2 Days Wildlife Safari to Awash National Park

Awash National Park gives you a quick taste of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley wildlife without requiring a long safari holiday. The trip combines two game drives with Awash River Falls, an overnight stay, and a stop at Sodere’s hot springs, making it more varied than a simple out-and-back wildlife trip.

I like the convenience of private, air-conditioned transport from Addis Ababa and the fact that breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation, park fees, and local guiding are included. The main concern is current park access: one poor report says the park had been closed for security reasons and that a planned drive was canceled. Confirm conditions before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• The drive from Addis is a major part of the experience: You spend much of the first and second days on the road, with the Rift Valley providing the main scenery between stops.
• The wildlife is varied but not guaranteed: Oryx, kudu, gazelles, warthogs, baboons, and colobus monkeys are among the animals you might see.
• Awash Falls adds a memorable natural stop: The waterfall is described as a smaller version of Victoria Falls and gives the first afternoon more than a vehicle-based safari.
• Genet Hotel and all meals are included: That makes the $358.98 price easier to assess, especially for anyone who prefers one organized package.
• Sodere changes the pace on Day 2: You can refresh in natural hot spring water and look for vervet monkeys around the resort grounds.
• Check security and park access shortly before departure: A past report raised a serious concern about closure and a canceled game drive.

Why this short Awash safari is worth considering

If your Ethiopia plans begin and end in Addis Ababa, Awash National Park offers a practical way to see something beyond the capital. The park lies to the east, reached by driving through the Rift Valley, so the trip also gives you a look at one of the country’s major scenic regions.

I like the mix of activities. You are not spending two full days on game drives, which can be tiring and may feel repetitive on a short schedule. Instead, the first day combines a long road journey, lunch, rest time, a game drive across the Ilala Sala Plain, and a visit to Awash River Falls.

The second day begins with another drive while the park is waking up. Afterward, the route back to Addis includes Sodere, where natural hot spring waters and shady vegetation provide a welcome change from the vehicle.

This is best understood as an introductory wildlife outing, not a full safari expedition. The listed game drives are short, and the tour does not promise sightings. You may see several species, but animals remain wild and conditions can affect what appears.

The long road from Addis Ababa to Awash

The meeting point is Nega City Mall in Kazanchis, with departure set for 8:30 a.m. The tour uses a private, air-conditioned vehicle, and the group can include up to 10 people. That is a useful middle ground: more personal than a large coach, but not necessarily a one-on-one trip.

The first drive heads south through the Rift Valley before turning east toward Awash National Park. The journey takes a large part of the day, so I would treat the road time as part of the trip rather than an inconvenience to be endured.

You will want comfortable clothing, water, sun protection, and a phone or camera ready for scenery. The package includes meals, but personal purchases are not covered. Alcoholic drinks, internet, telephone charges, fax use, and any personal items cost extra.

Because the tour starts from Addis and returns there, it works well for a short Ethiopia itinerary. You do not need to arrange a separate car, hotel, park entry, or local guide. That simplicity has real value, especially when you are trying to fit a national park into a larger trip.

Ilala Sala Plain and the first game drive

After arriving in the park, lunch comes before some rest. This pause matters. The first day involves a substantial drive, and going directly from the road into a wildlife outing could make the afternoon feel rushed.

The afternoon game drive takes you through the Ilala Sala Plain in the southern part of Awash National Park. The open setting may give you a chance to spot oryx, kudu, gazelles, and warthogs. Baboons and colobus monkeys are also listed among the possible sightings.

The word chance is important here. This is not a zoo, and the tour does not guarantee a particular animal. Your guide and scout can help with local tracking, but sightings depend on weather, recent animal movement, visibility, and park access.

A local guide is included, with a scout used when needed. That can make a difference in a national park, where an experienced eye may notice movement or tracks before you do. Still, you should not expect a long, specialized wildlife lecture based on the information provided. The focus is a short outing within a two-day schedule.

The drive is likely to appeal most to you if you enjoy the possibility of wildlife rather than needing a checklist completed. Oryx and gazelles can provide classic African scenery, while baboons and colobus monkeys add interest for anyone who enjoys watching primates.

Awash River Falls after the safari drive

The Awash River Falls gives the first afternoon a second point of interest. The falls are described as a scaled-down version of Victoria Falls, so they are not presented as a rival to Africa’s famous waterfall. Their value is that they add a striking natural stop to a compact park visit.

After sitting in a vehicle for much of the day, a waterfall visit also changes the rhythm. You can take in the sound and movement of the water, enjoy the surrounding view, and break up the wildlife drive with something more fixed and easy to appreciate.

The schedule gives about six hours to the Day 1 park visit, including lunch, rest, the game drive, and the falls. That sounds generous on paper, but the actual time at each stop depends on road conditions and the pace of the group.

I would ask the operator before departure how the falls are being handled that day and how much time is expected there. The published plan includes the stop, but the earlier poor report about a canceled game drive shows why current conditions matter.

Sleeping at Genet Hotel

Your overnight stay at Genet Hotel is included, along with dinner. Having accommodation built into the package makes this easier than arranging a separate night near the park.

The information provided does not describe the hotel’s room standards, facilities, or exact location. I would contact Ethio Travel And Tours before departure if room type, bathroom arrangements, or hotel amenities are important to you.

The practical benefit is clear: you finish the first day with the next morning already organized. There is no need to find a hotel after a long drive or arrange a separate transfer for the second game drive.

Dinner, breakfast, and lunch are included as part of the tour. That helps the value of the $358.98 price, though you should remember that drinks and personal expenses are not part of the package.

The early morning drive on Day 2

The second game drive takes place early, when the park is coming to life. Morning outings often appeal to people who enjoy quieter conditions and the chance to see animals at the start of the day, but the schedule does not promise specific sightings.

This is a short drive rather than a full morning expedition. If the first afternoon outing is canceled or shortened, the second drive becomes especially important, so ask for a clear update on both drives before leaving Addis.

After the drive, you begin the journey back toward the capital. This structure gives you one final wildlife outing without adding another overnight stay. For a two-day trip, it is a sensible use of time, though the amount of road travel means you should be comfortable with long periods in a vehicle.

Cooling off at Sodere hot springs

Sodere is the main stop on the return journey. It sits beside the Awash River and has natural hot spring waters, shady vegetation, and resort grounds where vervet monkeys live.

This stop gives the second day a different feel. Instead of moving from one wildlife drive to another, you can refresh in the hot spring complex and enjoy a more relaxed setting. The nearby river may also offer sightings of crocodiles and, less often, hippos.

The wording matters again: crocodiles and hippos may be seen, but neither is assured. Sodere is valuable even without a river sighting because it provides a break during the trip back to Addis.

Lunch follows the Sodere visit before the drive continues to the capital. The plan gives about four hours to the park departure and Sodere portion, then continues afterward. Actual timing can shift with traffic, road conditions, and the length of the stop.

What the $358.98 price includes

At $358.98 per person, this is not a budget day trip. The value depends on how much you would otherwise pay for transport, park admission, food, guiding, and a hotel night.

The price includes:

• Private air-conditioned transportation
• Two game drives
• Local guides and a scout when needed
• Park entrance fees listed in the program
• Lunch on Day 1
• Dinner at the overnight stop
• Breakfast on Day 2
• Lunch during the return journey
• One night at Genet Hotel

For a private vehicle and an overnight package, the cost can be reasonable if you want convenience and do not wish to coordinate the separate pieces yourself. A group limit of 10 also keeps the outing smaller than a standard coach excursion.

The value falls if park access changes or one of the game drives is canceled. One poor report describes exactly that problem, along with a late guide and an attempted drop-off at a different, less desirable motel. That account is serious enough that I would confirm the hotel name, departure arrangements, and current park status directly before the cancellation deadline.

Practical details that affect your decision

The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. at Nega City Mall in Kazanchis, Addis Ababa. The information also says pickup is offered, so confirm whether hotel pickup is available for your specific accommodation or if you must reach the stated meeting point.

The activity ends back at the meeting point. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience allows service animals. It is near public transportation, and most people can participate, but the long road sections may be tiring if you need frequent movement breaks.

The tour requires good weather. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, so check the forecast and park conditions early.

Most important, contact the operator before the final 24-hour window and ask:

• Is Awash National Park open for both planned game drives?
• Is Genet Hotel confirmed for this departure?
• Will the vehicle collect you from your Addis hotel or only from Nega City Mall?
• Are the Awash Falls and Sodere stops operating as planned?

Those questions are not needless fussing. They protect the parts of the trip that make the package worth its price.

Who should book this Awash trip?

I would recommend it to you if you have limited time in Ethiopia and want a packaged nature outing from Addis Ababa. It suits people who appreciate private transport, included meals, a small maximum group size, and a mix of wildlife, waterfalls, hot springs, and river scenery.

It is also a good fit if you prefer not to arrange an overnight stay and park transport on your own. The all-in structure removes several practical tasks.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is guaranteed wildlife viewing or a long, expert-led safari. The game drives are short, sightings are uncertain, and the tour is heavily shaped by the road journey.

I would also delay booking until you receive a current answer about park security and access. The overall rating is 4.6 from 21 reviews, but the specific report describing closure, a canceled drive, late guiding, and a motel mix-up cannot be ignored.

Should you book the two-day Awash safari?

Book this tour if you want a convenient overnight introduction to Awash National Park and like the idea of combining wildlife with Awash Falls and Sodere hot springs. The included transport, meals, hotel, park fees, and guiding make the price easier to justify.

Before booking, get written confirmation that both game drives and Genet Hotel are available for your date. If the operator confirms those details, this can be a useful and varied escape from Addis Ababa. If access remains uncertain, choose only after you understand what happens if the park visit is reduced.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Nega City Mall in Kazanchis, Addis Ababa. The stated departure time is 8:30 a.m.

Does the tour return to Addis Ababa?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point in Addis Ababa after the return journey from Awash National Park.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered, but the stated meeting point is Nega City Mall. Confirm with the operator if pickup from your particular Addis Ababa hotel is available.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of 10 travelers.

What accommodation is included?

One overnight stay at Genet Hotel is included.

Are meals included?

Yes. Lunch, dinner, breakfast, and the return-day lunch are included. Alcoholic drinks and personal purchases are not included.

What animals might be seen?

Possible sightings include oryx, baboons, kudu, warthogs, gazelles, colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys. Crocodiles and, less often, hippos may be seen near the Awash River at Sodere.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted.