Chebera Chuchura National Park is located within the SNNP state western side of the central Omo Gibe basin, between the Dawro Zone and Konta Special Woreda, 460 km southwest of Addis Ababa covering an area of 1215 km2.
The park is unique in its highly heterogeneous and hilly terrain, few flat lands, undulating to rolling plains with incised river and perennial streams, valley and gorges.
According to the information obtained from the Dawro Zone Culture, Tourism and Sport Office, possessing numerous rivers, streams and small creator lakes like Keriballa, Shasho and Koka, the park is home for numerous wild lives, 37 larger mammals and 237 species of birds have been recorded in different habitats like in Highland and Riverine forest, savanna and bush lands of the park.
The source indicated that the park comprises unique and attractive mountain closed forest, tall-grassed savanna and thick woodland forest and common mammals including the African elephant, hippopotamus, Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard. The park, with its highly rugged, hilly and mountainous landscape and greenery areas, is very fascinating.
Being crossed by Zigina and Shoshuma rivers is also the other inspiring quality of the park, which makes it more attractive and breathtaking.
Wubalem Bezabih, Head of Dawro Zone Culture, Tourism and Sport Office said that the park is full of splendid natural attractions. However, to make it more conducive for visitors, the office has been working jointly with different local and international organizations, such as Zulla Parks project and other institutions, through undertaking different problem solving researches and studies on the park.
She stressed that to enhance the economic impact of the park and benefit the surrounding community through developing the park, the office is working to improve facilities such as transport. Concurrently, activities are underway to promote and protect the park through utilizing different indigenous and modern environment conservation mechanism that was obtained from different governmental and nongovernmental organizations.
As the office is working persistently to enhance the economic benefits of the local community from the park, the community, in turn, has developed a sense of ownership towards the park which, according to her, is reflected in protecting the park practically and welcoming guests in more healthy and high opinion manner.
Furthermore, activities are ongoing to enhance tourism influx. The zone is working to construct different service rendering enterprises, she added.
Mentioning that the Zone is endowed with a number of natural tourist attraction, she said that the zone administration is ready to accept investors aspiring to invest in the tourism sector in the zone.
Adane Tsegaye, Head of the park on his part said that, apart endemic birds and mammals the park is also blessed with very attractive plantations mentioning the four types of forests namely mountain forest, wood land forest, riverine forest and grass land forest.
Furthermore, the park is endowed with very attractive natural resources and different species of animals noting that all the five biggest animals, except rhinoceros, are inhibiting in the park.
Regarding the protection of the wildlife that are sheltering in the park currently there is no illegal hunting of the wildlife; though sometimes there is a situation at which wildlife cause danger to the crop and the cattle of local community.
He stressed that though there is no adequate infrastructure to influx the tourist currently there is a good beginning to respond it especially on behalf of improving road infrastructure.
Wondimu Lemma Museum Director with the office on his part said that even if it is not sufficient, thousands of tourists flow to the area as it is blessed with natural and social heritages stating that apart the National Park, Halala Palace, Halala Great Wall different hot spring waters, communities’ dressing and hair style, cultural food, and the indigenous agriculture practice are things that attract the tourists to the area as a result the area is known as one of the biggest tourist destination in Ethiopia.
He underscored that to make the area more convenient for tourists in collaboration with different stakeholders, the administration of the zone has been working to promote the destinations through attracting local and foreign investors who need to invest in the tourism sector and currently different investors have been showing interest to invest on it.
The Ethiopian Herald May 13/2020
BY TAMERU REGASA
