Awash National Park / Ethiopia Aerial

From the moment the drone begins to rise, Awash National Park reveals itself as a vast, rugged expanse shaped by the immense forces of the Great Rift Valley. The landscape spreads in every direction, a mosaic of volcanic features, open savannas, and ancient geological scars. From above, the park appears both wild and orderly, its patterns etched over thousands of years by shifting tectonic plates, flowing rivers, and the steady movement of wildlife.

The aerial view captures the diversity of the terrain. To the south, the famous Awash River carves a wide, winding corridor through the reserve. Its waters twist through groves of doum palms and riverine forests before plunging over the dramatic Awash Falls, where the river drops into a basalt canyon sculpted by millennia of erosion. From the air, the falls appear as a white, foaming break in the steady flow, a natural boundary between the upper and lower reaches of the river.

Moving across the plain, the drone reveals endless stretches of acacia savanna. The open grasslands host some of Ethiopia’s most iconic wildlife. Beisa oryx move in loose herds, their long horns forming elegant arcs as they navigate the open terrain. Soemmerring’s gazelles leap across patches of pale grass, while Grevy’s zebras, with their narrow, finely spaced stripes, graze in small family groups. Their patterns create mesmerizing shapes when seen from above — shifting bands of black and white that ripple with every step.

Near patches of thicker bushland, pairs of wadi baboons (hamadryas baboons) can be seen climbing rocky slopes or forming long lines along the riverbanks. Their silver mantles stand out against the dark basalt outcrops that dominate parts of the park. The drone sweeps over these escarpments, revealing towering cliffs, sharp ridgelines, and weathered craters that highlight Awash’s volcanic origins.

Farther north, the terrain changes dramatically as the drone approaches the Fantalle Volcano. This immense shield volcano dominates the skyline, rising from the plain with sweeping slopes of black and reddish lava. From above, the caldera forms an enormous circular basin, its interior dotted with fumaroles, rock formations, and hardened lava fields. The surrounding ground displays rippling patterns from ancient flows, creating a stark, otherworldly scene. Fantalle’s presence is a constant reminder that the Rift Valley is still geologically alive.

The drone shifts direction toward the Ilala Sala Plains, one of the park’s most wildlife-rich regions. Here, large herds of Burchell’s zebras gather, mingling with warthogs, kudu, and groups of Somali ostriches whose strong, confident strides carve clear tracks into the dusty ground. Raptors circle overhead — Tawny eagles, lappet-faced vultures, bateleurs — forming wide arcs across the sky as they search the land below.

Near small pools and seasonal wetlands, the park’s birdlife becomes even more vibrant. From the aerial view, flocks of crowned cranes, spur-winged plovers, and Egyptian geese create shifting patterns as they move between water and open ground. The wetlands form soft, irregular shapes within the dry landscape, attracting wildlife from across the plains.

Human presence in the park is subtle but deeply connected to its character. On the outskirts, groups of Afar pastoralists guide their camels and goats across ancestral grazing routes that thread through the savannas. Their movement across the land reflects centuries of coexistence between people, wildlife, and the landscape.

As the drone climbs for the final sweeping view, Awash National Park emerges as a complete ecosystem — a place shaped by fire, water, and the ceaseless motion of life. The Rift Valley’s geology, the power of the Awash River, the movements of wildlife, and the traditions of pastoral communities all converge here, forming one of Ethiopia’s most striking and enduring natural landscapes.