano with ...
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Accommodations Near Awash National Park
Awash National Park is in one of the most geologically active regions of the world, where volcanoes and shifting rifts between plates have been occurring for about 40 million years. Towering over the national park is Fantale Mountain, a strato-volcano with a large summit caldera. Awash Falls Lodge is perched on ...
Surrounded by a doum palm forest, Doho Lodge looks across the savannah towards Fantale Mountain, a strato-volcano with a large summit caldera. The area is particularly known for the natural hot springs, which are believed to have healing waters. The lodge has 20 traditional tukuls, all en-suite. The restaurant serves Ethiopian ...