ADDIS ABABA
History
Addis Ababa was founded by the Ethiopian emperor Menelik II. Menelik, as King of Shewa, had found Mount Entoto a useful base for military operations in the south of his realm, and in 1879 visited the reputed ruins of a medieval town, and an unfinished rock church that showed proof of an Ethiopian presence there prior to the campaigns of Ahmad Gragn. His interest in the area grew when his wife Taytu began work on a church on Entoto, and Menelik endowed a second church in the area. However the immediate area did not encourage the founding of a town due to the lack of firewood and water, so settlement actually began in the valley south of the mountain in 1886. Initially, Taytu built a house for herself near the "Filwoha" hot mineral springs, known to the local Oromo people as Finfinne, where she and members of the Showan Royal Court liked to take mineral baths. Other nobility and their staffs and households settled the vicini ty, and Menelik expanded his wife's house to become the Imperial Palace which remains the seat of government in Addis Ababa today. Addis Ababa became Ethiopia's capital when Menelik II became Emperor of Ethiopia. The town grew by leaps and bounds. One of Emperor Menelik's contributions that is still visible today is the planting of numerous eucalyptus trees along the city streets.

Emperor Haile Selassie helped form the Organization of African Unity in 1963, and invited the new organization to maintain its headquarters in the city. The OAU was dissolved in 2002 and replaced by the African Union (AU), also headquartered in Addis Ababa. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa also has its headquarters in Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa was also the site of the Council of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in 1965.

Other features
Addis Ababa is the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union.

The fossilized skeleton, and a plaster replica of the early hominid Lucy (known in Ethiopia as Dinkinesh) is preserved at the Ethiopian National Museum in Addis Ababa.

The city is home to the Ethiopian National Library, the Ethiopian Ethnological Museum (and former palace), the Addis Ababa Museum, the Ethiopian Natural History Museum, the Ethiopian Railway Museum and the National Postal Museum.

The city is served by Bole International Airport, where a new terminal opened in 2003. Addis Ababa also has a railway connection with Djibouti City.

UN Conference CenterNotable buildings include St George's Cathedral (founded in 1896 and also home to a museum), Holy Trinity Cathedral (once the largest Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral and home to Sylvia Pankhurst's tomb) as well as the burial place of Emperor Haile Selassie and the Imperial family, and those who fought the Italians during the war. There is also Menelik's old Imperial palace which remains the official seat of government, and the National Palace formerly known as the Jubilee Palace (built to mark Emperor Haile Selassie's Silver Jubilee in 1955) which is the resident of the President of Ethiopia. Africa Hall is located across Menelik II avenue from this Palace and is where the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is headquartered as well as most UN offices in Ethiopia. It is also the site of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) which bec ame in 2002 the Afric an Union. Near Holy Trinity Cathedral is the Parliament building, built during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, with its clock tower. It continues to serve as the seat of Parliament today. Across from the Parliament is the Shengo Hall, built by the Derg regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam as its new parliament hall. The Shengo Hall was the world's largest pre-fabricated building, which was constructed in Finland before being assembled in Addis Ababa. It is used for large meetings and conventions. Near Bole International Airport is the new Medhane Alem (Savior of the World) Cathedral, which is the second largest in Africa. In the Merkato district, which happens to be the largest open market in Africa, is the impressive Anwar Mosque. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family is also in the Merkato district.

Other features of the city include the large Merkato market, the Jan Meda Race Ground racecourse, Bihere Tsige Recreation Centre and a railway line to Djibouti, while the Entoto Mountains start among the northern suburbs. Suburbs of the city include Shiro Meda and Entoto in the north, Urael and Bole (home to Bole International Airport) in the east, Nifas Silk in the south-east, Mekanisa in the south, and Keraniyo and Kolfe in the west.

Program: Addis Ababa City Tour
Code: OT 101
Duration Half day
Transport: Land

Includes the visit of the National Museum that exhibits besides numerous antiquates the 3.5 million year old skeleton of “Lucy”; Bata Mariam Church known for its interior paintings as well as having Menelik II Mausoleum; the biggest open market of its kind in Africa Mercato and the commanding panoramic view point Mount Entoto.

Progam: Addis Ababa City Tour
Code: OT102
Duration: Full Day
Transport: Land

In addition to the above “Half-Day Addis Ababa City Tour” here you visit St. George Cathedral that contains several interesting modern paintings and mosaics; Ethnological Museum which provides very interesting overview of Ethiopian crafts, culture and art and Handicrafts Center that offers the rich legacy of traditional handicrafts that serve as a perfect souvenir.

Debre Libanose church Program: Debre Berehan & Ankober
Code: OT103
Duration: Full Day
Transport: Land

Debre Berehan, one of the oldest towns in the country, can be reached after 130km drive north east of the capital. It is a place of interest in its old and medieval history. 43kms to the south east of Debre Berhan is found the town of Ankober, the capital city of Ethiopia in the 15th century. It is situated on top of the great escarpment and the ruins of emperor Menelik’s Palace are of great interest. Picinic lunch en-route.

EASTERN ETHIOPIA AND RIFT VALLEY

Are you interested in visitng outstanding culture and natural beauty of steep valleys, rolling plains, numerous rivers and lakes, wildlife sanctuaries, prolific bird lie and what have you? Eastern Ethiopia and the Rift valley are sites you can’t miss.

Program: Melka-Kunture & Adadi Mariam
Code: OT104
Duration: Half/Full Day
Transport: Land

Drive 60km south-west of Addis Ababa to visit the archeological site of Melka-Kunture where fossils of pre history age as well as stone tools dating 1.5million years have been discovered. Few k drives this point can be reached Adadi mariam Cave Church believed to date back to the 13th century and gives a good indication of the Lalibela rock-hewn churches of the 12th century.

Program-Debre Libanos & the Blue Nile Gorge
Code-OT105
Duration-Full day
Transportation-Land

Easily accessible from Addis Ababa (104kms), the convent of Debre Libanos was founded in the late 13th century by Saint Tekle Haimanot, and is today famous for its miraculous spring. On the way, endemic Ethiopian mammals, Gelada Baboon as well as endemic birds can be seen. Proceeding further on the main road is the truly magnificent Blue Nile Gorge, which is 1 km wide and comparable in scale to America's Grand Canyon. Back to Top

Program-Nazareth & Sodore
Code- OT106
Duration-Full day
Transpiration- Land

Passing by Nazareth at 120 km. lies the famous resort area of Sodere. Sodere takes the advantage of the volcanic mineral springs that bubble to the surface to fili its two blue swimming pools with clear warm water. The nearby Awash River lends a part of its riverside forest in the form of giant shade trees. Velvet monkeys and baboons play in the river side trees; crocodiles and hippos are frequently seen in this stretch of the Awash and as in most places in Ethiopia, the bird species here are practically too numerous to mention.

Wonchi Lake Program: Ambo & Wonchi Crater Lake
Code: OT107
Duration: Full Day
Transport: Land

Ambo is 125km west of Addis Ababa. The road passes through Gefersa, one of Addis Ababa’s water supply reservoir and fertile farmland. Ambo is a weekend resort for swimmers and hikers. The main attractions of this area are, Womchi Crater Lake, Guder River Falls and the Vineyard. Picnic lunch en-route. Back to Top