ADDIS ABABA THE CAPITAL CITY OF ETHIOPI
The name of this sprawling capital city means “New Flower.” Founded by Emperor Menelik in 1887 and with a population of about 6 million, Addis Ababa is Africa’s diplomatic capital with the headquarters for the AU (African Union) located here.
MUSEUM AND MONUMNENTS
National Museum is one of the highlights of Addis Ababa where rich cultural and archaeological relics including “Lucy” 3.2 million year old hominid are cherished. The other important museum is the Anthropological Museum which is highly respected for its rich collection of historical, cultural and religious relics and paintings.
Kiddist Maryam (1911) and Kidane Mehret (YEAR)) are within walking distance of each other and they have beautiful wall paintings and Church treasures. They are also of historical value having served as the mausoleums of Emperor Menelik II.
DEBRE LIBANOS MONASTERY
Drive 110 kms north from Addis over the Entoto Mountains passing through the Sululta Plains to the Monastery of Debre Libanos founded in the 13th century by Abune Tekle Haymanot.
TIYA AND ADIS ALEM
An estimated 10,000 stelae (obelisks) are scattered across the south of Ethiopia, extending in a rough belt form Tiya southeast to the vicinity of Negele Borena. Little is known about the origin of these stelae or the societies that erected them.
MELKA KUNTURE
Lie near the Awash River gorge 50 km an hour drive south of the capital and is a prehistoric site one of the most important Neolithic & Paleolithic site in the upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia, across the Awash River from the village of Melka Awash, waterfalls lie downstream of the bridge across the Awash here, various implementation where many stone tools and fossils, dating back 1.8 million years, have been found. Examples are displayed in four tukuls (huts), including tools used by the Homo erectus who once inhabited the area, and there’s also an open excavation site down a sometimes muddy path. It’s modest but interesting
WONCHI 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.
