Yangudi Rassa National Park

Yangudi Rassa National Park is located in the Afar Region; its 4730 square kilometers of territory include Mount Yangudi near the southern border, with altitudes from 400 to 1459 meters above sea level. Sandy semi-desert and wooded grassland cover the majority of the park’s area. This Park lies between the territory of the Afar tribe and the Issas tribe, and while violence has been frequent between them, most of the park happens to be in an area where they avoid each other. As a result, most of the active protection of the Park is focused on managing their conflict.This national park was proposed to protect the African Wild Ass. Recently, the Wild Ass went extinct in Yagundi Rassa. However, there is a small population in the adjacent Mile-Serdo Wild Ass Reserve (8,766 km²). The park headquarters are in the town of Gewane. Large animals native to the park include Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s gazelle, gerenuk, and Gravy’s zebra. Bird species of interest include Phoenicopterus minor, Petronia Brachydactyla, and Ardeotis Arabs.

The extensive wilderness in this remote north-eastern part of Ethiopia lies Dallol, which has semi-desert trees and succulent scrub, semi-arid grass and plains, shrub-steppe, bushland, and acacia-wooded grassland. Witnessing the flow of lava from deep in the ground is a breath-taking sight. Its Major physical and geological features include Awash River, active volcanoes, archaeological sites, extensive arid-desert ecosystem, nearby alkaline lakes, and Dallol Depression. Dallol is one of the exceptional places on the planet featuring earthquakes, volcano fountains, and salt hills. Since the area is arid, it usually experiences an erratic and low rainfall pattern, ranging between 200 and 400mm. The rainfall distribution follows a bi-modal pattern, in which small showers occur from February through March, and the second rainy season usually July to August.

A large part of the park is composed of extensive grasslands and thickets. With an average altitude of 500 meters above sea level, the climate of the park is hot and dry for a larger part of the year. It has an estimated area of 5,400 sq km and is covered with grasslands, bush and thorn thickets. Besides these major habitats, dry river beds, rocky hills, and sandy semi-deserts from micro-habitats. Thickets are largely composed of Acacia Mellifera and A. Nubica. The Awash River forms its western boundary where better vegetation growth can be observed.

Size of Yangudi Rassa National Park

The national park covers an area of 4730 square kilometers including mount Yangudi

Location of Yangudi Rassa National Park

Yangudi Rassa National Park is a national park in Ethiopia located in the Afar Region; its 4730 square kilometers of territory include Mount Yangudi near the southern border and the surrounding Rassa Plains, with altitudes from 400 to 1459 meters above sea level.

How to get to Yangudi Rassa National Park

The headquarter of Yangudi national park are situated in Gewane, Afar region, some 365km from Addis Ababa on Djibouti road.

Things to do in Yangudi Rassa National Park

Wildlife encounters

This roughly 5000 km2 National Park consists of mount Yangudi and the surrounding Rassa plains, and it harbors the only existing population of the African wild ass, a critically endangered species ancestor to the domestic donkey. Other large Mammal species survive in Yangudi Rassa, notably Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s and Dorcas Gazelle, Gerenuk, and possibly Gravy’s Zebra. A good selection of dry country birds is resident in the area Hamadryas Baboon, Bat-eared Fox, Black-backed Jackal, Striped Hyena, and Aardwolf.

Birding safaris

Yangudi Rassa is an extensive wilderness in this remote north-eastern part of the country. More than 200 birds have been recorded here. Of these, no less than 23 Somali-Masai Biome species and two globally threatened species, namely, the Lesser Kestrel and Pallid Harrier are known to occur in the park. It is an important flyway for species like the Terek Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Woodchat Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Black Cap, and Ortolan Bunting, the Arabian Bustard is special and Ostriches are frequently observed.

When to visit Yangudi Rassa National Park

Temperature can rise to 42 – 43 ºC in the shade. Rains are bi-modal with the main rainy season extending from October-December. An erratic pattern of rainfall is expected from August to September. The park is in a major flyway for migrant birds coming from the northern hemisphere from September to January. In this respect, the Awash River plays a critical role in sustaining the lives of millions of southbound sojourning birds.

Where to stay in Yangudi Rassa National Park

These are available in nearby towns such as Gewane, Mille, and Dupti where you can find accommodation. Camping is also possible inside the park but one needs to contact the park authority for a permit and information.

ACTIVITIES TO DO

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AREAS OF INTEREST

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