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.
