Nech Sar National Park

Nech Sar National Park

Nech Sar National Park or Nechisar National Park is located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It was established in 1974. The park is situated in the Great Rift Valley in the southwest Ethiopian Highland. The "Bridge of God", an isthmus between Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo, and the Nechisar Plain east of the lakes are included in the 750 square kilometer park. Elevations in the area range from 1,108 to 1,650 meters above sea level. The major regional center of the park is Arba Minch in the Main Ethiopian Rift. Lakes, including Lake Abaya in the north and Lake Chamo in the south, make up about 15% of the park. A part of the habitat is made up of the bottomland forest and the shores of the lakes, but there are also dry grassy plains. Elevation ranges from 1,108 meters above sea level at the shore of Lake Chamo to 1,650 meters at Mount Tabala in the northeast, known for its hot springs. The park is home to a variety of game such as Plains Zebras, Grant's Gazelles, Dik-Diks, hippos, African Leopards, Spotted Hyenas and kudus, as well as Swayne's Hartebeests, lions and cheetahs. A section of Lake Chamo's northwestern shore is known as Crocodile Market, where hundreds of Nile Crocodiles bask. Bushbuck, waterbuck, bushpig, Anubis Baboon, Vervet Monkey and Black-Backed Jackal are also found in the park. Birds such as kingfishers, storks, pelicans, flamingos and African Fish Eagles call the park home.