day tour around Addis ababa

1 Day tour itinerary around Addis ababa

Debre Libanos monastery, Portuguese Bridge & Blue Nile Gorge

A Drive 110 kms north from Addis over the Entoto Mountains passing through the Sululta Plains take you to the  Debre Libanos monastery founded in the 13^th century by Abune Tekle Haymanot, located at an ideal location looking overlooking Jema River Gorge, a tributary of the Blue Nile, the monastery owns ecclesiastical, cultural and historical relics, and boasts a rare grove of trees that have disappeared from elsewhere in the region. Walk to the 16^th century Bridge still in use today and said to have been built by Portuguese, Proceed to Blue Nile Gorge which is over a mile wide and deeper than the Grand Canyon of the United States of America. View the old and new bridges built on the river.

Wenchi Crater Lake

Wonchi is situated some 152km southwest of Addis Ababa; it is picturesque, highland Crater Lake covers an area of 560 hectares, with a unique shape and clear crystal water lying in a deep basin. The circular slopes covered with green alpine vegetation, its scenic beauty, various flora and fauna with island and peninsulas, and the surrounding climate is worth seeing, falls to be admire and also small monastery by boat trip in the lake add to the fascinating view with various Flora and Funa.

Menagesha Suba Forest

The magnificent Menagesha Suba Forest located at 42km west of the capital is a jewel to have near the city incorporate some 2,500 hectare land of natural rainforest along with 1,300 hectare of exotic plantation forest at an altitude ranging from 2,300 meter to 3000 meter on the southern and western slopes of mount Wechecha, once the site for the modern emperor Menelik II. Dominated and covered by tall juniper, Hygenia and Podocarpus trees, which protects the most substantial remaining patch of indigenous forest in the Addis Ababa region. Above the forest line, there is the 3,385meter high Mount Wechecha, an extinct volcano support a cover of afro alpine moorland dominated by Erica and Helichoysum species. The forest is the home and inhabited by various large mammals including the endemic Menelik’s Bushbuck, and large predator including Leopard and offer endemic forest birds like Black Winged Lovebird, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Ethiopian Oriole, Banded Barbet, Yellow fronted Lovebird, Abyssinian Catbird and more forest associated birds.

Addis Alem Mariam Church

Originally built as Menelik’s palace and known for its murals. The church owns many important relics and artifacts bequeathed to it by the Emperor which are on display in the Church museum. This palace church can be visited  along with the hiking tour to menagesha suba forest.  The 1 Day tour  around Addis ababa  wenchi lake can be true if you want to discover after the Addis Alem mariam church detour.

Tiya megalithic stelae field UNESCO world heritage site

Tiya is located in the Soddo Region of Ethiopia. It is best known for its archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site remarkable for its large stone pillars, many of which bear some form of decoration of which are engraved with enigmatic symbols, notably swords,” mark a large, prehistoric burial complex Tiya is among the most important of the roughly 160 archaeological sites discovered so far in the region, The site contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stelae covered with symbols, most of which are difficult to decipher. They are the remains of an ancient Ethiopian culture whose age has not yet been precisely determined, but believed to have been erected between the 12^th and 14^th centuries and are almost certainly grave markers. Recent excavations at Tiya have revealed the remains of young people of both sexes, aged between 18 -30 and buried in fetal positions. Tiya archeological site was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1980.

Debre Berhan & Ankober

Located 140km North East of Addis Ababa to visit one of the oldest town in the country- Debre Berhan town founded by King Zera Yacob(1434 – 1468). It was important in the earlier days because of its proximity to Ankober and the trade route through the Rift Valley to the coast. Ankober is located a short distance of 43kms from Debre Berhan and is assemble on the edge of the great escarpment of the Rift Valley which offers an extraordinary view of the region. It is also founded by King Zera Yacob in the 15th century. Ruins of the palaces of King Sahle Selassie and his predecessors are worth visiting. Ankober was Menelik’s capital before Entoto near Addis; there is an interesting lodge on the top of the cliff where you can see clearly the rift valley and visiting a local dwelling is worth don’t forget to bring your warm clothe since it is cold!

Mount Zuqualla Monastery & Debre Zeit creator lakes

Drive south from Addis to Mount Zuqualla to visit the Zuqualla Abo Monastery. Situated at the top of the mountain, the Crater Lake which is dormant is surrounded by beautiful woods and considered to be holy, then to crater lakes of Debre Zeit. There you will enjoy the lovely crater lakes of Hora, Bisheftu and other, these are best place for flora and fauna, birds’ life and spectacular scenery as you make walk around crater lakes, a number of lodge and resorts are available on the lakes shore. Every one hour there is public transport to enjoy the 1 Day tour itinerary around Addis ababa.

“Whether you are arriving for an [Addis Ababa Transit Tour] or have a full week to explore, the ‘Capital of Africa’ offers incredible diversity. Most travelers start with a [1-Day Tour to Wenchi Lake] to see the volcanic landscapes, but the city itself is a hub for culture. You can experience a [5-hour city highlights tour] with ease, or dive into the nightlife with a [Trendy Addis Food & Live Music tour]. For those heading east, we also coordinate fast-paced [2-Day adventures to Dire Dawa and Harar] to see the famous [UNESCO Hyena feeding ritual].”

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