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Ethiopia🇪🇹 | national parksBorena National ParkSouthern forest edge, colobus canopy, Borena wells, dry riverbeds | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Borena
👌 Worth visitingnational park ranked #16
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Borena National Park is best known for its dense highland forest, where Ethiopian wolves are absent but colobus monkeys, bushbuck and hornbills fill the canopy. It lies in southern Ethiopia, in the Oromia region, south of Yabelo. Roads are rough, signs are few and visitors are rare, so you get silence and mud-streaked boots. Near the edge of the forest I paid about US$1 for a tin cup of sweet spiced tea and a warm roll from a roadside woman, and the cinnamon smoke carried on the damp air. Spend a first day walking the forest margin with a local guide, then eat in the nearest village.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Ethiopia Travel Guide.
Safety warning

The current risk level for Ethiopia is high. Check the advice before going.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #16 national park in EthiopiaThe unique appeal for travelers

Borena National Park suits backpackers who like making their own plans in places where nobody is selling a package. Independent exploration is the draw: the park sees so few foreigners that a hired local guide and a day on foot give you the forest to yourself. The terrain mixes shaded woodland with open grassland edges, so you get both colobus monkey spotting in the canopy and long, flat walking. Camping near the park boundary keeps costs low, and the surrounding Borena pastoral communities add culture to every visit. Tours barely exist here, so self-guided travel is the norm.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. Forest Canopy Walks: Slow walks under tall trees where colobus monkeys leap between branches and hornbills call overhead.
  2. Grassland Edges: Open plains at the park margins where bushbuck and warthog graze in the early morning.
  3. Birdwatching Spots: Clearings and streams that draw hornbills, turacos and many smaller forest birds.
  4. Borena Pastoral Villages: Nearby settlements where herders water cattle at deep traditional wells and welcome respectful visitors.
  5. Dry River Beds: Sandy channels that make easy walking routes and show tracks of antelope and other animals.
  6. Roadside Viewpoints: Pull-offs along the approach road with wide views across the Borena lowlands.
Borena National Park rewards a first visit best with the Forest Canopy Walks, since they put you among the monkeys and birds within an hour of arriving.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Long dry season (December to February): Days run roughly 28 to 33°C (82 to 91°F), nights 15 to 18°C (59 to 64°F). Roads and tracks are firm, grass is short, and wildlife is easiest to spot at waterholes.
  • Short rains (March to May): Storms turn dirt tracks to mud and some routes close. Expect 25 to 30°C (77 to 86°F), green landscapes and few visitors.
  • Cool dry spell (June to September): Mostly dry and slightly cooler, with 24 to 30°C (75 to 86°F). Good for walking, with lodge rates at their lowest.
  • Second rains (October to November): Heavy showers and muddy access.
Daylight stays near 12 hours all year, so start walking early.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: below average for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Most backpackers sleep in Yabelo or Mega, the nearest towns, because Borena National Park has no formal lodges and only basic camping is possible with ranger permission. Yabelo, about 560 km south of Addis Ababa, has simple guesthouses with private rooms for US$8 to 20 and a few mid-range hotels up to US$40. Mega, roughly 100 km further south, has cheaper rooms from US$6 to 15 and a quieter feel. Both towns have small restaurants and bus links. If you camp, bring your own tent, water and food, and arrange a local scout or guide in town first, since facilities inside the park are minimal.
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👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Borena

A day in Borena National Park runs about US$5 to 15 for a backpacker using local transport, with a guide and basic lodging in nearby towns. The total daily budget below is US$75.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance and scout feesUS$5 to 15Paid in birr at the park office or through your guide
Accommodation (high season)US$8 to 25Simple guesthouse in Yabelo or Mega; camping is cheaper but needs your own gear
Local transportUS$10 to 30Minibus to the area is cheap, but reaching park tracks usually needs a hired vehicle or shared 4x4
Food and suppliesUS$6 to 12Town restaurants serve rice, pasta and injera dishes; stock up on water and snacks in town
GuideUS$10 to 25A local guide or armed scout is strongly advised
Total Daily BudgetUS$75Lower if you split vehicle costs with others
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsPlan your hike in Borena: routes, terrain, and sights

Borena National Park has no signed trail network, so walks are arranged on the spot with a local guide who knows the forest tracks. Most routes start at the park edge and follow animal paths or dry river beds.
  • Forest Loop: A half-day walk of roughly 3 to 4 hours through shaded woodland, easy to moderate, with uneven roots and damp patches. Colobus monkeys and hornbills are the main sightings.
  • Grassland Edge Walk: A gentle 2 to 3 hour stroll along open ground at the forest margin, best early in the morning for bushbuck and warthog.
  • River Bed Route: Flat, sandy walking of about 2 hours, easy, with
… read more 👉
Borena National Park has no signed trail network, so walks are arranged on the spot with a local guide who knows the forest tracks. Most routes start at the park edge and follow animal paths or dry river beds.
  • Forest Loop: A half-day walk of roughly 3 to 4 hours through shaded woodland, easy to moderate, with uneven roots and damp patches. Colobus monkeys and hornbills are the main sightings.
  • Grassland Edge Walk: A gentle 2 to 3 hour stroll along open ground at the forest margin, best early in the morning for bushbuck and warthog.
  • River Bed Route: Flat, sandy walking of about 2 hours, easy, with animal tracks and birds in the trees along the banks.
Public transport is limited. Buses run on the main southern highway, and the last stretch needs a local minibus, a hired vehicle or a lift. Crowds are almost nonexistent. A small entrance fee and a guide fee are usually paid in cash at the park office or to the ranger. Bring water, sturdy shoes and rain protection.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Borena National Park is remote, so the main risks are logistical. Heat is intense at midday, so walk at dawn and carry at least 3 liters of water per person, since reliable sources are scarce. Tracks are rough and signage is thin, so hire a local guide or scout who knows the area. Wildlife includes buffalo, kudu and occasional predators, so keep your distance, avoid walking at dusk and never camp beside waterholes. Mobile coverage is patchy. Tell your guesthouse your plan, carry a paper map and keep some cash for fuel and fees.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Plan on 2 to 3 days for Borena National Park. Yabelo is the usual base, so allow one day to reach it from Addis Ababa by road, which takes roughly 10 to 12 hours, then a full day or two for the park's tracks and wildlife.
Borena National Park is difficult without a car. Buses run from Addis Ababa to Yabelo in about 10 to 12 hours, but inside the park you need a hired 4x4 or a shared vehicle, which typically costs US$60 to 120 per day, so splitting with other travelers helps.
Yes, Borena National Park charges an entrance fee, usually a few US dollars per person (about US$3 to 10), plus fees for vehicles and a required scout or guide. Pay at the park office or through your guide, in local currency, and ask for a receipt. Check current rates in Yabelo before heading in.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Borena National Park works best as a quiet stop on a southern loop, paired with the Yabelo area and the Konso highlands for a mix of forest, culture and market days. I would bring cash, extra water and a flexible schedule, because plans here bend to the road.

✈️ When did I visit Ethiopia?
Ethiopia I visited back in October 2017. I combined the trip with a visit to Sudan. Ethiopia was a pure surprise with the magical scenery like the Danakil Depression and the Simien Mountains.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Ethiopia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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