Maze National Park

Maze covers around two hundred square kilometres of open grassland and riverine woodland along the Maze river, and it exists mainly to protect Swayne's hartebeest, the Ethiopian endemic antelope whose range has collapsed to a handful of sites; the herd here is one of the more significant. Oribi, bohor reedbuck, greater kudu, warthog, olive baboon and Anubis monkeys also occur, along with lion and leopard in small numbers rarely seen. The park is little visited and lightly staffed, with a few rough tracks and no accommodation inside; visitors camp or stay in Bonke or Sodo. Grazing pressure from surrounding communities is a continuing issue. For anyone interested in the hartebeest, this and Senkele are the two places to go.

History

Maze National Park takes its name from the Maze River, which runs its whole length, and before it was established in 2005 the area served as a hunting ground for Swayne's hartebeest and buffalo. It covers about 210 km², 460 km southwest of Addis Ababa, and is managed by the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (Wikipedia, Maze National Park).

Highlights

• Swayne's hartebeest - herds of the endemic antelope on the grassland.
• Riverine woodland - forest strips along the Maze river.
• Oribi and reedbuck - the smaller antelope of the open ground.
• Open grass plains - the park's characteristic habitat.

When to go

November to March, the driest months, when tracks are passable and grass is short enough to see through. Early morning and evening for antelope. The rains close much of the park to vehicles.

Practical notes

Facilities are essentially nil: no lodge, no visitor centre, rough tracks and a scout who must be collected. The park is remote and the roads in are poor. Wildlife densities are low and predators are effectively never seen. Grazing inside the park is visible.

Nearby

Wolaita Sodo lies north; Arba Minch is southeast.

Key facts