Explore Ethiopia's Capital City
Addis Ababa is one of Africa's most modern and vibrant cities
By Jean Rebiffé – Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48468502
Overview
This one to two day tour starts and finishes in Addis Ababa. The first day tour focuses on the highlights within and around the city itself. The second day optional tour focuses on the natural areas outside of the city and provides excellent opportunities to see and photograph some of Ethiopia’s unique bird and animal species.
Highlights:
• Lucy, a 3-4 million year old human ancestor, at the Ethiopian National Museum
• The beautiful view of the city from above at Entoto Mountain
• Nature hike and bird watching in the Menegasha Forest
• Optional dinner at an Ethiopian Cultural Restaurant for authentic Ethiopian dining, dancing, and music
Addis Ababa
Itinerary - Day 1 City Tour
We’ll start the day picking you up from your hotel and will drive up to Entoto Mountain, the capital of Ethiopia before Addis Ababa. Here you will have panoramic views of the city with fresh air from the eucalyptus forests. You will also visit the Entoto Maryam church and museum.
Afterwards, we will proceed down to Addis Ababa and will stop at Shiro Meda on the way. This is the city’s largest market for traditional clothes.
Next we’ll drive to the campus of Addis Ababa University to explore the ethnographical museum, with its great displays of the many cultures of Ethiopia, housed in the former palace of Haile Selassie.
Continue with a visit to the National Museum, where Ethiopia’s oldest resident, Lucy, is housed.
Close to the National Museum is the Selassie (Trinity) church, one of the most important churches of Addis Ababa and the final resting place of Haile Selassie, to whom there is a dedicated museum on site.
Finish the day with shopping in Merkato, the local marketplace which is said to be Africa’s largest open-air market.
Itinerary - Day 2 Excursion
We set off heading west on the Jimma road. We pass the potters’ markets and turn left after the town of Sebeta to Mount Wuchacha and the Menegasha forest – the 50 km journey takes about 1 ½ hours. The Emperor Zera Yacob (1434-1468), noticing the degradation of the forest around Mount Wechecha, initiated what was the first reforestation and conservation measure in Africa by having Juniper trees planted. We will make our way up through the forest towards the top of Mount Wechecha. We can expect to see the Abyssinian Catbird, Banded Barbet, Golden-backed Woodpecker, Black-headed Forest Oriole, Wattled Ibis, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Black-winged Lovebird, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Crowned Eagle and Narina’s Trogan. Among the wildlife species living here are: Menelik’s Bushbuck, Leopard rarely seen), Colobus Monkey, Serval, Grey Duiker, Hyena, Warthog, Porcupine and Civet Cat.
After a picnic lunch in the forest, we will return to Addis Ababa by the Ambo road, stopping off at the small town of Addis Alem. Towards the end of the 19th century, faced with a chronic wood shortage around Addis Ababa (ultimately solved through the importation and planting of the fast growing Eucalyptus), Emperor Menelik II thought of transferring his capital here. One can see today the imperial compound, Menelik’s residence, a dining hall, kitchen and the church of Mariam, which was planned to be the counterpart of Mariamtsion Church in Axum. The church has some interesting paintings and a small museum nearby contains clothes and decorations of former Ethiopian rulers.
We then set off for Addis Ababa, passing Gefersa reservoir (good for birds) and arrive in the early evening.
Additional Information
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Cancellations are allowed if notified earlier than 48 hours prior to trip start
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Adult pricing applies to all travelers
- Dress code is casual, however, shoulders and knees must be covered inside churches
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate.