Top 5 Awash National Park Day Tours: Real Traveler Reviews

Looking to visit Awash National Park for just a day? A lot of folks only have so much time when they are traveling. It’s almost like a carefully planned schedule that needs the kind of trip which gets right to heart of what the area has to offer. That can be tough with national parks, but lucky for you, several full-day tour options really let you pack in the key sights and sounds of this very special Ethiopian wildlife haven. We did a deep dive and scoped out the five very best Awash National Park full-day tours out there, sharing the stuff that makes each unique so too you can find a good fit for your interests.

1. The All-Encompassing Wildlife Safari

If your goal is just seeing as much cool wildlife as you possibly can, the All-Encompassing Wildlife Safari tour might be just right for you. This tends to be a full-throttle expedition really focusing on the park’s stunning array of animal life. You’ll typically spend a big part of the day moving across diverse landscapes to see a variety of animal habitats.

Expect to possibly glimpse some East African oryx, Soemmerring’s gazelles, and the Hamadryas baboons who like to hang out near the Awash River. If you’re very, very fortunate, there’s a chance you could see a leopard resting during the day. The guides are usually pretty awesome at spotting birds too. So, look to catch sights of the Abyssinian roller or maybe a secretary bird while you’re cruising around. The exact itinerary can actually change a little bit, it seems, depending on recent animal activity. The tour people keep track of where animals were seen most recently, so you’re more likely to get really amazing wildlife viewing.

What People Like: A chance to see lots of animal species. Wildlife photography opportunities are huge. This might just be the tour for those seriously into spotting wildlife.

Keep in Mind: Could be a lot of time is spent in a vehicle, and there aren’t a lot of stops other than for viewing wildlife.

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Read our full review: Awash National Park Wildlife Safari Full Review and Details

2. The Awash River Adventure

Want a tour that has even more activity, maybe one including a little time close to the water? The Awash River Adventure day tour usually mixes both the standard game drive stuff with some time along the park’s namesake river. Tours that do this may just incorporate a guided walk near the river to get chances to see wildlife up close. Or sometimes you get like a boat excursion.

The vegetation near the river is super vibrant, usually providing sanctuary to tons of birds, plus other critters. This is just a pretty good chance to glimpse crocodiles sunning themselves along the banks, too. This excursion usually places a very heavy emphasis on birdwatching, almost with guides who really understand local bird species. This is the choice for those loving wildlife plus spending time in varied scenery.

What People Like: Scenery is fantastic, combining landscapes plus chances to see lots of water-dependent species of animals. Birdwatching could be quite remarkable.

Keep in Mind: Might have to like, walk a little in heat to see wildlife.

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Read our full review: Awash National Park River Adventure Full Review and Details

3. The Hot Springs & Palm Oasis Getaway

For a very unique experience, there’s almost always a tour out there that focuses on the Awash National Park’s geothermal features plus its unexpected pockets of tropical scenery. The Hot Springs & Palm Oasis Getaway day tour tends to bring you to some of the park’s volcanic hot springs, also like, spots where you get these crazy palm tree oases that appear kinda randomly. You might think this isn’t that African looking but you may be impressed!

After checking out wildlife, it’s possible to have like, a dip in therapeutic hot springs, maybe getting surrounded by green. Guides can typically tell you what all the various flora is like, they’ll provide history related to geology or what makes the springs happen in the first place. This is really a tour combining adventure, relaxation, and knowledge.

What People Like: The odd pairing of a volcanic region along with green, wet areas in an environment you typically wouldn’t expect it.

Keep in Mind: Springs are extremely hot. It may not be for everybody depending on what feels good for your body. The emphasis is just less on animal viewing when compared to animal-centered excursions.

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Read our full review: Awash National Park Hot Springs Tour Full Review and Details

4. The Cultural & Wildlife Combo

If you want something really, really more enriching, culturally, there’s a few that go past game drives by having interactions alongside local communities near the edges of Awash National Park. A Cultural & Wildlife Combo tour commonly features visits to like, villages where you might meet the Afar people plus other ethnic groups located in that area. You might catch performances, hear what local history’s like or watch crafts made the way they used to do.

The idea is almost giving you insight into people’s customs along with ways of life right in this area while too highlighting coexisting alongside the animals within the park. These tours may try promoting sustainable opportunities to help nearby villages. It’s possible it’s awesome if wanting an incredibly holistic understanding of Awash region in ways that can give back some!

What People Like: Human engagement and connections while at the same time wildlife spotting make for one truly, full experience. Good to back the region’s inhabitants!

Keep in Mind: Focus can sometimes vary when comparing time to observe wildlife alongside cultural stops along a path.

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Read our full review: Awash National Park Cultural Tour Full Review and Details

5. The Photography-Focused Expedition

Calling all the photograph takers, we may have something for you here! Several photography focused expedition companies in the park could really help one dial up the shot quality there. These are almost invariably run through pros skilled with animal photography and local Ethiopian light, so the idea being there could be great advantages!

These groups understand great photographs will call for patience, having awareness of angles or animal activity patterns, so too expect they might make alterations in a standard itinerary. They know places yielding seriously amazing backdrop scenery so these would be factored within a schedule. They might give guidance for kit setups. These types really optimize capturing one memorable pic portfolio.

What People Like: Specialized pro support for photos to carry on well after traveling concludes. Chances aren’t super elsewhere!

Keep in Mind: Could cost a fair amount due extra attention.

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Read our full review: Awash National Park Photo Tour Full Review and Details

Awash National Park offers such really great ways of going out, no matter the preference. A straight, broad look into just animals through cultural pairings or hot spring dip could have almost any interest covered on one awesome tour. Just make time researching when choosing. Happy and responsible voyaging, Ethiopia visitors!