Paradise Ethiopia Travel

Addis Ababa, the capital of modern Ethiopia, and gateway for most tourists, is the political and commercial heart of the country. Now a city of 4 million people, it was founded by Emperor Menelik in 1887.

 

The Menelik Mausoleum 
Built in 1911, in the old Baata church, it serves as a tomb for emperors, princes and martyrs of freedom. Built to house the tomb of Emperor Menelik II, it also includes the graves of members of his family and the Emperor Haile Selassie.

 

Addis Ababa is built in the foothills of Mount Entoto, and the panorama from the peak (3200m), either by day or night, is a breathtaking spectacle. The church of St Mary (1885) overlooks the entire city and the surrounding area. The Entoto Museum, with its historical exhibits is well worth a visit.

Debre Zeit
The small resor town of Debre Zeit ( or Bishoftu) is only one hour’s drive south east of Addis Ababa. At an altitude of 1900 metres it enjoys a warm climate. It is surrounded by a series of lovely crater lakes, full of birdlife, and is excellent or walking.

 

The well-known lakeshore town situated at the southernmost end of Lake Tana, first rose to importance in the 16th century and is now an important trading centre and tourist town for lake visitors. A popular sight is tankwas, the famous papyrus canoes that are used by the local Woyto people.

 

Gondar has been called the Camelot of Africa. The Capital of Ethiopia in the time of the 17th century Emperor Fasilidas, the city is celebrated for its castle places built by the Emperor and many of his succeeds until the middle of the 19th century. The ‘imperial quarter’ is one of the most impressive vestiges of Ethiopia’s great past.

The city of Harar is an ancient (1520) and holy city. Always an important trading centre, the city is famous for its ancient buildings, its great city walls, and as a centre of learning and Muslim scholarship (the town has 99 mosques).

The main, but more modern town of dire Dawa, was the creation of the Djibouti/ Addis railway. This important engineering achievement, developed at the end of the 19th century, has played a major part in Ethiopia’s development.