Gambella National Park

At a road distance of 850 km Gambela – Addis Ababa, the 50,600 ha
Gambella National park is located 850 km west of Addis Ababa, the 50,600
hectares Gambella National park has the richest mega
wildlife of the parks in Ethiopia. It was established as a protected
area in 1973 to conserve a diverse assemblage of wildlife and unique
habitats. Although not technically in the Rift Valley, Gambella National
Park lies along another of the country’s important rivers: the Baro.
Near the town of Gambella, Gambella National Park, is one of Ethiopia’s
least developed parks and has no facilities. Nevertheless, the large
conservation area contains many species not found elsewhere in the
country, such as the Nile lechwe and the white-eared kob. Roan antelope,
topi, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, and the unusual whale-headed stork
are also to be found here.

Originally the park was created for protection of extensive swamp
habitat and its wildlife. Located on the Akobo river system, it hosts
several wildlife not found elsewhere in Ethiopia. The banks of the baro
are rich in birdlife and thus give visitors an extra advantage. Its
northern boundary is formed by the Baro River. To the south of the park
is the Gilo River flows from Gog to Tor in a northwesterly direction.

The landscape of Gambella is low and flat with altitude ranging from
400 to 768 masl. The average altitude is around 500 meters above sea
level.

The people of this area are the Anuak and the Nuer. Mainly fisherfolk
– but also cattle herders – the Anuak and Nuer are extremely handsome,
with dark, satiny complexions. Both men and women favour a style of
decorative scarification on the chest, stomach, and face; and often
boast heavy bone bangles, bright bead necklaces, and spikes of ivory or
brass thrust through a hole pierced in the lower lip and protruding down
over the chin.

Unaffected by the ways of the modern world, these interesting people
remain as remote, unchanged, and beautiful as the land in which they
live.

Wildlife

41 larger mammals are known including Buffalo, Elephant, White-eared
Kob, Hippopotamus, Nile Lechwe, Giraffe, Warthog, Topi, Waterbuck, Roan
Antelope,  Burchell’s Zebra, Bushbuck and Reedbuck. The rivers host
healthy populations of Nile Crocodiles. Gambella has more than 300 bird
species, obviously including water birds like the Shoebilled Heron,
Basra Reed Warbler and Demoiselle Crane. Nile perch weighing more than
100 kg have been caught from the Baro River.

Climate of Gabella National park

The climate of Gabella is hot and humid with maximum temperatures
just before the rainy season in May. Annual mean temperature is with a
minimum and maximum of 20.4 and 34.8 0 C, respectively. Annual rainfall
is about 1400 mm. The wet season is from May to October when large parts
of the park are totally inaccessible.