Location: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region Map
Area: 2220 km²
Mago National Park is situated in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of South West Ethiopia. The largest city of Jinka is located about 35 km North East of the park entrance. Mago National Park covers an area of 2220 sq km of open grasslands as well as mountain ranges. The highest point is Mount Mago that reaches elevation of 2528 meters. There are over 80 species of mammals that graze in the savannahs of Mago National Park. These include lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants, hartebeest and several species of antelopes. Omo river, Tama river and other water sources are inhabited by crocodiles that are very aggressive. This national park is home to several indigenous species including such ethnic groups like Aari, Banna, Bongoso, Hamer, Karo, Kwegu, Male, Murse and many others.
The Mursi are an ethnic group living in the south of Ethiopia, more specifically in the Mago National Park. The tribe is assigned to less than 4,000 people, mainly from livestock and agriculture . Increasingly, the Mursi are improving their incomes by acting as "photo objects" for tourists. Characteristic of this tribe is the eye-catching lower lip jewelry of the women, which consists of a large clay plate (up to 15 cm in diameter). As a beauty features also apply a painted body and self-added Schmucknarben. The tribe uses the same name Mursi.