National park · Ethiopia
Yangudi Rassa National Park
Enter Yangudi Rassa National Park: pay the entry fee (check), drive from Addis Ababa via Gewane and Awash (≈ 284 km (176 mi), 5–6 h), and explore the main trails early in the dry season (Feb–Jun, Sep).Enter Yangudi Rassa National Park: pay the entry fee (check), drive from Addis Ababa via Gewane and Awash (≈ 176 mi (284 km), 5–6 h), and explore the main trails early in the dry season (Feb–Jun, Sep).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4,730 km² (1,826 sq mi)1,826 sq mi (4,730 km²)
approximate
Established
1977
Best months
Feb–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
- East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
- East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
- Ethiopia ↗Apply for the Ethiopian e-visa only on the official portal before you fly; visas on arrival have been suspended for most foreign visitors (check the current status for your passport).
- Ethiopia ↗Check your government's advice zone by zone before booking any domestic flight; in 2026 the UK and US advise against all travel to Amhara and Tigray, and the US also to Afar.
- Ethiopia ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention below about 2,000 m, altitude, and yellow fever — Ethiopia is itself a yellow fever risk country, so your next destination may ask for the certificate.
- Ethiopia ↗Confirm times in writing: local 'Ethiopian time' counts hours from about 6 am, so 2 o'clock local can mean 8 am.
At a glance
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Area
- 4,730 km² (1,826 sq mi)1,826 sq mi (4,730 km²)
- Park covers about 4,730 km² of semi‑desert savanna; figures may vary by source.
- Established
- 1977
- Best months
- Feb–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Yangudi Rassa National Park protects a semi‑desert ecosystem in Afar, home to wild ass, gazelles and other savanna wildlife, and holds geological and archaeological significance.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteIUCN Category II (check).
Size and age
4,730 km² (1,826 sq mi)1,826 sq mi (4,730 km²) · national park since 1977
Park covers about 4,730 km² of semi‑desert savanna; figures may vary by source.
Why go
- Semi‑desert landscape with wild ass and other savanna species.
- Geological and archaeological significance in the Afar region.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepBest
- OctCaution
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanCold, dry.
- FebGood weather.
- MarGood weather.
- AprGood weather.
- MayWarm, dry.
- JunWarm, dry.
- JulRainy season begins.
- AugRainy season.
- SepDry, cooler.
- OctCool, occasional rain.
- NovCool, dry.
- DecCool, dry.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild ass, Soemmerring’s gazelle, Gerenuk, Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, Greater kudu, Salt’s dik-dik, Warthog, Hamadryas baboonAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Addis Ababa
Drive via Gewane and Awash to Mille, then turn to the park entrance.
5–6 h
Open the page →
From Awash
Private tour companies run transfers to the park.
≈ 3 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main game viewing area | Open savanna with wildlife sightings. | Guided walks with wardens. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre of the park; exact gate location not published.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Exact fee not published; check locally. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Guided walks required for wildlife tracking.
- Camping
- Only designated camping sites allowed; no open‑fire camping.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use provided stoves.
Where to stay
Near the park
Mille town
Basic guesthouses and small hotels, 30 min from the park gate.
Safety
Heat and dehydration medium
Remote location high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main road to park entrance is paved; short walks are on firm ground.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in locally owned guesthouses; support community tourism.
- Do not feed wildlife; keep to marked trails.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Yangudi Rassa National Park?
The entry fee is not listed online; visitors usually pay a small charge (check at the gate).
What are the best hikes in Yangudi Rassa National Park?
The Yangudi Mountain trail (3–4 h, moderate) and the short wildlife walk on the Hundufo plain are the main routes.
When is the best time to visit Yangudi Rassa National Park?
February to June and September offer dry, warm weather; July–August are rainy.
Can I camp inside the park?
Camping is allowed only in designated sites with a permit; open‑fire camping is prohibited.
Do I need a guide?
Guided walks are required for wildlife tracking; the park wardens provide tours.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Yangudi Rassa National Park
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