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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.
Abune Petros
Memorial:
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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