Omo National Park is located in Bench Maji on the western bank of Omo River. The total area covered by the park is approximately 4,068 square Kilometers. Recently an airstrip was built near the park on the River Mui. UNESCO declared the lower reaches of the Omo River as a world heritage site in 1980 after the discovery of fossils of Homo sapiens.
It is home to various communities such as Suri, Mursi, Nyangatom, Dizi and Me’en that are endangered of displacement, and hence no access is allowed to their agricultural lands. Various hot springs are present and are crossed by number of rivers that drain into Omo. Dense vegetation of Euphrobia tirucalli is found, away from the edge of the river. Trees like Ficus sycamorus, Phoneix reclinata, Kigelia aethiopium and Acacia polyacantha are found at the eastern side of the park. The Dutch Afriacn Parks Foundation undertook the park but later in October 2008 gave up the management to Omo National Park and left Ethiopia.