Addis Ababa

With a population  of more than two million people, Addis Ababa is not only the political capital  but also the economic and social nerve-centre of Ethiopia. Founded by Emperor Menelik in 1887, this big, sprawling, hospitable city still bears the stamp of  his exuberant personality. More than 21,000 hectares in area, Addis Ababa is situated in the foothills of the 3,000-metre Entoto Mountains and rambles  pleasantly across many wooded hillsides and gullies cut with fast-flowing  streams.

Wide, tree-lined streets, fine architecture, glorious weather and the incongruity of donkey  trains along the boulevards make Addis Ababa a city of surprises and a  delightful place to explore. The clear mountain air gives the city the bracing  atmosphere of a summer highland resort. It enjoys a mild climate, with an  average temperature of 61 degrees Fahrenheit.

Addis Ababa stands at the very heart of Ethiopia and there is much to do and to see. The city has a  flourishing cultural life, with regular exhibitions and lectures. There are many opportunities to experience Ethiopian music, song and dance, to visit museums and to see the city sights.

The Horticultural  Society and Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society both organize visits to local gardens and trips out into the countryside.

And after all that,  what better than to sample some of Ethiopia's culinary delights? Injera, a  large, soft, pancake-like crepe,
forms the basis of most Ethiopian meals, served with a communal tray on which are a tempting array of spicy sauces. Also
distinctive is the Ethiopian traditional drink, tej, a honey  wine, or mead. Traditional restaurants abound in Addis Ababa, and offer entertainment in the form of the ubiquitous massinko minstrels and  traditional dance troupes. There are also many other specialist restaurants in  the city, including Chinese, Italian, French, Indian, Armenian, Arabic and Greek.

Description

Addis Ababa (the name means 'new flower') is of fairly recent origin - Menelik 11 founded the city in 1887. Situated in the foothills of the Entoto Mountains and standing 2,400 metres above sea level it is the third highest capital in the world. The city has a population of about two million.
Before moving to the present site of Addis Ababa, Menelik had established temporary capitals at six different locations caused by exhausting the fuel wood at each of these sites. Addis itself was in danger of being abandoned until the introduction of fast-growing eucalyptus trees from Australia provided the city with a regular source of fuel.
Addis Ababa is an important administrative centre not only for Ethiopia but also for the whole of Africa. The headquarters of the UN Economic Commission for Africa was established here in 1958 and it is the site of the OAU's secretariat.

Getting There and Away
By Air :
Bole International Airport is 5 kilometres from the city centre and is undergoing major extensions, with a new International Passenger Terminal Building under construction:
Ethiopian Airlines run a free shuttle bus into the city. Taxis and 'contract taxis' run to and from the city, and leave the city from Piazza area
By Bus :
The 2 main bus stations in Addis are the Autobus Terra near Mercato, and the smaller terminal on Ras Mekonin Ave near the railway station. All National buses, with the exception of buses to Nazret and Oebre Zeyi leave from the Autobus Terra. Buses to Nazret and Debre Zeyit depart from the terminal in Ras Mekonin Ave.

Getting Around
Very few streets have names in Addis Ababa , and if they do may not be known by the names on the map. The exception to this is Churchill Avenue which is the main thoroughfare and shopping street in Addis.
It is best to navigate by using landmarks like the Post Office (posto bet), Abiot (also known as Meskal), the station (la gare) and areas like Piazza and Mercato, which are shopping areas. Some roads have one name on the map and another in general use. For example Africa Avenue on the map is universally known as Bole Road, and Has Biru Avenue as Debre Zeit Road.
There is a large and efficient network of blue and white minibuses which cover the town

Accommodation
Government owned hotels
The Ghion, Ethiopia, Wabe Shebelle, Africa, Harambee, Ras and National hotels may have restrictions on unmarried couples sharing rooms. Government hotels can be booked through the NTO or the head office of the hotel chain.
The Ghion Group manages the Ghion, the Taitu and the National hotels Tel. 513222, Fax 515381.
The Ras Group manages the Ras, Nile and the Africa hotels, Tel. 517060, Fax 51533.
The Wabe Shebelle Group manages the Wabe Shebelle and the Maskal Flower hotels, T517187.
The Ethiopian group manages the Harambee, Ethiopia and Tourist hotels Tel. 517400. Buffet de la Gare is the best value in town.

Where to Eat
Addis Tsegenet, Wabe Shebelle Hotel, Ras Abebe Aragay St, Tel. 447187/90. Roof-top location, on l1th floor, good views
Abiata Restaurant, Wabe Shebelle Hotel, Ras Abebe Aragay St, International cuisine. Addis Ababa Restaurant, Weatherall St. Traditional Ethiopian food
Casino Restaurant, Ghion Hotel, Menelik Ave, International cuisine and flambe nights on Friday and Saturday in gardens.
China Bar, off Ras Mekonin Ave. Chinese cuisine
Fin-Fin Hotel, Atse Yohannes Ave, near the Hilton Hotel. Ethiopian cuisine
Ghion Restaurant, Ghion Hotel, Menelik Ave. International cuisine.
Harar Grill, Addis Ababa Hilton, Menelik Ave, French cuisine.
Jacaranda, Addis Ababa Hilton Menelik Ave. Italian and Mexican food.
Lambardo, on Ras Abebe Aregay Ave. Italian food
Cottage Restaurant & Pub, near the Harambee Hotel on Desta Demtew Ave Swiss food.
Lalibela, Ras Desta Ave. International cuisine.

Entertainments
Cinema:
Mainly American, Indian and Arabic films are shown.
Ambassador Theatre, near National Theatre and Harambee Hotel on Atse Ave.
Cinema Ethiopia, near Piazza.

Theatre:
National Theatre on Churchill Rd near the Ethiopia Hotel has regular traditional dance and music 1600-1800 on Thursday.
City hall, at the north end of Churchill Rd

Nightclubs:
Concord Nightclub on Concord Ave. Very popular.
3M Club at Carrera Lodge Hotel, on Roosevelt St to the southwest of the centre. Live bands at weekends.
Ghion Nightclub, on Menelik Ave, close to Revolution square.
The Tunnel, on Churchill north of Ras Hotel.

Sport:
Swimming: at Ghion Hotel, and at Hilton Hotel.
Tennis: at Ghion Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Guenet Hotel, Taitu Hotel.
Horse racing: at Jan Meda, Tel.112540. Northeast of the city centre off Muluetsa St Soccer: at Addis Ababa Stadium on Ras Desta Damtew Ave. There are games on most Thursday evenings and on Saturday and Sunday.

Transport
Bus:
For bus journeys to the regions it is necessary to buy a ticket the day before departure. Bus station ticket office opens at 0800, and to be certain of booking you should arrival by 0700
Red and yellow Ambasa buses operate within the city, stopping at every red and yellow marking. There is a flat fare per person for a one way trip.

Taxi:
Cream coloured National Tour Operator taxis operate at Bale International Airport. There is also a minibus service from the airport.
Private taxi service operates in the smaller blue and white cars along set routes, often on vehicle sharing basis.

Air:
Ethiopian Airways connects with many European destinations and with 23 African cities In addition there are direct flights by Alitalia, Aeroflot, Alyemda, Lufthansa, Interflug, Yemenian and Kenya Airways. Internal flights with Ethiopian Airlines are efficient and cheap.

Train:
A 782 kilometre railway connects Addis with Djibouti on the Red Sea. The trains from Addis Ababa leave daily at around 0700 and 1930, arriving in Djibouti approximately 24 hours later. The main stop is at Dire Dawa, a bit over half way. Booking is at the railway station at the southern end of Churchill Rd. It necessary to make a reservation as the train is often full. Road
Buses to and from the regions are frequent. However the road s are in poor condition, so allow for extra journey time. The main bus terminal is at Merkato while a second bus station is near the railway station on Ras Mekonin Ave with frequent services to nearby destinations such as Debre Zeit, Mojo and Nazret.

Airlines:
Air Djibouti, Tel. 157322. Air France Tel. 19044. Air Tanzania Corporation, Tel. 15753. Alitalia, P. O. Box 3240, Tel. 154640. Ethiopian Airlines has 3 offices in City centre near National Theatre on Churchill Ave ( this office for internal flights, which have to be paid for in US$ cash Tel. 447000). The head office is at the airport Tel. 512222/612222. Kenya Airways, P.O. Box 3381 T 443018. Lufthansa, P.O.Box 2484, new Insurance building, Churchill Rd.