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Natural Tourist Attractions
The natural beauty of Ethiopia amazes the
first-time visitor. Ethiopia is a land of rugged mountains
( some 25 are over 4000 meters high) broad savannah, lakes
and rivers. The unique Rift Valley
is a remarkable region of volcanic
lakes, with their famous collections of birdlife,
great escarpments and stunning vistas. Tisisat, the blue
Nile falls, must rank as one of the greatest natural
spectacles in Africa today. With 14 major wildlife reserves, Ethiopia
provides a microcosm of the entire subsaharan ecosystem.
Birdlife abounds, and indigenous animals from the
rare Walia ibex to the shy
wild ass, roam free just as nature intended. Ethiopia,
after the rains, is a land decked with flowers and with
many more native plants than most countries in Africa.
Among the many natural tourist attractions only the
principal ones are briefly given below.
The
Blue Nile Falls (Tisisat Falls)
The
river Nile, over 800km in length within Ethiopia and the
longest river in Africa, holds part of its heart in
Ethiopia. From lake Tana, the Blue Nile, known locally as
Abbay, flows for 800 km within Ethiopia to meet the white
Nile in Khartoum to form the great river that gives life
to Egypt and the Sudan. It has been said that the Blue
Nile contributes up to 80% of the Nile's flow. The Blue
Nile Falls are about an hour by tour bus from Bahar Dar.
Known locally as Tis Isat, the falls are over 400m
(1312ft) wide and 45m (148ft) deep. Because of a series of
dams near Bahar Dar, they aren't as impressive as they
used to be. Nowhere, is it more spectacular than where it
thunders over the Tisisat Falls literally " Smoking Water"
- near Bahar Dar. Here millions of gallons of water
cascade over the cliff face and into a gorge, creating
spectacular rainbows, in one of the most awe-inspiring
displays in Africa.
The Blue
Nile falls can easily be reached from Bahir Dar and the
Scenic beauty of the Blue Nile Gorge, 225km from Addis
Ababa, can be enjoyed as part of an excursion from the
capital.
The
Sof Omar Cave
Sof Omar, a tiny Muslim village in Bale, is the site of an
amazing complex of natural caves, cut by the Wab
River as it found its way from the nearby mountains. The
settlement, which is a religious site, is named after a
local Sheikh.
Armed with torches and official map, visitors to Sof Omar
make their way underground, far into the bowels of the
earth, beside a subterranean stream, and there can see an
extraordinary number of arched portals, high eroded
ceilings and deep echoing chambers.
The Rift Valley
The
Ethiopian Rift Valley, which is part of the famous East
African Rift Valley, comprises numerous hot springs,
beautiful lakes and a variety of wildlife. The valley is
the result of two parallel faults in the earth's surface
between which, in distant geological time, the crust was
weakened, and the land subsided. Ethiopia is often
referred to as the " water tower" of Eastern Africa
because of the many rivers that pour off the high
tableland. The Great Rift Valley's passage through
Ethiopia is marked by a chain of seven lakes.
Each of
the seven lakes has its own special life and character and
provids ideal habitats for the exuberant variety of flora
and fauna that make the region a beautiful and exotic
destination for tourists.
Most of
the lakes are suitable and safe for swimming other water
sports. Besides, lakes Abiata and Shalla are ideal places
for bird watchers. Most of the Rift Valley lakes are not
fully exploited for touristic purposes except lake Langano
where tourist class hotels are built. The Rift Valley is
also a site of numerous natural hot springs & the chemical
contents of the hot springs are highly valued for their
therapeutic purposes though at present they are not fully
utilized. In short, the Rift Valley is endowed with many
beautiful lakes , numerous hot springs, warm and pleasant
climate and a variety of wildlife. It is considered as one
of the most ideal areas for the development of
international tourism in Ethiopia
Africa Hall
Africa Hall is on Menelik 11 Ave - an imposing symbol
of African independence and optimism. It houses the
headquarters of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. The
huge stained glass windows depict the suffering of the
people of Africa.
The Filwoha springs are just to the west of the Africa
Hall. These springs, which have obviously lost some of
their former beauty, prompted Queen Taytu to persuade her
husband to establish his new capital at Addis Ababa. The
thermal waters are now diverted to an adjacent bathing
complex.
Also next to the Africa Hall lies the huge Square a
natural amphitheater where parades are held every
September to mark the 1974 revolution. Portraits of Marx,
Angels, Lenin and Comrade Mengistur used to adorn the
square.
St George's Cathedral
St George's Cathedral (Giorgis Cathedral). lies at the
north end of Churchill Rd. Built in 1896 in the
traditional octagonal shape to commemorate Ethiopia's
victory over the Italians at the Battle of Adwa, the
Cathedral houses the work of Afewerk Tekle, the renowned
Ethiopian artist responsible for the stained glass windows
of the Africa Hall. Cathedral opens 0800-0900 and
1200-1400. There is a small museum in the compound.
The Menelik Mausoleum
The Menelik Mausoleum, built in 1941 to serve as the tombs
of emperors and princes, and the Trinity Cathedral, are
located nearby St. George's. The Trinity Cathedral was
built to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from five years
of Italian occupation.
Haile Selassie's Grand palace
Haile Selassie's Grand palace is located north east of
Churchill Ave at the end of Colsen St. The Emperor has a
second residence, Jubilee Palace, on Menelik Ave, just
north of the Ghion Hotel.
National
Museum
The small National Museum is located at Han St / Kilo
crossroads, just north of St Mary's Church. Guides are the
only real source of information, since the exhibits are
poorly labelled, but they vary in standard. The exhibits
are varied, and include Lucy; the female fossil skeleton
found in northeast Ethiopia in 1974, believed to be about
three and a half million years old. The museum has an
extensive collection of artifacts, some predating the
Axumite civilization of Tigre. It also includes a
selection of the more than 200 designs of crosses found in
Ethiopia. It is open from 0830-1230 and 1330-1730.
Near the museum are the Lion Cages, probably the only
place in Ethiopia to see the Abyssinian lion. The cages
are probably best not visited by animal lovers.
Menelik IISquare
In Menelik II Square
stands the imposing equestrian statue of Emperor Menelik
II, the victor of Adawa. The statue was erected by
Emperor Haile Selassie and dedicated on the day before
his coronation in 1930, in memory of his great
predecessor. The square is located outside the main
gates of St. George Cathedral (Genete Tsige Menagesha
Kidus Giorgis), and is close to City Hall. The distance
markers on all the highways in Ethiopia mark the
distance to their location from the base of the statue
of Emperor Menelik II in this Square. Every year, on the
anniversary of the victory of the Battle of Adawa, the
Emperor would lay a wreath at this statue after
attending mass at St. George Cathedral (the victory had
occurred on St. George's Day). Col. Mengistu continued
laying a wreath here on the anniversary, but did not
attend the church services as his regime was Marxist.
Yekatit 12 Martyrs
Square (Sidist Kilo)
The Yekatit 12 Square (Sidist
Kilo) monument stands in tribute to the thousands of
innocent martyrs butchered by the Fascist Italian
Occupiers on that date in in the Ethiopian Calender year
of 1929 (1936 Gregorian Calendar). The massacre took
place at the order of the Italian Vice-Roy Marshal
Grazziani in response to an assassination attempt
against him carried out by two pro-Ethiopia Eritreans.
The monument is shown here during a religious procession
of priests of the Orthodox Church, probably at Timkat
(Epiphany). Wreaths were laid here by the Emperor to
commemorate the massacre every year. Col. Mengistu Haile
Mariam continued this practice during his rule, but for
a time after the fall of the Dergue regime, only the
Mayor of Addis carried out this practice. Recently, the
President of the Federal Republic has taken over this
task. The monument is in the form of a white obelisk
with black bas reliefs of scenes of the massacre as well
as scenes of the Imperial funeral accorded to the
remains of the victims in the presence of the Emperor
following the liberation around it. A Lion of Judah also
decorates the face of the obelisk. Even though the image
of the Lion of Judah and the Emperor Haile Selassie were
removed from all over the city during the reign of the
Dergue, they suprisingly did not touch this monument.
The monument stands in the Sidist Kilo square infront of
the Yekatit 12 Hospital (formerly Emperor Haile Selassie
Hospital and known before that as the Beite Saida
Hospital). Also facing the square are the southern gates
of the Guenete Leul Palace, which today is the main
campus of the Addis Ababa University (formerly Haile
Selassie I University). Another major attraction
adjoining the square is the old Imperial Lion Zoo, where
many of the old Imperial lions and their decendents
live. The Churches of Menbere Leul Kidus Markos (Altar
of Princes St. Marks Church) and the Meskia Hazunan
Medhane Alem are both nearby, as are the former palaces
of the Crown Prince (later the Political Cadre's College
during the Dergue Era), the Duke of Harrar (later the
Headquarters of the Womens wing of the Workers Party of
Ethiopia), and Princess Tenagnework (later the
headquarters of the Ethiopian Navy), as well as the
American and Greek Embassies.
Meyazia 27
Square (Arat
Kilo)
Meyazia 27
Square is the official name of what is popularly known as
Arat Kilo, a name that applies both to the square and the
surrounding district of the city of Addis Ababa. The
monument at the heart of the Square commemorates the
victory over the fascist Italian invaders, and the
struggle that preceded it (Meyazia 27 on the Ethiopian
Calendar, May 5th on the Gregorian Calendar, is both the
day that Addis Ababa was occupied by the Fascists, as well
as the day that Emperor Haile Selassie returned to his
capital in triumph exactly 5 years later). The original
monument includes a relief of the Emperor Haile Selassie
holding the national flag, which was altered during the
reign of the Dergue regime into a representation of a
guerrilla fighter holding the national flag. The EPRDF
regime that deposed the Dergue restored the Emperor's face
to the monument. The central obelisk, topped by a Lion of
Judah, actually predates the fascist occupation, and the
surrounding circle of relief figures and monumental panels
was added after the war. The Arat Kilo monument stands at
the heart of Addis Ababa's government district, and in
front of the Ministry of Education building (not shown
here). Holy Trinity Cathedral (whose dome can be seen in
the background) and the Parliament building are nearby, as
are the present office of the Prime Minister and the
Imperial Palace. Also nearby are the Science College, the
Holy Trinity Theological college, Emperor Menelik II High
School and the Berhan Ena Selam Printing Press. Foreign
Heads of State customarily lay a wreath at this monument
during state visits. This square was the focus of Victory
Day celebrations held on May 5th (Meyazia 27) every year
when the Emperor would lay a wreath here following his
attendance at Mass at Meskia Hazunan Medhane Alem Church
(Church of the Savior of the World, Consoler of the
Grieved). The Dergue regime changed the date of Victory
Day to the day that General Cunningham and his British,
South African and Nigerian Troops actually entered the
city. The post Dergue government in Ethiopia has restored
Victory Day to it's original date.
The Lion of Judah
Monument
The Lion of Judah
Monument stands in the square in front of Addis Ababa's
train station. The golden colored statue of the Lion of
Judah in it's complete glory stands on a black granite
pedestal which is decorated with relief portraits of
Emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie I, and Empress
Zewditu, as well as Ras Makonnen. It marks the foot of
the city's widest and avenue, Churchill Road which has
the impressive Addis Ababa City Hall at it's other end.
The Lion of Judah statue has a very interesting history.
Erected in 1930 just before Emperor Haile Selassie's
coronation, it was looted by the Italian occupiers in
1935 and taken to Rome, where it was erected next to the
Vittorio Emanuelle Monument. During the 4th anniversary
celebrations of the proclomation of the Itlian Empire,
Adolf Hitler chose to visit Rome, and attended the
celebratory parades along side the Fascist Dictator
Musollini and King Victor Emanuelle III. In the parade
were numerous subjects of Italy's African Empire,
including a young Eritrean named Zerai Deres. Zerai
Deres was marching with other parade members carrying a
ceremonial sword with which to salute the King, the
Fuhrer, and el Duce, at the grandstand. As the parade
marched past the Vittorio Emauelle monument, Zerai
looked up and saw to his shock, the golden Lion of
Judah, the symbol of the ancient monarchy to which his
ancestors had long owed aliegence, erected as war booty
in the heart of Rome. It was too much for him to bear,
and he promptly drew his sword and with tears of anger
running down his face he fell on the first Italian
officer he could find. He killed and wounded numerous
Italian military officers before he was killed. Zerai
Deres is lionized to this day as a brave Ethiopian
patriot. The monument remained in Rome for several
decades, and was finally returned to Addis Ababa after
long negotiations in the 1960's. When it was re-erected
in it's square the day it arrived, the Emperor was
present in military uniform to salute, and to pay
tribute to Zerai Deres. Following the revolution in
1974, the Dergue regime decided to remove the statue
once more as it was a monarchist symbol. However, the
elderly war veterans association members appealed to the
Dergue to consider the memory of Zerai Deres and his
sacrifice that was inspired by this very symbol. This
act saved the statue and it stood it all it's Imperial
glory right through the Dergue era, and continues to
stand today.
Just West of Addis
Ababa's impressive City Hall, down the hill on the main
road to the Merkato district is Abune Petros Square with
it's imposing statue. Abune Petros, the Ethiopian
Orthodox Bishop of Wello who was executed by the
Italians at the edge of this very square. Abune Petros
was one of the four first native Ethiopians who were
anointed as bishops by the Coptic Patriarch of
Alexandria to serve under the Coptic born Archbishop
Abune Kerllos of Ethiopia in 1932. Abune Petros was
given the province of Wello as his diocese. In 1936, the
Fascist armies of Benito Mussolini occupied much of
Ethiopia, and Abune Petros traveled to the northern
Shewan district of Menz to join the sons of Ras Kassa,
Dejazmatches Wondwossen, Abera and Asfa Wossen Kassa and
other resistance leaders to plan an attack on the
Italians to drive them out of Addis Ababa. The attack
failed in 1937, and the Bishop was captured. Defiantly
refusing to submit to Italian rule, he was condemned to
death. Shortly before his execution Abune Petros Bishop
of Wello, dressed in his clerical robes, held up his
hand cross and pronounced his anathema on the people and
on the very earth of Ethiopia itself, if they were ever
to submit to the invader. He was then shot to death in
front of a horrified audience. Emperor Haile Selassie
had the statue erected in the memory of this great
Bishop upon his restoration to the throne. The spot of
his execution on the western edge of this square is also
marked by a memorial slab. Sadly, during the brutal rule
of the Dergue regime, the bodies of many victims of the
"Red Terror" were displayed in this square.
Mercato
The Mercato is located in western Addis Ababa and is one
of the largest markets in Africa offering an array of
colors, aromas, costumes, produce and jewellery. Beware of
pickpockets.
Entity is the mountain range that rises to the north of
Addis and is easily accessible from the city. This is
where Menelik started his first capital, and the Church of
Entonto Mariam where he was crowned can still be visited
At the top of the hill is the Church of Entonto Raguel
which offers stunning views.
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