Babile Elephant Sanctuary

Babile Elephant Sanctuary is a vast and spectacular reserve comprising wide gorges flanked by open plains, rocky outcrops, meandering riverbeds, and, in the south and the east, a drier almost desert-like landscape. The major attractions include mainly African elephants, Salt’s dik-dik, Guenther’s dik-dik, grey duiker, Anubis and hamadryad baboons, lesser kudu, greater kudu, groups of hyraxes, jackal, hyenas and others. The sanctuary hosts many bird species including the endemic Salvadoris seed eater and others.

Access and Accommodation

The sanctuary is located 550 km to the east on the Addis Ababa-Harar asphalt road, 25 km east of Harar town, on the way to JigJiga town. The Dire Dawa and JigJiga airports operate daily flights from Addis Ababa 60 and 80 km from the sanctuary’s headquarters respectively. The sanctuary has inadequate Motor roads that make most parts of the sanctuary inaccessible. The sanctuary has two main gates via Harar and Erere, but before your trip arrange at sanctuary headquarter at Babile town.

There are only satellite camping grounds inside the sanctuary. However, the sanctuary is very close to Harar Dire Dawa, and JigJiga towns; possibilities of business and economic accommodations are available.

SANCTUARY LOCATION AND MAP

MAP OF ETHIOPIA