Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary

Senkele covers around fifty square kilometres of open acacia grassland and was set aside specifically for Swayne's hartebeest, a subspecies of the antelope that once ranged widely across the Horn and is now confined to a few pockets in Ethiopia, of which this holds one of the more significant groups. Numbers have fluctuated sharply with drought, grazing pressure and disturbance, and the sanctuary has been under heavy pressure from settlement and livestock inside its boundaries. Oribi, bohor reedbuck, greater kudu and warthog also occur, along with a good grassland bird list including Abyssinian ground hornbill. A track network allows driving and walking with a scout. It is small, low-key and visited mainly by people with a specific interest in the antelope.

What you actually see

• Swayne's hartebeest - the endemic antelope the sanctuary exists for.
• Open acacia grassland - the habitat the herds use.
• Oribi and reedbuck - the other antelope of the reserve.
• Grassland birds - ground hornbills, bustards and larks.

When to go

October to March for dry tracks. Early morning and late afternoon for antelope activity. The rains make the tracks difficult and the grass too high to see through.

Honest expectations

The sanctuary is under real pressure from grazing and settlement, and that is visible; it is not a well-protected reserve. Hartebeest numbers are low and sightings need patience and a scout who knows where the herds are. Facilities are none. Roads inside are rough.

Nearby

Shashemene lies east; Hawassa is southeast.