Awash National Park is situated at a distance of 211 km from the capital in the Rift Valley and is home to a diverse range of plains wildlife and offers tremendous bird watching opportunities with over 300 species. The park covers an area of 756 square kilometers, comprised mainly of acacia and grassland, but with an interesting range of volcanic landscapes. In the open areas and grass plains you should see grazing zebra alongside Beisa oryx, kudu, gazelle and Swayne’s hartebeest. Abunis and hamadryas baboons, as well as colobus and grivet monkeys can be seen near the river, and the salt’s dik-dik is often well camouflaged in the shade of the acacia thorn. Cats such as cheetah, serval, and leopard are also present (though not easy to spot) and lion, black-backed and golden jackals, and caracals can occasionally be seen. The Awash River Falls, the Crocodile Beach and the edge of the spectacular Awash Gorge are another attraction to watch.