Awash National Park

Wildlife & Animals

18 Awash Tours

Expert

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Ethiopia.

Awash National Park has seen a fair amount of poaching, and wildlife viewing is hit-and-miss. However, when visiting some of the scenic highlights of the park, you might come across some animals. Beisa oryx and Soemmerring's gazelle are both quite common on the open plains, and the diminutive Salt's dik-dik might be spotted scurrying off in the long grass.

Ethiopian wolf None

Gelada monkey None

Walia ibex None

Beisa oryx Common

Soemmerring's
gazelle Common

Hamadryas baboon Common

Salt's dik-dik Common

Lesser kudu Occasional

Desert warthog Occasional

Olive baboon Abundant

Defassa waterbuck Occasional

Nile crocodile Occasional

Guereza monkey Rare

Spotted hyena Occasional

Wildlife Highlights

Look out for the rare hamadryas baboon. The females are easily mistaken for the more widespread olive baboon, but the males, with their white coats and imposing manes, are easily identified. Due to overlapping ranges, you might even see some hybrids. Other primates to look out for are the vervet monkey and the striking, black-and-white guereza monkey, which tends to keep to the forest along the Awash River.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Awash NP is not a prime wildlife destination, but animals can be seen throughout the year. July to September is the short Wet season and wildlife viewing might be less productive over that period. This is when animals spread out more and are less inclined to seek out the river, lakes and springs for drinking.