Gambela National Park is Ethiopia’s largest national park, covering approximately 5,060 square kilometres of savannah, floodplains, riverine forest, and wetlands in the remote southwest of the country, near the South Sudan border. The park hosts part of Africa’s largest wildlife migration, with hundreds of thousands of white-eared kob moving more than 800 km seasonally between Gambela and Boma-Badingilo national parks. Gambela is home to Ethiopia’s largest remaining population of elephant and one of the most endangered giraffe populations in the world, the Nubian giraffe, while over 230 confirmed bird species and 113 fish species are resident in the park. As of 2026, the park is entering a new chapter under a landmark conservation agreement with African Parks, signed in December 2024, which is expected to steadily improve infrastructure, anti-poaching, and access for visitors over the coming years.
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African Parks Management Agreement and What It Means for Visitors in 2026
In December 2024, African Parks entered into a 10-year renewable management agreement with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) and the President of the Gambella Peoples’ National Regional State to help restore the landscape and channel significant investment into the region. Improving infrastructure and accessibility, as well as a tourism development plan, will be a focus as soon as the transition period is complete and African Parks is more established on the ground. The deal marks a return to Ethiopia for African Parks after an absence of nearly 20 years. For travellers in 2026, this means the park is still in a transition phase. Visitor access remains limited and largely expedition-style, but the conservation foundation being built now points toward more structured tourism options in the near future. Anyone planning a visit in 2026 should contact Addis Ababa-based tour operators directly for the most current access and logistics information.
Gambela National Park Location and Size
Gambela town and the national park are located approximately 670 km from the capital, Addis Ababa, via Jimma. The park is situated in the south-western region of Ethiopia and covers approximately 4,575 km², established as a national park in 1973 to conserve its exceptional biodiversity and important wetland habitats. At 5,060 square kilometres, this is Ethiopia’s largest protected area, and it is contiguous with the 22,800 square kilometre Boma National Park in South Sudan, together adding up to a conservation area roughly the same size as the Serengeti. The landscape of Gambela is low and flat with altitudes ranging from 400 to 768 metres above sea level. Located between two major river systems, the Baro River in the north and Akobo River in the south, the park consists of savannah, floodplains, riverine forests, meandering rivers, and grasslands, providing rich habitat for a variety of species.
Gambela National Park Wildlife Overview
| Species / Group | Status | Best Viewing Season | Location in Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-eared Kob | Migration species | January to April | Northern plains |
| Nile Lechwe | Resident, rare | Year-round (dry season easier) | Wetlands and swamps |
| Nubian Giraffe | Endangered | Dry season | Open savannah |
| African Elephant | Resident (largest population in Ethiopia) | Dry season | Riverine areas |
| Shoebill Stork | Very rare | Dry season | Papyrus swamps |
| Nile Crocodile / Hippo | Resident | Year-round | Baro River |
| Lion / Leopard | Present, low density | Dry season | Savannah and forest edges |
| Buffalo | Resident | Dry season | Open grassland |
Sixty-nine mammal species are found in the protected area, including the African elephant, African buffalo, bushpig, common warthog, Nubian giraffe, hippopotamus, Nile lechwe, tiang, waterbuck, cheetah, leopard, lion, mantled guereza, olive baboon, patas monkey, and spotted hyena. The park also hosts herds of Bohor reedbuck, bushbuck, Lelwel hartebeest, oribi, reedbuck, roan antelope, and white-eared kob. Forested areas play host to a number of primate species, including olive baboons, patas monkeys, and guereza monkeys. Wildlife populations have declined over decades due to poaching, agriculture, and regional instability, so sightings cannot be guaranteed, and aerial viewing by charter flight gives the best chance of seeing large concentrations of animals.
The White-eared Kob Migration in Gambela
The park hosts part of the largest land mammal migration in the world: approximately six million antelope, including white-eared kob, tiang, Mongalla gazelle, and Bohor reedbuck, move across the Great Nile Migration Landscape through Gambela’s northern point and neighbouring South Sudan every year. During the late dry season, from January to April, an estimated 1.2 million endemic white-eared kob antelopes move from the wetlands of Boma across the national border into Gambela, and sometimes travelling in herds 50 miles long and 30 miles wide, it is estimated that up to 250,000 of these animals can be seen at any one time. Timing a visit to coincide with this migration can be a little tricky, since the animal movements vary depending on how much rain falls in a particular year. February is generally considered the best month to target, though the main herds can arrive later in some years. Aerial viewing by charter helicopter is the most reliable way to witness the scale of this migration, as the terrain on the ground makes vehicle-based access to the main herds extremely difficult.
Birds of Gambela National Park
Gambela is one of Ethiopia’s most important birding destinations, particularly for species associated with Sudanese lowland habitats that are found nowhere else in the country. A checklist of 327 bird species includes Ethiopia’s only known population of the remarkable shoebill stork, which dwells in the park’s papyrus swamps, as well as the Uelle Paradise Whydah, Egyptian plover, and African skimmer. The park contains two Important Bird Areas: the Duma wetland and the Baro River, while the river systems harbour over 110 different species of fish. Three hundred and twenty-seven bird species including seasonal migrants have been recorded, including the African skimmer, black-faced firefinch, Carmine bee-eater, cisticolas, crowned cranes, Egyptian plover, exclamatory paradise whydah, African green bee-eater, pelicans, approximately 40 species of raptors, red-necked buzzard, red-throated bee-eater, storks, warblers, and vultures. Birding in Gambela National Park is best done in the mornings due to good lighting at that time of day, although birds can be viewed throughout the day.
Key Activities in Gambela National Park
| Activity | Duration | Best Season | Difficulty | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial helicopter safari | Half to full day | Jan to Apr | Easy | Very high (charter) |
| Game drive (4WD) | Half to full day | Nov to Apr | Moderate | $50–$150/day guide + vehicle |
| Bird watching | 2 to 4 hours | Year-round (dry preferred) | Easy to moderate | Guide fee: Birr 250/day |
| Walking safari | 2 to 5 hours | Nov to Apr | Moderate | Included with guide |
| Baro River boat trip | 1 to 3 hours | Dry season | Easy | ~$15 (local rental) |
| Fishing (Baro River) | Half day | Dry season | Easy | Local arrangement |
| Cultural village visits | Half day | Year-round | Easy | Donation-based |
Gambela National Park is a notable destination for birdwatchers, and guided birdwatching tours lead visitors to hotspots where they can observe species such as shoebills, saddle-billed storks, and African fish eagles. Trekking in the Gambela National Park is normally carried out during the dry season because during this time the trek routes within the park are easily accessible and roads leading into the park are not flooded. The Baro River provides opportunities for scenic boat rides where visitors can observe aquatic wildlife and the floodplain landscapes. Walking safaris and cultural interactions with local communities such as the Nuer and Anuak people offer unique insights into the traditional practices and sustainable resource use of these indigenous groups.
Helicopter Safaris Over Gambela National Park
For most travellers in 2026, a charter helicopter or light aircraft remains the most practical and rewarding way to see Gambela’s wildlife. Gambela is virtually inaccessible by conventional means, and it is estimated that fewer than a hundred people manage to get into the reserve each year, possibly a good deal fewer than that. Even experienced safari-goers who have done 16 safaris and lived in Kenya for years have described the aerial experience of flying over Gambela and seeing the migration of the white-eared kob as genuinely extraordinary. Since Gambela is explored by helicopter, it is easy to connect to anywhere in the country, with trips starting or ending at the main airport in Addis Ababa. The most popular combination connects Gambela with the equally remote Lower Omo Valley to the south. Helicopter safari packages to Gambela typically run between $1,500 and $3,500 per person per day depending on the operator, group size, and inclusion of camp accommodation.
Walking Safaris and Ground-Based Game Drives
This is an adventure of the highest order, and anyone heading out here will need a reliable 4WD, preferably rented from Addis, and must be entirely self-sufficient in food, water, and camping equipment. A local guide is required, and informing the local authorities of your plans is strongly recommended. The Gambela National Park Headquarters in Gambela organises the compulsory guides at Birr 250 per day, and entrance fees are also paid there. The park is so far away that reaching it by car would take two days of driving, so flying to the town of Gambela via Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa is the advised approach. Once in the town of Gambela, the park entrance is approximately 64 km away. Vehicle-based drives are limited to the dry season months of November through April, and even then, the road network inside the park is extremely sparse.
Fishing on the Baro River
The Baro River, which forms the northern boundary of the park, is a productive fishing destination. The river systems harbour over 110 different species of fish, including tigerfish and Nile perch. Nile perch weighing up to 100 kg have been caught from the Baro River. Fishing is typically arranged through local contacts in Gambela town and is best done during the dry season when the river runs more predictably. The Baro is also a key wildlife corridor, so early morning fishing trips routinely involve sightings of hippos and Nile crocodiles along the banks. Visitors should be aware that river safety requires experienced local guidance at all times.
Anuak and Nuer Cultural Visits Near the Park
The region is inhabited by various pastoral and agricultural Nilotic communities, including the Nuer, Anuak, and Majang, as well as Omotic peoples, comprising a local population estimated to be approximately 400,000. Gambela National Park is surrounded by two main ethnic groups, the Anuak and the Nuer, whose locals have distinctive cultural practices including traditional scarification patterns considered marks of beauty, worn by both men and women. Cultural visits to Anuak and Nuer villages near the park