Things to Do in Awash National Park

Awash National Park covers ~800 square kilometers of Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley, where volcanic landscapes meet acacia woodlands. The park takes its name from the Awash River that cuts through its center, creating green vegetation ribbons that pull in wildlife year-round. Just 225 kilometers from Addis Ababa. Yet it feels genuinely wild, with dormant Fantale volcano dominating the skyline and hot springs bubbling from the earth. The landscape shifts constantly as you move through—dense riverine forests where Defassa waterbuck graze to open grasslands where oryx and gazelles bound across your path.

Dining options around Awash National Park are quite limited. Most visitors either stay at lodges that provide meals or bring their own food for camping. The park lodge offers basic Ethiopian and international dishes, though don't expect gourmet cuisine—just hearty, filling food that hits the spot after a day of game viewing. In nearby Awash town you'll find simple local restaurants serving injera with various stews and grilled meats. For those camping or on longer stays, bring supplies from Addis Ababa since local shops have limited selections and higher prices.

The dry season from October to March offers the best wildlife viewing conditions. Animals concentrate around water sources and vegetation is less dense. That said, this is also when temperatures can reach 35°C or higher during midday. The wet season from June to September brings cooler temperatures and lusher landscapes, but roads can become challenging and wildlife more dispersed. Many visitors find November through February the sweet spot—wildlife is still concentrated from the dry season but temperatures are more manageable for hiking and extended outdoor activities.