Abiata-Shalla National Park, Ethiopia

About 125 miles (201 km) south of the Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, lies the Abiata-Shalla National Park. While not full of wildlife as one might expect, the park does boast other phenomena including lakes, mountain peaks and natural hot springs. The park is home to over 300 recorded bird species, not the least of which are ostriches and flamingos. Mount Fike, situated between the lakes Shalla and Abijatta, towers at over 6,800 feet (2,073 m) high. The park itself was established in 1974 and in 1996, a rehabilitation program began, one that both included and integrated the local communities.

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