Omo National Park is a national park in Ethiopia that was established in 1980. It is situated in the South Ethiopia Regional State, on the west side of the Omo River. The park covers about 4,068 square kilometers and is located approximately 870 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa. On the other side of the Omo River lies Mago National Park and Tama Wildlife Reserve. A new airstrip has been built near the park's headquarters on the Mui River. However, the park remains difficult to reach. The Lonely Planet guide for Ethiopia and Eritrea describes Omo National Park as "Ethiopia's most remote park."

Geography

Omo National Park is located on the west side of the Omo River in the lower Omo Valley. The park is 140 kilometers long, extending from the Neruze River in the south to the Sharum plain in the north, and up to 60 kilometers wide near the Park Headquarters. Major land features include the Omo River on the east, the Maji Mountains, the Sharum and Sai plains to the north and west, and the Illibai plains and Dirga Hills to the south. Three hot springs are found within the park, and several rivers flow through it, all of which drain into the Omo River. The Mui River flows through the center of the park before joining the Omo River. Most of the park is at about 800 meters above sea level, but the area near the Neruze River is lower, reaching 450 meters. The highest peak of the Maji Mountains, located within the park, reaches a height of 1,541 meters above sea level.

Flora

The plant life in Omo National Park is mainly open savannah, dense shrubs, and woodland found near the western side of the Omo River. Plants found in the area include Ficus sycomorus, Tapura fischeri, Melanodiscus oblongus, Celtis integrifolia, Trichilia roka, Cordia sinensis, Acacia mellifera, and Ziziphus mauritiana.

Fauna

Omo National Park has many chances to see wildlife, with 73 types of mammals and 312 types of birds.

The park is home to large groups of buffaloes, zebras, elands, beisa oryxes, tiangs, Lelwel hartebeests, dik-diks, bushbucks, reedbucks, and Grant's gazelles. Other mammals that are hard to find include elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, bushpigs, African wild dogs, giraffes, oribis, klipspringers, greater kudus, hyenas, black rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, and warthogs. Primates such as Mantled guerezas, Olive baboons, and De Brazza monkeys also live in the forested areas.

Birds in the park include ostriches, eagles, egrets, herons, barbets, honeyguides, kingfishers, Secretary birds, woodpeckers, parrots, shrikes, and weavers that live here.

The park also has Nile crocodiles, Black mambas, African spurred tortoises, Black-necked spitting cobras, Rhombic Night Adder, puff adders, and rock pythons that are common in the area.

Geology

The lower part of the Omo River was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. This was because scientists found the oldest known pieces of Homo sapiens fossils in the Omo Kibish Formation. These fossils are about 195,000 years old.

Conservation

There is very little tourist infrastructure inside the park, and travelers receive little help. In 1999, it was reported that no tourist agencies in or outside Ethiopia would organize tours to the park. On 3 October 2006, the Walta Information Center stated that $1 million had been set aside to build roads, recreational centers, and communication facilities to attract more visitors.

The Mursi, Suri, Nyangatom, Dizi, and Me'en groups are at risk of being forced to leave their traditional lands or losing access to them. This followed the park boundary demarcation in November 2005 and the management transfer to African Parks. This change threatens to make the Omo people live without legal rights on their land.

There are reports that some tribal members were pressured to sign documents they could not read by park officials.

In October 2008, African Parks announced it would stop managing the Omo National Park and leave Ethiopia. The organization said that managing Ethiopian parks in a way that protects the environment and resources is not possible while some ethnic groups continue to live in traditional ways within the park. African Parks stated it struggles to manage the park while indigenous people maintain their traditional lifestyles inside its borders.