The aim of this study was to investigate and document the role of community based ecotourism tornthe local communities of Gheralta on the basis of data collected from the three sample kebellesrnof Koraro, Korkor and Megab. The study employed a household survey questionnaire to (90)rnrespondents to collect quantitative data on a major a;pects of the topic under study, namely,rnhousehold socio- economic features, local livelihoods, awareness about and attitude towardsrntourism. Moreover in- depth interviews were also conducted with 6 selected household headsrnand with 10 relevant persons including tourists on the spot. FGD was also conducted with onerngroup consisted of 6 members having 2 members from each of the study sites. The study madernuse of community based ecotourism model that states the local community of the destination orrnsite to be at the heart of the tourism activities in terms of community empowerment, incomernsharing, ensuring local communities' involvement in their localities tourism activities, ownershiprnof tourism resource and taking care of local resources. The study shows that since majority ofrnthe local peoples of the study area are dependant on agriculture as their main livelihood,rnminority of them have made tourism as their means of livelihood. This is true either as employeernin the lodge or as tourist guide. Moreover there are also individuals engaged informally to use itrnas a means of off-farm income sources. The study further revealed that, while the study area isrnpotential for community based ecotourism, and the presence of positive attitude towards it, localrnpeople at a grass root level were not yet beneficiary. As the finding shows this emanates fromrnlack of training and the absence of community based ecotourism system that works at arncommunity level. However there were good starts at Megllb where locally owned tourism guidernassociation and privately owned lodge in Hawzell which can be taken as a model to the otherrnnear by areas. Hence, any future tourism activity in the area should take into consideration thernneed, ability and capacity of the local people so as to make them part and parcel of tourismrnbusiness.