Chebera-Churchura National Park

Chebera-Churchura National Park is a significant protected area located in the South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region, situated on the western side of the central Omo Gibe basin, between the Dawro Zone and Konta Woreda. Established as a national park in 2005, it was formerly a controlled hunting area for elephants. The park is approximately 480 km southwest of Addis Ababa and covers an area of 1250 square kilometers, with elevations ranging from 500 to 2000 meters above sea level. The climate is characterized by annual rainfall between 1200 mm and 2300 mm, and temperatures from 10 to 29 °C, with wet seasons from March to September and dry seasons from December to February.The park's diverse topography features a unique and heterogeneous landscape of hilly terrain, undulating to rolling plains, incised rivers, and perennial streams, valleys, and gorges. It is fortunate to possess numerous rivers and streams, including the Zigina and Shoshuma rivers which feed into the Omo River, as well as four small crater lakes: Keriballa, Koka, and Shasho. Natural caves, cold and hot springs like Toshima and Nechwuha, and waterfalls such as Barbo waterfall, add to its scenic value. The habitats within the park include grasslands, woodlands, mountain forests, and riverine forests, with wooded grassland dominating 62% of the area.Chebera-Churchura National Park is a vital sanctuary for wildlife, particularly known for its substantial population of African elephants, numbering over 500 individuals, and Cape buffalo, making it one of the least disturbed ecosystems for these species in Ethiopia. The park is home to 37 species of large mammals, including lions, leopards, serval cats, hippopotamuses, warthogs, greater kudus, defassa waterbucks, colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys. Birdlife is also rich, with 237 recorded species, five of which are endemic to Ethiopia: the white-winged cliff chat, banded barbet, wattled ibis, Ethiopian oriole (black-headed forest oriole), and thick-billed raven. Visitors can explore the park through walking safaris and trekking, offering an opportunity to experience its pristine wilderness and observe its abundant wildlife.