Dati Wolel National Park is located in the southwestern tropical forest belt of the country. The Park was designated as a controlled hunting area in 1998 and upgraded to Park level in 2008. It covers 431 square kilometers. The Park has diversified ecosystems, and floral and faunal resources. More than half of the area of the park is covered by wetland. There is also dense forest, grassland, woodland, and riverine forest in the park. There are about 28 large mammals. The Park is unique in harboring the largest numbers of mega-herbivores of Hippopotamus amphibious (hippopotamus) and Syncerus caffer (African Buffalo) of all of the National parks in Ethiopia.