Impressive natural scenery characterizes Kafa Biosphere Reserve. Kafa harbors lush ancient forests, thriving wetlands, steep valleys alongside towering mountains, and gentle rolling plains. Fertile valleys link the forested mountains creating an appeasing but exciting landscape.
As the largest continuous area of mountains in Africa, many people consider the Ethiopian Highlands as the Roof of Africa. In Kafa, these mountains range from 500 to 3300 meters. Volcanic activity started forming the mountains over 75 million years ago making it a truly historical landscape. A process related to this volcanic activity, called Continental Rifting, causes the earth’s crust in Ethiopia to fracture.
Kafa Biosphere Reserve has an extraordinary mosaic of wildlife. From large majestic lions to tiny spotted frogs, Kafa supports a range of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. Visitors in Kafa awake in the morning to the symphonies of birds and the croaks of the Ibis.
MammalsScientists have recorded sixty mammal species in Kafa Biosphere Reserve and are keen on further research and exploration. These species include: four types of mongoose, antelopes such as the Reedbuck and Duiker, seven types of bats, the small Rock Hyrax who survives as the closest living relative of the elephant, Spotted Hyena, bushpig, Honey Badger, jackal, and the occasional riverine hippo or African Buffalo.