Yabello National Park

A trip to Yabelo National Park is nothing like the experience in zoos, rather it’s a trip that takes the traveler deep into the wildlife in its natural habitat. The park screeches over an area of 2,500 square kilometers. It is home to endemic Swayne‟s Hartebeest, Bush Crow and White-tailed Swallow, Ostrich, and over 210 species of birds. Zebra, Gazelle, and Guenther’s Dik-Dik are quite common. If you want to enjoy an exciting wildlife spotting and catch a good look at the green jungle, then head to Yabelo National Park where you can experience the ultimate escapade.

What to See?

At least 210 species of birds have been recorded of which 62 are Somali-Masai Biome species. Mammal species include Swayne’s Hartebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Grant ’s gazelle and Guenther’s Dik-Dik. Unique features The park affords protection to the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest and is the home of the endemic and vulnerable Ethiopian Bush Crow and White-tailed Swallow are also restricted-range species. Other non-endemic but globally threatened species include the Taita Falcon. With 62 Somali-Masai Biome birds, the site affords protection to 64% of Ethiopia’s Somali-Masai Biome assemblage. Other interesting birds found here include Ostrich, Short-tailed Larck, Pringle’s puff-back, Northern Grey Tit, Abyssinian Grosbeak Canary, Vulturine Guinea Fowl, Somali Sparrow, Black-capped Social Weaver, Donaldson-Smith Nightjar, Star-spotted Nightjar, Grey-headed Social Weaver, and Magpie Starling. The site is good for Burchell’s Zebra and smaller numbers of Grant’s Gazelle and Gerenuk.

Yabello national park is found 565 Km south of Addis Ababa on the Awasa-Moyale highway. It is 10km east of Yabello town in Borena Zone, Oromia Regional State.

Once you reached the park the warden will take you around.

There are some basic accommodations in the town of Yabello.  But camping also an option within the park.