2-Day Awash National Park Tour from Addis Ababa

Game drive and hot springs in the Awash gorge, 225 kilometers from the city

A 2-day tour from Addis Ababa to Awash National Park, 225 kilometers east, with hotel pickup, professional English-speaking guide and accommodation included. Day one takes you through acacia woodland and grassland to the Awash River gorge with its waterfalls, then a short evening game drive to spot oryx, kudu, baboons and gazelles. Day two explores the upper Kudu Valley and the hot springs at Filwoha before the return to Addis Ababa.

Step-by-step itinerary

Arrival and Awash National Park tour

• Arrive in Ethiopia
• Meet at airport
• Drive to Awash National Park
• Explore Awash River gorge and waterfalls
• Visit hot springs at Kudu Valley
• Evening game drive to see wildlife

The experience

You arrive in Addis Ababa and need to see something beyond the city without renting a car or navigating the route alone. This tour picks you up from your hotel or the airport and drives you 225 kilometers east into Awash National Park, a 756-square-kilometer reserve of acacia woodland and grassland where the Awash River cuts through a gorge with waterfalls. The park's southern boundary runs along the river itself, and the landscape opens up as you move deeper into it.

On your first evening, after settling into your accommodation, you head out on a short game drive through the park. The acacia scrub and grassland are home to oryx, greater and lesser kudu, baboons, warthogs, gazelles and Columbus monkeys. If you're fortunate, you may spot leopards or lions. The drive gives you a sense of the terrain and the wildlife before nightfall. Your professional guide travels with you both days and speaks English, so you understand what you're seeing and where the animals are moving.

The second day takes you to the upper Kudu Valley and Filwoha, where hot springs sit amid groves of palm trees. You can walk among them and feel the warmth of the water rising from the ground. The contrast between the dry acacia woodland and this pocket of green and heat is part of what makes the park distinct. After Filwoha, you return to Addis Ababa, arriving back at your hotel or the airport by evening. Your accommodation with breakfast is included both nights, along with all entrance and scout fees. You'll need to arrange lunch and dinner separately.

What’s included

• Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off in Addis Ababa.
• hotel accommodation with breakfast both nights.
• car with professional driver.
• English-speaking professional guide.
• all entrance and scout fees for Awash National Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (20 to 39 years) · Senior (40 and older) · Youth (10 to 19 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Aman Ethiopia Tours And Travel Agent

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Addis Ababa means you don't need a car or a ride to the park entrance. The guide handles the route and the driving, so you can focus on the wildlife and the landscape instead of navigation.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 19 years); Child (5 to 9 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What wildlife will I see on the game drive in Awash National Park?

Oryx, greater and lesser kudu, baboons, warthogs, gazelles and Columbus monkeys are common in the acacia woodland and grassland. Leopards and lions are present in the park, though sightings are less frequent. The evening game drive on day one gives you the best chance to spot animals as they move in the cooler hours.

What are the hot springs at Filwoha like?

Filwoha sits in the upper Kudu Valley and features natural hot springs surrounded by palm groves. You can walk among the springs and experience the warm water rising from the ground. It's a marked contrast to the dry acacia landscape elsewhere in the park.

How far is Awash National Park from Addis Ababa?

Awash National Park lies 225 kilometers east of Addis Ababa. The drive from the city takes several hours, and your hotel or airport pickup is included in the tour, so you don't need to arrange your own transport.

What is the Awash River gorge?

The Awash River forms the southern boundary of the park and cuts through a gorge with waterfalls. The gorge offers dramatic views of the landscape and the river below. You'll see it during your time in the park.

Is breakfast included, and what about lunch and dinner?

Breakfast is included with your hotel accommodation both nights. Lunch and dinner are not included, so you'll arrange those meals separately. Vegetarian options are available if you advise the operator at the time of booking.