Introduction
Ethiopia has nine national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries. These are some of the least visited parks in Africa, but offer the chance to see some spectacular scenery and the diverse Ethiopian wildlife.
The Simien Mountains National Park in the north of the country is the best park for trekking. It's sharp angled peaks and dramatic gorges are truly breathtaking and the chance of bumping into a Gelada baboon makes the experience all the more memorable. Further south is the Nechisar National Park, where zebra can be seen in their hundreds on the savannah. It's a good place for bird watching, too, with more than 300 species recorded. The park also has a healthy population of smiling local crocodiles.
The oldest park in Ethiopia is the Awash National Park, where you'll discover hot springs and spectacular volcanic formations. The newest, the Mago National Park, is a low-lying plain where temperatures frequently touch 40 degrees or more. It's here that visitors can visit a traditional Mursi village.
