Is It Worth Visiting Gambella National Park?
Gambella National Park is Ethiopia’s largest and most remote protected area, offering a raw, off-the-grid safari experience with stunning wetlands, rare wildlife, and minimal crowds. The best time to visit is from November to March. Here’s your complete travel guide to exploring Gambella National Park:
About Gambella National Park
- Location: Western Ethiopia, between the Baro and Gilo Rivers, ~850 km west of Addis Ababa
- Size: about 4,575 square kilometers (457,500 hectares), making it one of Ethiopia’s largest national parks.
- Established: 1973
- Altitude: 400–768 meters above sea level
- Climate: Hot and humid (Kolla zone); wet season from May to October, dry season from November to April
Things to Do & See
Focus on wildlife and nature; activities are low-impact to preserve the ecosystem:
- Wildlife Safaris: Drive or boat along the Baro River for elephants, Nubian giraffes (fewer than 100 individuals), buffalo, Nile lechwe, hippos, lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Best at Matara for herds.
- Migration Viewing: Witness the Great Nile Migration of around one million white-eared kob — one of Africa’s largest wildlife migrations from January to June; aerial charters offer stunning panoramas.
- Birdwatching: 327 species, including shoebill stork (Ethiopia's only population), African skimmer, and little green bee-eater. Riverbanks are hotspots.
- Cultural Experiences: Visit Nuer/Anuak villages near Itang (via Gambella Tourism Bureau) for cattle rituals, fishing demos, and homestays. Learn about local beekeeping with Majangir groups.
- Other: River cruises and ranger-led walks (note that gold mining areas near Dimma are not open for tourism).
Best Time to Visit
Dry Season (December - March): This is the absolute best time to visit.
Why: Roads are more passable, animals congregate around permanent water sources, making them easier to spot, and mosquitoes are less prevalent.
Wet Season (April - November): Strongly Not Recommended.
Why: Heavy rains render the black cotton soil roads completely impassable, the grass is extremely high (obscuring wildlife), and flooding is widespread. Malaria risk is also at its highest.
How to Get There
This is the biggest challenge. Independent travel is very challenging and best arranged through a licensed local guide or tour operator. Access is challenging; best reached via charter flight from Addis Ababa
By Air: The easiest way
Fly from Addis Ababa (ADD) to Gambella Airport (GMB). Flights take about 1.5 hours. From Gambella Town, the park is about 40–60 km away by car.
By Road: A long and arduous journey
It's a 2-3 day drive from Addis Ababa on a road that is rough in parts. A sturdy 4x4 is mandatory.
Traveling to Gambella National Park is for adventurous travelers seeking untouched African wilderness. It rewards visitors with stunning wildlife — including Africa’s second-largest animal migration — and deep cultural encounters. But it requires preparation, a local guide, and flexibility due to limited infrastructure.
