Kafta Sheraro National Park is located in western Tigray, with its 500,000 ha area; it is one of the largest conservation areas in Ethiopia. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Shiraro in the east, Wolkaite in the south, and Humera in the west. Within Tigray, it is positioned in the woredas of Kafta-Humera and Tahtay-Adiabo. While the main river is the Tackazee, it is fed by a number of rivers that originate in the Siemen Mountains and highlands of Wolkait. Elevation ranges from 550 meters above sea level on the edge of Tackaze River to 1800 meters above sea level on the highlands of Kafta. The agro-climatic zone is identified as Qolla with an inclination to semi-arid. Vegetation communities within the reserve include Acacia-Commiphora, combretum-Terminalia, dry evergreen montane woodlands, and riparian types. The site has a mono-modal pattern of rain with high peaks in May and early September. Preliminary records show that the site conserves 42 mammalian and 95 avian species. Major wildlife conserved include Ostrich, Aardvark, elephants, greater kudu, Roan Antelope, Red-fronted Gazelle, Caracal, Leopard, and Lion.

The reserve is important for the conservation of Elephants. It is one of nine sites in Ethiopia that conserve Elephants. The Elephant population in Kafta migrates seasonally between Ethiopia and Eritrea. At present, the site is known to hold an estimated 100-150 individual Elephants. Besides Elephants, it conserves 42 mammals 167 birds, and 9 reptile species. The site is extremely important and could well be the only site in the country for wintering Demoiselle Crane. A recent discovery shows that the north-western border of the park holds more than 20,000 Demoiselle Cranes.

Size of Kafta Sheraro National Park Ethiopia

The national park is bordered by Eritrea in the north, and it is presumed to have an estimated total area of 2176.43 km² (Figure 1). It is the only national park in Tigray Regional State, and it is about 1015 km away from Addis Ababa. Its altitude ranges from 550 to 1800 meters above sea level.

Location of Kafta Sheraro National Park Ethiopia

Kafta Sheraro National Park is a national park in Ethiopia. The park is settled in the Western Tigray region, in the districts of Kafta Humera and Tahtay Adiyabo. The park borders with Eritrea’s Gash-Setit to the north and is traversed by the Tekezé River.

How to get to Kafta Sheraro National Park Ethiopia

Through Ethiopian airlines, travelers can fly from Addis Ababa to Tigray where they can travel by road to Kafta Sheraro national and the distance from Tigray to Kafta Sheraro National Park is 116 km which can be accessed by a good conditioned 4×4 safari land cruiser.

Things to do in Kafta Sheraro National Park Ethiopia

Birding

The Park is registered as one of the 73 Important Bird Areas in Ethiopia. The Brown-headed Parrot, Parakeet, Little green bee-eater, and Demoiselle crane are the few most attractive bird species of the Park. But what makes this park unique from the rest of Ethiopian National parks is the great flocks of the Demoiselle cranes in the Great Tekeze Valley.

Wildlife encounters

Preliminary records show that the site conserves 42 mammalian and 95 avian species. Major wildlife conserved include Ostrich, Aardvark, elephants, and greater kudu, Roan Antelope, Red-fronted Gazelle, Caracal, Leopard, and Lion.

The reserve is important for the conservation of Elephants. It is one of nine sites in Ethiopia that conserve Elephants.

When to visit Kafta Sheraro National Park Ethiopia

The best time to visit the park is when there is a higher number of bird richness in January may be due to the migratory birds which migrate to the park from different directions of the globe. Bird species are migrating to Kafta Sheraro National Park for feeding during the winter. The researchers observed that there were migratory birds that arrive in the park starting from January and leave at the end of April. The lowest number of bird species during October might be due to the temporary migration of bird species from the park to the nearest agricultural fields.

Where to stay in Kafta Sheraro National Park Ethiopia

Hotel Tekelehimanot

Not many tourists make it to Sheraro in North-Eastern Ethiopia just a few miles from the Eritrean border. But if you are one of them make sure you stay at the Hotel Tekelehimanot on Sheraro Main Street. This is not your standard luxury hotel but around.