Abjatta – Shalla National Park is the national park located in the Oromia Region 200 kilometers south of Addis Ababa to the east of the Ziway—Shashemane highway. It covers 887 square kilometers including the rift valley lakes of Abjatta and Shalla. The two lakes are separated by three kilometers of hilly land. The altitude of the park ranges from 1,540 to 2,075 meters, the highest peak being Mount Fike, which is situated between the two lakes.
Besides the two lakes, the primary attraction of this national park are a number of hot springs on the northeast corner of Lake Abjatta, and large numbers of flamingoes on the lake.
Alatish is a newly established national park that is located in Quara Woreda of North Gondar Zone. It was established in 2006 and derives its name from the Alatish River that has its source in the park and flows to the Sudan. The park covers an area of 266,570 ha composed of lowland woodlands. Landscape at Alatish is flat with elevation ranging from 520 to 920 meters above sea level. There are a few hills in the eastern and north–eastern parts of the area. The twin mountains of Amdog are a special feature in the south–western corner of the park. These areas provide suitable habitat for seasonal wetlands, which in turn are productive habitats for birds, fish and other wildlife. The vegetation of the park is classified as Combretum–Terminalia Broad–Leaved Deciduous Woodland. Dominant grass species include Cymbopogon Spp., Hyperhenia Filipendula, Echinochloa Sp, Pennisetum Spp. There are 26 larger mammals (excluding rodents) and 143 recorded bird species. The ornithology of the area requires more investigation but estimates based on habitat diversity show that there could be anything between 250—400 species of birds. Alatish also has a number of historical and cultural assets, of these, a large Baobab tree at Omedla and the ethnic composition of the area made up of Felata and Gumuz communities are important tourist attractions. Alatish serves as a migratory route for Elephants, which traverse from Dinder National Park in the Sudan. As a result, its role is significant in the formation of a trans–boundary park between Ethiopia and neighboring Sudan. The various rivers that drain into Sudan from Alatish are important tributaries of the Nile.Alatish National Park
The Addis Ababa — Dire Dawa highway passes through this park, separating the Illala Saha Plains to the south from the Kudu Valley to the north. In the south of the park the Awash River Gorge has amazing waterfalls. In the upper Kudu Valley at Filwoha are hot springs amid groves of palm trees.Awash National Park
The Awash National Park was established in 1966, habitats include arid and semi–arid woodland and riverine forest. Wildlife include the East Africaan Oryx, Soemmerring’s Gazelle, Dik–Dik, the Lesser and Greater Kudus, Warthogs, Anubis Baboons, and Hamadruas Baboons. There are 63 species of large mammals as well as over 453 species of native birds like the North Africa Ostriches.
