Wilderness Escapade

Awash & Aledeghi National Park Exploration

Introducing Wilderness Escapade

Awash & Aledeghi National Park Exploration

For busy business travelers seeking a brief escape into nature's embrace, this thrilling trip to Awash and Aledeghi National Park promises an unforgettable wilderness experience in Ethiopia. Leave the bustling city of Addis Ababa behind as you venture eastwards into the arid landscapes, immersing yourself in the mesmerizing beauty of these national parks.

Discover the roaring Awash Falls, where Nile Crocodiles bask on river banks, providing incredible photography opportunities. Explore the grasslands, acacia scrub, and riverine forests of Awash National Park, encountering Olive Baboons, Salt's Dikdiks, and Beisa Oryx. Marvel at the diverse birdlife, from Lappet-faced Vultures to Northern Carmine Bee-eaters.

Continue your journey to Aledeghi Plains, where rare species like the Arabian Bustard can be found, and encounter the nomadic Afar tribesmen, deeply rooted in their ancestral ways. Conclude your adventure with a return to Addis Ababa, carrying cherished memories of Ethiopia's wilderness.

Destination Highlights

Highlighted Destinations

Awash National Park
Photograph Nile Crocodiles, spot Olive Baboons and Salt's Dikdiks, and enjoy the rich birdlife, including Lappet-faced Vultures and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters.
Awash Falls
Experience the awe-inspiring spectacle of Awash Falls, practicing slow shutter speeds to capture the ethereal beauty of the cascading waters.
Aledeghi Plains
Embark on a game drive in Aledeghi Plains, encountering unique species like the Somali Ostrich, Arabian Bustard, and Martial and Short-toed Snake Eagles.
Cultural Encounters
Witness the nomadic Afar tribesmen, adorned in traditional attire and adhering to their ancestral ways of herding camels and goats.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 : Drive to Aledeghi National Park, reaching Doho Lodge for an overnight stay.
Day 2 : Embark on an early morning game drive in Aledeghi Plains, known for its remarkable birdlife and occasional mammal sightings. In the afternoon drive north to Awash National Park. Game drive in the late afternoon.
Day 3 : Early morning game drive in Awash National Park, immersing yourself in its mosaic of grasslands, acacia scrub, and riverine forests. Seek out fascinating species like Beisa Oryx and Northern Lesser Kudu. Bid farewell to Awash National park and journey back to Addis Ababa, reflecting on your captivating wilderness experience. Overnight stay in Addis Ababa.

Detail tour Itinerary

DAY 1: DRIVE TO AWASH NATIONAL PARK

We will leave Addis Ababa behind and head eastwards, leaving the fertile highlands behind and traveling through an increasingly arid country until we reach Alegeghi National Park, where we will stay overnight at a comfortable lodge in Doha.
The spectacular falls are right beside the lodge and are a great place to practice the pleasing effect of slow shutter speeds as the light dims. Large Nile Crocodiles are a feature here and can be photographed on the river banks and partly-submerged rocks, displaying those awesome arrays of teeth.
This afternoon will have our first opportunity to explore further afield. Overnight in Doho Lodge.

DAY 2: EXPLORE ALEDEGHI PLAINS AND DRIVE TO AWASH

Early morning game drive in Aledeghi Plains. Here you will search for Somali Ostrich, Martial and Short-toed Snake Eagles, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, the rare Arabian Bustard (perhaps the best location on earth for this species), Black-headed Lapwing, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, and Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark.
Occasionally highly nomadic species such as Pale Rock Finch or Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark move into the area as well. Depending on conditions, you may also see a number of mammals such as the Golden Jackal, Beisa Oryx, Grevy’s Zebra, and Soemmering’s Gazelle.
This land is inhabited by nomadic Afar tribesmen whom you will see dressed in their fine white cotton tunics, bedecked with traditional jewelry, daggers, and spears.
The men sport a unique bushy hairstyle, while women and girls are also extravagantly attired and adorned. They adhere strictly to their ancestral ways of tending their camel and goat herds and roaming throughout this inhospitable land.
As the day begins to heat up, you shall leave the Aledeghi Plains behind and head to Awash National Park. Overnight in Kuriftu Awash National Park.

DAY 3: EXPLORE AWASH NATIONAL PARK

We will spend the morning at Awash National Park. The terrain is mostly a mosaic of grassland and acacia scrub, but the Awash River flows through the area and supports some thin strips of riverine forest in places. A distinct advantage of Awash (and indeed all national parks we visit in Ethiopia) compared to many other African parks is that one is allowed to get out of the vehicles and photograph on foot owing to the virtual absence of dangerous mammals. Awash holds some interesting mammals, including Olive Baboon, the delightful little Salt’s Dikdik, and the handsome Beisa Oryx. With a bit of luck, we will also encounter Northern Lesser Kudu.
Birdlife is rich and varied (over 400- species have been recorded from Awash) and among the most appealing photographic targets are the huge Lappet-faced Vulture, Tawny Eagle, Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers, Pygmy and Lanner Falcons, Kori, Buff-crested and White-bellied Bustards, Black-headed Lapwing, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Blue-naped Mousebird, the superb Abyssinian Roller, the wonderful Northern Carmine Bee-eater (which sometimes uses the backs of Kori Bustards or even Somali Ostriches as a convenient lookout!), Northern Red-billed and Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbills, and the lovely Rosy-patched Bushshrike (pairs often duet together).
This afternoon you depart Awash National Park and head further north to Addis Ababa. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

How Can We Help You Create an Extraordinary Ethiopian Adventure?

At Sawla Tours, we are passionate about turning your travel dreams into reality. With years of hands-on experience in crafting unforgettable journeys to Ethiopia, we are your go-to experts in deciding when to travel, where to explore, and what to discover.

Whether you have a detailed itinerary in mind, seek professional advice, or simply don't know where to begin, we're eager to assist. Reach out to us today, and together, we'll create an extraordinary travel experience tailored just for you.