Joy Ethiopia tour and Travel


	The Riftvally and nature Festivals Ethnological	Trekking Fishing Rafting

The largest portion of the Great Rift Valley that traverses in Africa for 2800 km is found in Ethiopia. There are seven chains of lakes created by it that are habitats for a wide range of birds, indigenous animals, flowers and vegetations. The landscape, with two escarpments, creates a thrilling backdrop for many activities.

The Riftvally and nature

Abijatta-Shalla National Park

Abijatta-Shalla National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Oromia Region 200 kilometers south of Addis Ababa to the east of the Ziway - Shashamane highway, it contains 887 square kilometers including the Rift Valley lakes of Abijatta and Shalla. The two lakes are separated by three kilometers of hilly land. Besides the two lakes, the primary attraction of this national park are a number of hot springs on the northeast corner of Lake Abijatta, and large numbers of flamingoes on the lake. Care must be exercised in driving vehicles out to the edge of this lake, as the thin crust of dried mud on the surface can give way without warning.

Awash National Park

Awash National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia. Located at the southern tip of the Afar Region, this park is 225 kilometers east of Addis Ababa (and a few kilometers west of Awash), with its southern boundary along the Awash River, and covers at least 756 square kilometers of acacia woodland and grassland. 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. The Awash National Park was established in 1966, although the act authorizing its existence was not completely passed for another three years. Wildlife in this park includes the East African Oryx, Soemmerring's Gazelle, Dik-dik, and the lesser and greater Kudus, as well as over 350 species of native birds. In the upper Kudu Valley at Filwoha are hot springs amid groves of palm trees.

Gambela National Park

Gambela National Park is a proposed National Park, but the steps needed to fully protect it by the government of Ethiopia have not been completed as of 2002. Located in the Gambela Region, its 5061 square kilometers of territory is encroached upon by cotton plantations and refugee camps. The Gambela Park was established primarily to protect two species of endangered wetland antelopes: the White-eared kob and the Nile Lechwe. Other wildlife reported as living here include populations of elephant, African Buffalo, lion, roan antelope, tiang, Lelwel Hartebeest, olive baboon, and guereza monkey. Several birds only found in this area include the shoebill stork, the Uelle Paradise Whydah and the Red-throated and Green Bee-eaters.

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