Awash National Park

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

🐒 Hamadryas Baboons Swarm Awash Gorges
🌍 #46 Global · 4.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #30 in Africa #1 in Desert & Scrub
Horn of Africa, Ethiopia 1030 spp. recorded

Awash National Park is a protected savanna and arid acacia scrubland situated in the lowlands of Ethiopia, marked by open dry plains and volcanic rocky ground. This terrain sets it apart from dense tropical reserves, offering wide vistas across sparse grasslands and dry river gorges where the heat defines the day.

8.951° N   39.989° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

East African Oryx ★
EN

East African Oryx

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx beisa

70–80% · Likely
Hamadryas Baboon ★
LC

Hamadryas Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio hamadryas

60–70% · Likely
Sömmerring's Gazelle ★
VU

Sömmerring's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nanger soemmerringii

60–70% · Likely
Leopard Tortoise ★
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Salt's Dik-dik
LC

Salt's Dik-dik

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Madoqua saltiana

60–70% · Likely
Grivet
LC

Grivet

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus aethiops

60–70% · Likely
Abyssinian Roller
LC

Abyssinian Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias abyssinicus

60–70% · Likely
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dinemellia dinemelli

60–70% · Likely
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
LC

Dark Chanting-Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax metabates

60–70% · Likely
Northern Carmine Bee-eater
LC

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops nubicus

50–60% · Likely
Isabelline Wheatear
LC

Isabelline Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe isabellina

50–60% · Likely
West African Crocodile

West African Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus suchus

50–60% · Likely
African Grey Hornbill
LC

African Grey Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros nasutus

50–60% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

50–60% · Likely
Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

50–60% · Likely
Common Hoopoe
LC

Common Hoopoe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Upupa epops

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

East African Oryx ★
EN

East African Oryx

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx beisa

70–80% · Likely
Hamadryas Baboon ★
LC

Hamadryas Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio hamadryas

60–70% · Likely
Sömmerring's Gazelle ★
VU

Sömmerring's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nanger soemmerringii

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Salt's Dik-dik
LC

Salt's Dik-dik

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Madoqua saltiana

60–70% · Likely
Grivet
LC

Grivet

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus aethiops

60–70% · Likely
Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Kudu
NT

Lesser Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus imberbis

40–50% · Likely
African Golden Wolf
LC

African Golden Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupaster

40–50% · Likely
Bat-eared Fox
LC

Bat-eared Fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otocyon megalotis

Insufficient data
Rock Hyrax
LC

Rock Hyrax

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Procavia capensis

Insufficient data
Abyssinian Hare
LC

Abyssinian Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus habessinicus

Insufficient data
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

Insufficient data
Gerenuk

Gerenuk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Litocranius walleri

Insufficient data
Mantled Guereza
LC

Mantled Guereza

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Colobus guereza

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Abyssinian Roller
LC

Abyssinian Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias abyssinicus

60–70% · Likely
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dinemellia dinemelli

60–70% · Likely
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
LC

Dark Chanting-Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax metabates

60–70% · Likely
Northern Carmine Bee-eater
LC

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops nubicus

50–60% · Likely
Isabelline Wheatear
LC

Isabelline Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe isabellina

50–60% · Likely
African Grey Hornbill
LC

African Grey Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros nasutus

50–60% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

50–60% · Likely
Common Hoopoe
LC

Common Hoopoe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Upupa epops

50–60% · Likely
Somali Fiscal
LC

Somali Fiscal

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Lanius somalicus

50–60% · Likely
Speckled Pigeon
LC

Speckled Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba guinea

40–50% · Likely
Greater Blue-eared Starling
LC

Greater Blue-eared Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

40–50% · Likely
African Gray Flycatcher
LC

African Gray Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bradornis microrhynchus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Leopard Tortoise ★
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

West African Crocodile

West African Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus suchus

50–60% · Likely
Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

40–50% · Likely
African Five-lined Skink
LC

African Five-lined Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis quinquetaeniata

40–50% · Likely
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

Insufficient data
Sudan Mabuya
LC

Sudan Mabuya

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis brevicollis

Insufficient data
African Striped Skink
LC

African Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis striata

Insufficient data
Doria’s Long-tailed Lizard
LC

Doria’s Long-tailed Lizard

Reptile

Latastia doriai

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Animal Events

🦌

Dry Season Grazing Concentration

JanFeb

As water sources recede, the East African Oryx and Hamadryas Baboon concentrate heavily around the remaining permanent waterholes and riverbanks, offering exceptional wildlife viewing.

Hamadryas Baboon
LC

Hamadryas Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio hamadryas

60–70% · Likely
East African Oryx
EN

East African Oryx

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx beisa

70–80% · Likely
🦌

Wet Season Vegetation Flush

MarMay

The arrival of seasonal rains triggers a dramatic landscape green-up, prompting the Madoqua saltiana and Lesser Kudu to disperse into newly verdant thickets and bushy terrain.

Lesser Kudu
NT

Lesser Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus imberbis

40–50% · Likely
Salt's Dik-dik
LC

Salt's Dik-dik

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Madoqua saltiana

60–70% · Likely
🦎

Riverine Predator & Reptile Activity

AprNov

Water temperatures and river flows create ideal conditions along the Awash River, where the West African Crocodile and Leopard Tortoise show heightened basking and foraging behavior.

Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

60–70% · Likely
West African Crocodile

West African Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus suchus

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
East African Oryx
70–80
80–90
40–50
50–60
80–90
60–70
40–50
50–60
70–80
40–50
70–80
60–70
Hamadryas Baboon
80–90
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
Sömmerring's Gazelle
30–40
80–90
70–80
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
80–90
60–70
70–80
40–50
Leopard Tortoise
30–40
30–40
40–50
80–90
80–90
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
30–40
Salt's Dik-dik
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
40–50
60–70
40–50
60–70
80–90
50–60
Grivet
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
Abyssinian Roller
80–90
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
80–90
Northern Carmine Bee-eater
80–90
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
Isabelline Wheatear
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
20–30
30–40
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
West African Crocodile
60–70
20–30
70–80
70–80
60–70
20–30
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
60–70
30–40
African Grey Hornbill
60–70
50–60
60–70
80–90
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
Fork-tailed Drongo
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
Olive Baboon
30–40
60–70
30–40
40–50
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
30–40
60–70
20–30
40–50
Common Hoopoe
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
20–30
Animal Events
🦌 Dry Season Grazing Concentration
🦌 Wet Season Vegetation Flush
🦎 Riverine Predator & Reptile Activity

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🐒 Hamadryas Baboons Swarm Awash Gorges

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
771
🐒 Mammals
146
🦎 Reptiles
96
🐸 Amphibians
17
1030 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
42 Threatened 32 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
63%
📊
Coverage (224 species at ≥5% of 1030 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
22%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (5 mammal, 5 bird, 2 reptile)
46% Global avg
83%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
193
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
24
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
39

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Awash National Park?

The most likely sightings are East African Oryx (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Salt's Dik-dik (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Hamadryas Baboon (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Sömmerring's Gazelle (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Grivet (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1030 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Awash National Park for wildlife?

May has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see East African Oryx in Awash National Park?

Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a East African Oryx sighting in Awash National Park, based on 18 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Hamadryas Baboon in Awash National Park?

Yes — about 69% of wildlife watchers report a Hamadryas Baboon sighting in Awash National Park, based on 11 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Sömmerring's Gazelle in Awash National Park?

Yes — about 68% of wildlife watchers report a Sömmerring's Gazelle sighting in Awash National Park, based on 17 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Leopard Tortoise in Awash National Park?

Yes — about 61% of wildlife watchers report a Leopard Tortoise sighting in Awash National Park, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

Awash or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

Bale Mountains National Park 📍 233 km 🐺 Ethiopian Wolves on the Sanetti Plateau

Bale Mountains National Park

🇪🇹 Ethiopia 🌍 #99 Global · 4.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #42 in Africa #44 in Savanna & Grassland
Kidepo Valley National Park 📍 875 km 🦓 Untamed Zebras Roam Remote Valleys

Kidepo Valley National Park

🇺🇬 Uganda 🌍 #28 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #22 in Africa #22 in Savanna & Grassland
Samburu National Reserve 📍 965 km 🦒 Somali Giraffe Roaming Samburu Savannah

Samburu National Reserve

🇰🇪 Kenya 🌍 #23 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #18 in Africa #18 in Savanna & Grassland
Meru National Park 📍 1000 km 🦒 Somali Giraffe Thrives at Meru

Meru National Park

🇰🇪 Kenya 🌍 #24 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #19 in Africa #19 in Savanna & Grassland