Gambella National Park, Ethiopia's largest, extends over 5,060 km² of the low-lying far west of the Gambella Regional State. It is bordered to the north by the Baro River, a wide tributary of the Blue Nile that is navigable all the way to its confluence with the White Nile at Khartoum.

The park is at its most alluring between March and June, when Africa’s second-largest antelope migration—an estimated 1.2 million white-eared kob—crosses into Ethiopia from South Sudan. Gambella is also a stronghold for the endangered Nubian giraffe, localized antelopes such as the Nile lechwe, Lelwel hartebeest, and tiang, and relict populations of lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant. The park is home to a diverse ecosystem, resembling the vast plains of parks in Kenya and Tanzania.

A checklist of 327 bird species includes Ethiopia’s only known population of the remarkable shoebill stork, which dwells in the park's papyrus swamps, as well as the Uelle Paradise Whydah, Egyptian plover, African skimmer, and the exquisite little green bee-eater. The best game viewing is around Matara, located 185 km west of the park headquarters in Gambella town.

Getting There

Gambella town and the national park are located approximately 670 km from the capital, Addis Ababa, via Jimma. Ethiopian Airlines operates scheduled flights to Gambella.

Getting Around

You can arrange a trip to Gambella National Park with tour operators based in Addis Ababa. They will liaise with the park office to arrange for scouts and other necessary support staff. For the most comprehensive experience, a helicopter safari is highly recommended.