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ROUND TRIP FROM AND TO ADDIS ABABA
WONCHI MOUNTAIN & CRATER LAKE
Mt. Wonchi is 3,220mts above sea level. The view of Lake Wonchi below this mountain is incredibly fantastic. It is located 152km west of Addis Ababa. Wonchi Crater, one of the most scenic spots imaginable, a giant crater with a lake at the bottom and a church on an island accessible by boat. It is sometimes called the Switzerland of Africa, is beautifully situated in a steep-sided highland crater. From the crater rim, it takes about 30 minutes to descend and one hour to ascend from the lake. Next to Lake Tanganyika, the water in Lake Wonchi is the second in its purity in Africa. There is a well-organized community tourist project (even the local honey is linked to «Slow Food») next to the main road between Ambo (about 35 km) and Weliso, which can provide horses, boats, guides, etc. at fixed prices and well-run routes.
DEBRELIBANOS MONASTERY
Debre Libanos is a monastery in Ethiopia, 103km Northwest of Addis Ababa. Founded in the thirteenth century by Saint Tekel Haymanot, according to the belief, he meditated in a cave for 29 years. The cave where he is supposed to have prayed for seven years standing on one foot is one of the sacred spots of Debre Libanos that pilgrims flock to. Perhaps because of the beginnings, Debre Libanos has been one of the most important and influential monasteries in the land while its titular head has been regarded as the premier monk of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The monastery complex sits on a terrace between a cliff and the gorge of one of the tributaries of theAbay River.
BLUE NILE GORGE
The Blue Nile Gorge is the most stunning gorge in Ethiopia Beating the formidable competition of the wild canyons of the Tekkeze, Omo, Wabe Shebelle and Beshlo River, Just to mention the major ones. True to its legendary reputation, Abay (the father of River) provide the most dramatic and extensive gorge in all of Africa. This majestic and enormous gorge is the most captivating gorge in Africa at the center of these 1000 meters long gorge is a bridge over the Blue Nile River. The gorge with this beautifully designed bridge and the River make the area to have a captivating physical feature and natural beauty. Blue Nile Gorge is about 225 Kilometers north of Addis Ababa.
MENAGESHA FOREST
The Menagesha — Suba natural forest, which started to exist in the 17th century, had defiantly passed through such a long period of time. It still exists well protected and preserved. The forest itself has «responsibly» been a sanctuary for wild life including those rarest ones. It has not only sheltered them well but also fed them with its own leaves and parts. It is located 35km West of Addis Ababa. Walk through the Forest of Menagesha Mountain which is covered with many different types of trees like “Tid” (Giant Juniper), “Zigba” (Podocarpus Gracilior) and “Koso” (Hyginea Abyssinca) some of which are over 400 years old. The giant old trees in the forest have resisted time, lasting for 500 years. Trip to this forest will give the chance to see mammal species such as Colobus Monkey, Duiker, and Menellik Bushbuck. Many rare birds like Blue Winged Goose, the Blake Headed Siskin, and Rouges rail, etc.
MELKA – KOUNTURE
Some 50km away from Addis Ababa, you reach at the place called Awash Kunture or Melka Kunture. After driving one and half a kilometers, you find the Melka Kounture site. Researchers hold that Melka Kounture was a place where Homo sapiens used to live along the right and left banks of the Awash River. At this place, various archeological discoveries such as millennia-old stone tools, remains of animals and human fossils were uncovered through researches conducted by French, Ethiopian and Italian archaeologists at various times. In the compound, you find two cottages that host various archaeological findings as well as billboards that show the sites from which they were collected.
ADDADI MARIAM ROCK-HEWN CHURCH
Five kilometers away from Melka Kounture, it is only a 20-minutes drive along a gravel road to reach the historical Addadi Mariam rock-hewn church. Just at the 55 km, mark you find a small bridge. Drive slowly to the right of this bridge to arrive at the church. If you carry a camera, you have to pay Birr 50 before you enter the compound of the church. This monolithic church of Addadi Mariam has a certain resemblance to the renowned rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. You spot the church after you go down stairs. The church has several doors and windows hewed out of a single rock. The paintings on the wall of the church are appealing to the eyes.
BISHOFTU
Bishoftu is a busy town some 45 km away from Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian Air Force base is located in this small town. Bishoftu is the nearest recreational place to the residents of Addis. The town has also several pleasant gifts to foreign tourists. Bishoftu has about seven Crater Lakes. Among these, the Hora, Bishoftu, kuriftu and Babugaya Lakes are reserved as resort areas. These Lakes are suitable especially for those tourists who love birds. Here, you are also provided with boat services. However, the resorts have temporarily disrupted rendering services due to renovation. Upon returning from these lakes, don’t forget showing up yourself at the Air Force club, which has an Olympic size swimming pool as well as comfortable restaurants and bedrooms. Recently, a luxurious resort area called Kuriftu has been developed on the lake front
Tour Code: RST/EXC01/0016
Category: 07Days tour to in and around Addis Ababa.
Mode of transport: Surface
Tour Duration: 7day/6night
Day 01: ADDIS ABABA CITY TOUR
Arrival in Addis Ababa and be met by our team and transferred to your hotel. After taking some rest you will have city tour to Addis Ababa;
NATIONAL MUSEUM: This comprises of many archaeological and historical findings, including the famous complete hominid fossil remains of “Lucy” locally known as “Dinknesh” meaning “wonderful”.
ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM: It is found in the main campus of Addis Ababa University. It has a complete collection that describes almost all tribal groups in Ethiopia. Here you will have an overview about the history, culture and tradition of Ethiopian people.
HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL CHURCH: known in Amharic as Kidist Selassie, is the highest ranking Orthodox Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was built to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation and is the second most important place of worship in Ethiopia, after the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum.
MERKATO: It is the largest open-air market in Africa, here you will be presented with confusing but fascinating glimpse of the very vast range of goods and artifacts available from all parts of the country and you will enjoy the Ethiopian trade exchange tradition in the open-air and you can purchase anything you need. Overnight: @ Hotel
Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – SEBETA – AMBO — WONCHI CRATER – ADDIS ABABA
SEBETA: — Less than half a hour’s drive 25Kms from Addis Ababa, one arrive at the little village of Sebeta, which lies in a tract of fertile country which produces cereal crops and vegetables, and supports large herds of dairy cattle.
AMBO: — it is situated 125kms west of Addis Ababa and is the source of Ethiopia popular bottled Mineral Water, natural hot springs and swimming pool.
WONCHI: — 27km south on a gravel road to arrive at Mt. Wonchi. This mountain is 3,220mts above sea level. The view of Lake Wonchi below this mountain is incredibly fantastic. Lake Wonchi, sometimes called the Switzerland of Africa, is beautifully situated in a steep-sided highland crater. From the crater rim, it takes about 30 minutes to descend and one hour to ascend from the lake. Next to Lake Tanganyika, the water in Lake Wonchi is the second in its purity in Africa. There is a well-organized community tourist project next to the main road between Ambo (about 35 km) and Weliso, which can provide horses, boats, guides, etc. at fixed prices and well-run routes. So you can have horse riding, boating and swimming to enjoy. You will drive back to Addis Ababa. Overnight @ Hotel
Day 03: ADDIS ABABA – DEBERELIBANOS CHURCH – BLUENILE GORGE – ADDIS ABABA
DEBRE LIBANOS: Situated some 103 Km north of Addis Ababa. It is a holy place of Ethiopia which annually receives thousands of people on pilgrimage. This monastery was founded in the 13th century by the priest Tekle Haimanot, today one of Ethiopia’s most revered saints. The present church was built in 1961 by Haile Selassie Nearby is called the 16th century Portuguese bridge.
THE BLUE NILE GORGE: It is about 225 Kilometers north of Addis Ababa. This majestic and enormous gorge is the most captivating gorge in Africa. The gorge with beautifully designed bridge and the River make the area to have a captivating physical feature and natural beauty. Overnight @ Hotel
Day 04: ADDIS ABABA – MENAGESHA – ADDIS ABABA
MENAGESHA FOREST: — Is located 45 km West of Addis Ababa. En route the way to Menagesha, visit and walk through the Forest of Menagesha Mountain, which is covered with different types of trees like “Tid” (the giant Junipers), «Zigba» (Podocarpus Gracilior) and «Kosso» (Hyginea Abyssinica) some of which are over 400 years old. Drive back and arrive in Addis Ababa at night. Overnight @ Hotel
Day 05: ADDIS ABABA — MELKA KUNTURE — ADADI MARIAM – TIYA — ADDIS ABABA
MELKA KUNTURE: — it is an archaeological site, dating back to over 1.5 million years old. Situated some 50Km to the south of Addis Ababa. It is a remarkable prehistoric stone tool factory discovered in the 1960s which is said to have been theme of Neolithic man.
ADADI MARIAM: — Situated about 62Km to the south of Addis Ababa and surrounded by beautiful hills, it is one of the holiest places in Ethiopia. It is known for its Adadi Mariam cave church doing back to the Lalibella era.
TIYA: lastly Tiya stelae field the UNSCO site of engraved megalithic dated back to the 12-14th century, on the way picnic lunch and drive back to Addis. Overnight @ Hotel
Day 06:ADDIS ABABA — BISHOFTU – ADDIS ABABABISHOFTU CRATER LAKE
Located 45km Southeast of Addis-Ababa, through scenic countryside to arrive in Bishoftu and visit the 5 crater lakes, where many species of birds can be seen. You will enjoy a short boat trip on Lake Hora before returning to Addis Ababa. Overnight @ Hotel
Day 07: ADDIS ABABA – CITY TOUR (St. Gorge church and Entoto)
After taking breakfast you will have city tour to Addis Ababa;
SAINT GEORGE CATHEDRAL MUSEUM AND CHURCH: This octagonal church, which was built by Emperor Menilik II in 1896 in commemoration of Ethiopian victory over the Italian invaders at the Battle of Adwa. Here you will visit paintings by the Maitre Artist Afework Tekle, which decorated the interior wall, and glass window of the church and other ecclesiastical royal and cultural heritage of the past are displayed in cathedral’s small museum within the compound.
MOUNT ENTOTO (PALACE & CHURCH): It is the highest peak in Addis Ababa with an altitude of 3200 meter, and was the site for the first palace of Emperor Menilik II. Here one can see a small but fully displayed museum that shows articles of historical significance, denoted by members of royal family, foreign diplomats and individuals, as well as Saint Mary Church where Emperor Menilik II crowned as Emperor of Ethiopia in it and you will admire the panoramic view of the city with its surrounding forests and breathtaking air.
At night you will enjoy at selected famous cultural house in Addis Ababa. They offer some very good Ethiopian dishes and a great live music show. Throw in dancers in traditional costumes and you have a very good night out. Then transfer you to air port for your international flight.
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