Kafta Sheraro National Park

Kafta Sheraro National Park is in Tigray in Northern Ethiopia. It occupies a dry lowland landscape around the Tekeze River and is one of Ethiopia's important protected areas for African elephants.

Kafta-Sheraro was recognized as a park in 2007. It is close to the Eritrea border. The protected area is listed as a designated national park under the management authority of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA).

Kafta-Sheraro is markedly different from the highland landscapes around Mekele. Much of the park consists of dry woodland, savanna, shrubland and riverine vegetation. The Tekeze River and seasonal watercourses provide important habitat in an otherwise dry environment.

The park was established as the Shire Wildlife Reserve in the 1960s. It was subsequently proposed for expansion and upgrading, and its national-park status was legally established in 2014. The boundaries and effective area of the park have been affected by subsequent land-use changes; recent research estimates the managed area at about 2,176 km², while the World Database on Protected Areas reports a designated area of 1,878 km².

Kafta-Sheraro is particularly important for the conservation of African elephants. Historical surveys recorded a transboundary elephant population shared with Eritrea, with an informed estimate of about 300 elephants in the park in 2014.

A 2025 study documented 28 species of medium and large mammals in the park, including six globally threatened species. The research also found that wildlife use different habitats according to season and local environmental conditions.

The park also supports a variety of birds, reptiles and other wildlife associated with its woodland, grassland and riverine habitats.

Conservation in Kafta-Sheraro faces substantial pressure from surrounding human activities. Agricultural expansion, livestock grazing, settlement, uncontrolled fires, firewood collection, charcoal production and illegal gold mining have all been identified as threats to the park's habitats.

Human-elephant conflict is another important issue. Elephants can move into agricultural areas and damage crops, creating tension between wildlife conservation and the livelihoods of communities living around the park. Research published in 2025 found that crop raiding by elephants has increased over the past decade.

The Tigray conflict also severely disrupted park management and enforcement. A 2025 assessment reported major losses in conservation capacity during the war and continuing difficulties in restoring effective management because of instability and access problems.

The park's landscape is dominated by dry woodland and savanna, with greener vegetation occurring along rivers and other areas with greater water availability.

The Tekeze River is particularly important to the ecology of the region. Riverine areas provide water and vegetation for wildlife and create ecological corridors through the drier landscape.

Home to large mammals such as Caracal, Aardvark, Roan antelope, Loxodonta africana, Xerus rutilus, Hystrix cristata, Tragelaphus strepsiceros, Hippotragus equines (Roan antelope), Taurotragus oreyx, rufifrons Thomson’s, Kobus ellipsiprymnus (Defassa waterbuck), Bush duiker, Dikdik, oribi, Oreotragus oreotragus, Common warthog, Ethiopian rock hyrax, White tailed mongoose, Galerella sanguinea (Slender mongoose), Civettictis civetta (African civet), Crocula crocuta (Spotted hyena), Canis aureus (Common jackal), Canis mesomelas (Black-backed jackal), mellivora capensis (Honey badger), Papio anubis.

Kafta-Sheraro National Park has a hot to warm semi-arid climate, typical of the lowland areas of western and northwestern Tigray. The park experiences a pronounced wet season followed by a much longer dry period. Annual rainfall is generally about 400–650 mm, although the amount varies across the park.

Rainfall is concentrated mainly between late May and early September, with the heaviest rainfall generally occurring in July and August.

Located 600 km northwest of Mekelle; the capital of Tigray.

• Shire — A major town in the northwestern part of Tigray and one of the closest urban centres to the park.
• Humera — A town in western Tigray near the Sudanese and Eritrean borders.
• Mekele — The regional capital and principal urban centre of Tigray.
• Axum — Historic city known for its ancient monuments and religious heritage.
• Eritrea — The international border lies along the northern side of the wider Kafta-Sheraro area.