Ethiopia Parks
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Ethiopia.
The twin lakes Abijatta and Shalla are the centerpiece of Abijatta-Shalla National Park. The shallow, algae-rich Abijatta is home to big flocks of lesser and greater flamingo from October to February. Shalla is, by contrast, Ethiopia’s deepest lake and its main attraction is a group of steaming hot springs where local people gather for bathing and cooking. Although less accessible, the picturesque little crater lake Chitu has semi-resident flamingos and is more than worth the detour.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
There is very little wildlife in this park. Small numbers of olive baboon, Grant’s gazelle, greater kudu, black-backed jackal and spotted hyena are here, but you’d be lucky to spot any. Bird watching, though, is excellent. Thousands of flamingos feed and breed in Lake Abijatta and crater lake Chitu, flocks of pelicans can be seen on Lake Shalla, and many smaller migrant waders flood the park from November to March.
Scenery
More than half of the park’s surface area is covered by its lakes: Abijatta, Shalla and the 80m-deep crater lake Chitu. Grassland with the occasional acacia tree covers most of the land beyond the floodplains. For a magical experience, plan your visit for the late afternoon to see the sun setting over flocks of flamingos in Lake Abijatta.
Weather & Climate
The weather and climate of Abijatta-Shalla is comparable to that of Ethiopia in general. More info:
Best Time To Visit
As Abijatta-Shalla is mostly a birding destination, the best time to visit is from October to February when large flocks of flamingo congregate in Lake Abijatta. This is also the time when Palearctic migrants arrive, and rainfall is very low.
Getting There
Abijatta-Shalla is about 200km/124mi from Addis Ababa on a good road. The drive usually takes around 2½ to 3 hours*. You’ll need a 4x4 to drive inside the park.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Health & Safety
Please read our vaccinations and malaria page for Ethiopia, and our general wildlife viewing safety precautions page for more info:
