Omo National Park
Encyclopedia
Omo National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia
. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region on the west bank of the Omo River
, the park covers approximately 4,068 square kilometers, about 870 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa
; across the Omo is the Mago National Park
. Although an airstrip was recently built near the park headquarters on the Mui River
, this park is not easily reachable; the Lonely Planet guide Ethiopia and Eritrea describes Omo National Park as "Ethiopia's most remote park."
The lower reaches of the Omo river were declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
in 1980, after the discovery of the earliest known fossil fragments
of Homo Sapiens that have been dated circa 195,000 years old.
There is virtually no tourist infrastructure
within the park and little support for travellers. It was reported in 1999 that none of the tourist agencies within or outside Ethiopia would arrange tours in the park. The Walta Information Center
announced 3 October 2006 that US$1 million had been allocated to construct "roads and recreational centres as well as various communication facilities" with the intent to attract more visitors.
, Suri
, Nyangatom
, Dizi and Me'en are reported in danger of displacement and/or denial of access to their traditional grazing and agricultural land. This follows the demarcation of the Park boundaries in November 2005, and the recent management takeover of the Park by the Dutch
African Parks Foundation (also known as African Parks Conservation). This process threatens to make the Omo people 'illegal squatters' on their own land.
There are reports that these tribal peoples have been coerced into signing documents they could not read by Park officials.
On October 2008 African Parks Network
(APN) announced they were giving up the management of the Omo National Park and leaving Ethiopia. APN stated that sustainable management of the Ethiopian parks is incompatible with ‘the irresponsible way of living of some of the ethnic groups’. The organization has trouble dealing with the indigenous population trying to continue its traditional way of life within the park borders.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region on the west bank of the Omo River
Omo River
The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya...
, the park covers approximately 4,068 square kilometers, about 870 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
; across the Omo is the Mago National Park
Mago National Park
Mago National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region about 782 kilometers south of Addis Ababa and north of a large 90° bend in the Omo River, the 2162 square kilometers of this park are divided by the Mago River, a...
. Although an airstrip was recently built near the park headquarters on the Mui River
Mui River
The Mui is a river of southern Ethiopia. Located inside Omo National Park, it is a tributary of the Omo River on the right side, merging with the larger stream at ....
, this park is not easily reachable; the Lonely Planet guide Ethiopia and Eritrea describes Omo National Park as "Ethiopia's most remote park."
The lower reaches of the Omo river were declared a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
in 1980, after the discovery of the earliest known fossil fragments
Omo remains
The Omo remains are a collection of hominid bones discovered between 1967 and 1974 at the Kibish sites near the Omo River, Omo National Park in south-western Ethiopia. The bones were recovered by a scientific team from the Kenya National Museums directed by Richard Leakey and others...
of Homo Sapiens that have been dated circa 195,000 years old.
There is virtually no tourist infrastructure
Tourism in Ethiopia
Tourism in Ethiopia accounted for 5.5% of the country's gross domestic product in 2006, having barely increased 2% over the previous year. The government is proving its commitment and willingness to develop tourism through a number of initiatives...
within the park and little support for travellers. It was reported in 1999 that none of the tourist agencies within or outside Ethiopia would arrange tours in the park. The Walta Information Center
Walta Information Center
Walta Information Center is a private news and information service that is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.-External links:*...
announced 3 October 2006 that US$1 million had been allocated to construct "roads and recreational centres as well as various communication facilities" with the intent to attract more visitors.
Native people and the Omo Park
The MursiMursi
The Mursi are a Nilotic pastoralist ethnic group that inhabits southwestern Ethiopia. They principally reside in the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, close to the border with South Sudan...
, Suri
Suri
-Places:* Suri, Birbhum, a town in West Bengal, India* Suri , an assembly constituency in Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal* Suri dynasty, a former South Asian empire* Şuri, a commune in Drochia District, Moldova*...
, Nyangatom
Nyangatom
The Nyangatom are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting southwestern Ethiopia and southeastern South Sudan...
, Dizi and Me'en are reported in danger of displacement and/or denial of access to their traditional grazing and agricultural land. This follows the demarcation of the Park boundaries in November 2005, and the recent management takeover of the Park by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
African Parks Foundation (also known as African Parks Conservation). This process threatens to make the Omo people 'illegal squatters' on their own land.
There are reports that these tribal peoples have been coerced into signing documents they could not read by Park officials.
On October 2008 African Parks Network
African Parks Network
The African Parks Network, is a not-for-profit company that takes on total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks and other protected areas, in public-private partnerships with African Governments. The approach combines world-class conservation practices...
(APN) announced they were giving up the management of the Omo National Park and leaving Ethiopia. APN stated that sustainable management of the Ethiopian parks is incompatible with ‘the irresponsible way of living of some of the ethnic groups’. The organization has trouble dealing with the indigenous population trying to continue its traditional way of life within the park borders.