Short tours for those on business or in transit

Addis Ababa City tours - half-day & full day
Debre Libanos, Jemma River Gorge - 1 day
Senbete (Sunday market) - 1 day
Debre Berhan and Ankober - 1 day
Menagesha Forest and Addis Alem - 1 day
Melka Konture, Adadi Mariam, Tiya - 1 day
Ambo and Wonchi Crater Lake - 1 day
Sodere hot springs - 1 day
Awash National Park - 2 days
Rift Valley Lakes - 2 days
Wondo Genet - 2 days
Lake Awassa - 2 days

Addis Ababa Half-day and full-day city tour
GHETE - ST 001 Addis Ababa city tour - half day
We start at 8.30 (or 1.30 PM) with a pick up from your hotel and drive north up to Mount Entoto.
In 1881 Emperor Menelik II made his permanent camp there, after remains of an old town (believed to have been the capital of 16th century monarch Lebna Dengel) were discovered, which Menelik thought was a divine and auspicious sign.
Addis Ababa at between 2300 - 2500 meters is the third highest capital in the world and Entoto is a few hundred meters higher.
As we drive up the hill there is an appreciable drop in altitude and the air is filled with the scent of the Eucalyptus trees which line the road.
From the top, there is a panoramic view of the capital and surrounding countryside. Entoto is an important watershed, to the north water flows to the Blue Nile, to the south to the Awash River.
Entoto was soon abandoned as a site for the capital - it was cold, difficult to provision and there was a shortage of wood. Empress Taytu was said to have led the move down to the plain of Finfine, and to have named the new capital Addis Ababa, or New Flower.
However, two important structures remain within the old imperial compound on Entoto, the churches of Mariam and the Archangel Raguel.
It was in the church of Mariam that Menelik was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1889, and in the small museum in the compound there are various clothes, court and household implements and weapons dating from the period.
The church of Raguel is unusual in that it is octagonal, rather than round.There is a first story balustrade around which Menelik liked to stroll.
Leaving the churches we descend to Addis Ababa, stopping off at the National Archaeological Museum.
Here visitors can see exhibits ranging from the 3.5 million-year-old bones of Lucy, through the Axumite and Gondarene periods to the monarchs Tewodros and Menelik.
This completes the half-day tour and visitors will be taken back to their hotels.

GHET-ST 002 Full day Addis Ababa City tour
We start at 8.30 with a pick up from your hotel and drive north up to Mount Entoto.
In 1881 Emperor Menelik II made his permanent camp there, after remains of an old town (believed to have been the capital of 16th century monarch Lebna Dengel) were discovered, which Menelik thought was a divine and auspicious sign.
Addis Ababa at between 2300 - 2500 meters is the third highest capital in the world and Entoto is a few hundred meters higher. As we drive up the hill there is an appreciable drop in altitude and the air is filled with the scent of the Eucalyptus trees which line the road.
From the top, there is a panoramic view of the capital and surrounding countryside. Entoto is an important watershed, to the north water flows to the Blue Nile, to the south to the Awash River.
Entoto was soon abandoned as a site for the capital - it was cold, difficult to provision and there was a shortage of wood. Empress Taytu was said to have led the move down to the plain of Finfine, and to have named the new capital Addis Ababa, or New Flower.
However, two important structures remain within the old imperial compound, the churches of Mariam and the Archangel Raguel.
It was in the church of Mariam that Menelik was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1889, and in the small museum in the compound there are various clothes, court and household implements and weapons dating from the period.
The church of Raguel is unusual in that it is octagonal, rather than round. There is a first story balustrade around which Menelik liked to stroll.
Leaving the churches we descend to Addis Ababa, stopping off at the National Archaeological Museum.
Here visitors can see exhibits ranging from the 3.5 million-year-old bones of Lucy, through the Axumite and Gondarene periods to the monarchs Tewodros and Menelik.
We will take a break here for lunch. There is a wide variety of international restaurants in Addis Ababa, or visitors may prefer to sample Ethiopian food at the atmospheric Addis Ababa restaurant, once the home of Empress Zauditu.
After lunch we will visit the Ethnographical Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, where we can see clothing from different regions, along with artifacts, household utensils and in a separate section, paintings reflecting the history and culture of the country.
Our next stop will be Trinity Cathedral, where many patriots of the war against the Italian invaders are buried, then passing Menelik’s Palace we proceed to Africa Hall in the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa, for a look at the large stained glass artwork designed by Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle.
We then move to the Mercato, the largest market area in Africa, where virtually every possible commodity is on sale, from livestock to computers.
For the visitor good at bargaining, there is a huge selection of Ethiopian arts and crafts.
We finish our day on the verandah of the 10th story Kokeb restaurant, watching the sun go down over Addis Ababa, after which visitors will be returned to their hotels.

City Tour in Addis & Surrounding
Activities in and surrounding Addis Ababa
1.1Half-day sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa -Entoto mountains - Trinity cathedral -National museum - Merkato open air market
1.2 Full day sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa -Entoto mountains - St. George Cathedral –Trinity cathedral - national museum - Ethnological museum - Merkato open air market
2. Day Excursion Out Of Addis Ababa:
2.1 Melka Kunture Archaeological site where fossils of pre-historic age (nearly 2 million year old) have been discovered. Stone tools dating 1.5 million yearback are other discoveries of this area. Few Kms.drivefrom this point, Adadi Mariam Church can be reached. This Church is believed to date back to the time of Lalibela and gives a good indication of the Lalibela rock hewn Churches of the 12th century.

GHET - ST 003 Debre Libanos & Jemma River Gorge - 1 day
Pick up from the hotel is at 8.00 am and we then head north on the Gojjam road to Debre Libanos, about 110 km from Addis Ababa or approximately two hours' drive. Debre Libanos is an important monastic center for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
The monastery there was founded by the renowned 13th century mystic, Saint Teklehaimanot.
There is a small cave near the church (which is of recent construction) where he is said to have stood for seven years on one leg, until the other wasted away and dropped off. On this tour visitors can combine history and culture with some good bird watching. As we pass through the Sululta Plain we can see Black winged plovers, Wattled ibis, Blue winged geese, common cranes and wheat ears.
On arrival at Debre Libanos, we will first stop at the Jemma River gorge. The Jemma River is one of the tributaries of the Nile, and there is a drop of nearly 1000 metros to the valley below.
Here at the gorge (and in the forest around the church) we can expect to see the Banded Barbet, the Black headed forest oriole, the White billed starling, the Red Billed starling, the White winged cliff chat, the White backed black tit, white cheeked Turaco and Hemprich's hornbill.
We will also see one of Ethiopia's endemic mammals, the Gelada or bleeding heart baboon. (In the gorge we will see a variety of vultures - Lamergeyer's, Ruppell's and Lappet faced vultures. Leaving the Gorge we proceed to the curch. After the church visitors can make the climb to the cave of St Teklehaimanot. Near the cave monks may show visitors the remains of some 300 monks, slaughtered in 1936 by the Italian invaders.
Mussolini and the fascist authorities saw the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as one of the key elements of an independent Ethiopian identity, and thought that by carrying out the massacre they would cow the Church and by extension the Ethiopian people into submission.
At some stage we will take a picnic lunch, either at the Gorge or in the forest near the church. We will leave Debre Libanos around 4.30 PM, returning to Addis Ababa early evening.

GHET - ST 008
Ambo & Wonchi Crater Lake 1 day
We set off at 7.00, heading west on the Ambo road. We will pass the Gefursa reservoir, Menagesha Forest to the south of the road, the Holetta River (a tributary of the Awash), the small town of Addis Alem where Menelik II once planned to make his capital, before reaching Ambo, some 120 km from the capital.
The area between Addis Alem and Ambo contains the intersections of three of Ethiopia’s major river basins: those of the Awash, Omo and Guder.
We will stop for some refreshment in the town of Ambo, from where Ethiopia’s most famous mineral water is drawn, before driving up nearly 1000 meters in 27 km to the rim of the Wonchi crater, where visitors will see one of the most beautiful sites in Ethiopia verdant forests, a lake with islands, all within the crater. We leave our vehicles here and can ascend either on foot or on horse. We will have a picnic lunch here and spend some hours walking or horse riding through the forest, visiting the hot springs, and taking a dug out boat over to the island to visit the church. Mid afternoon we will start our journey back to Addis Ababa.

GHET - ST 010
Awash National Park - 2 days
Day 1: Pick up is at 7.30. Heading south down the Rift Valley we turn east at Mojo for Nazareth, where we will take lunch, before proceeding to the park for a game drive. Nearly 50 kinds of large mammals are found in the park, including Greater and Lesser Kudu, wild pig, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Soemmering's gazelle, and various predators including lions, leopard and cheetah, although these are rarely seen. ?
For the ornithologist, nearly 400 species of bird have been recorded in this savanna grass land including: the Abyssinian roller, Abyssinian ground horn bill, the endemic white tailed swallow, buff crested bustard, dark chanting goshawk, pygmy falcon, honey guide, woodland kingfisher, kori bustard, black shouldered kite, white and crowned rosy patch shrike, carmine bee eater, orange billed parrot, lilac breasted roller, lappet faced and Ruppell’s vulture.
We will visit the Awash River and Falls before returning to our hotel. Whether we stay in the park or return to Nazareth for an overnight depends on whether the accommodation available in the park (Kerayou Lodge) has been rehabilitated.
Day 2: We will go for an early morning game drive, before taking breakfast.
We will then cross the main road and driving into the park visit the Filwoha Hot Springs, where guests can take a hot bath. Then we will go on to the Fentale crater, which still shows signs of activity with hissing steam vents.
We can take our lunch in Nazareth, before returning to Addis Ababa, where we should arrive late afternoon.

GHET - ST 005
Debre Berhan, Ankober, 1 day
We set off at 7.00 am, heading north on the Asmara Road. Our first stop will be Debre Berhan, some 130 km from Addis Ababa.
The great Emperor Zera Yaqob (1434 - 1468) made his imperial capital here, after seeing a "heavenly light" (almost certainly Halley’s comet) , which he took as a divine sign.
Later rulers abandoned the town, but it once again became an important centre under the Shoan kings, notably King Sahle Selassie (1813 - 1847).
However, it was largely destroyed in 1855, when Emperor Tewodros advanced into Shoa. Emperor Menelik made it his capital for a period, and visitors should see the church of Selassie which he restored in 1906.
In the town itself, visitors might like to buy the woolen hats worn by shepherd boys, and carpets with the designs characteristic of the area.
We now take the road east to another former imperial capital - Ankober, a little over 40 km from Debre Berhan.
Founded by King Amaha Iyesus, Ankober commanded the very important trade route between the eastern lowlands and the Showan plateau.
Abandoned by Menelik II in favour of Entoto (and later Addis Ababa), the old palace ruins can still be seen, and two of the original five churches (Mariam and Medhane Alem) are still used as places of worship. From the town of Ankober, there are marvelous views over the escarpment.
For ornithologists there is the chance of seeing the very rare Ankober serin, and other species such as Smith's francolin, the yellow-throated serin, the white billed starling, and the black winged lovebird.
We will take a picnic lunch in Ankober and set off back to Addis Ababa mid afternoon.

GHET - ST 013
Lake Awassa - 2 days
Day 1: Pick up from the hotel is at 7.30. We then head south down the Rift Valley, passing through Debre Zeit, and by the lakes of Koka, Zeway, Langano, Abiata and Shalla. We start to climb after passing Langano, leaving the drier acacia forest for the greener areas around Shashemene. A short distance from Shashemene is the town of Awassa, capital of the southern region. We will check into the Wabe Shabelle Hotel, situated on the shores of the lake.
Lake Awassa with its mountainous background, is one of Ethiopia’s most beautiful lakes and is home to a huge population of birds, and walking along the shores one can also see hippo. Colobus and Vervet monkeys and baboons are common in the hotel grounds.
(The distance is about 280 km, the journey taking about 4 hours.) Boats can be hired on the lake, and it is a great way to spend an afternoon, among the fishermen and watching the antics of the malachite kingfisher and other water birds. There is a swimming pool in the grounds of the hotel, or visitors may like to walk along the shores of the lake or in the nearby Black Forest. Lunch and dinner will be in the hotel.
Day 2: Bird watchers may like to take an early morning trip to the (so-called) "fish market," and get really close to a variety of species that are very used to human company.
Otherwise we will spend the morning relaxing in the hotel grounds, along the shores of the lake or on a boat. We will take lunch in the hotel, and set back to Addis Ababa mid-afternoon.

HET - ST 007
Melka Konture, Adadi Mariam &Tiya - 1 day
Pick up is at 7.30 am, and we then head southwest on the Jimma road, before turning due south on to the Butajira Road.
Melka Konture lies near the Awash River Gorge and is one of the most important Neolithic sites in Ethiopia. Hand axes and various other implements have been found here. About 5 km further on the Butajira Road, is the rock hewn church of Adadi Mariam, contemporaneous with those of Lalibela. In fact local tradition ascribes it to King Lalibela who is said to have had it built on his visit to Mount Zuqwala in 1106.
Damaged during the wars with Ahmed Gragn in the 16th century, it fell into disuse and was only reopened in the time of Menelik II. It is today in regular use.
Our final stop today is at Tiya, where we can see the northernmost example of a peculiar type of engraved, standing stelae which stretch across parts of southern Ethiopia. These stelae are believed to have been erected between the 12th and 14th centuries and are almost certainly grave markers. Recent excavations at Tiya have revealed the remains of young people of both sexes, aged between 18 - 30 and buried in fetal positions. Tiya is classified as a World Heritage Site.
At some stage today we will take a picnic lunch, perhaps near the Awash River Gorge, and leave for the return journey to Addis Ababa mid afternoon.

GHET - ST 006
Menagesha Forest & Addis Alem - 1 day
We set off at 7.00, heading west on the Jimma road. We pass potters’ markets and take a turn left after the town of Sebeta to Mount Wuchacha and the Menagesha forest - the 50 km journey takes about 1 ½ hours.
We will take a walk in the forest, where there are
- Indigenous trees (400 year old giant juniper and podocarpus),
- Indigenous birds (Abyssinian cat bird, banded barbet, golden backed wood pecker, black headed forest Oriole and wattled ibis) and
- Indigenous animals (Menelik’s bushbuck, colobus monkey).
After a picnic lunch in the forest, we will return to Addis Ababa by the Ambo road, stopping off at the small town of Addis Alem.
Towards the end of the 19th century, faced with a chronic wood shortage around Addis Ababa (ultimately solved through the importation and planting of the fast growing Eucalyptus), Emperor Menelik II thought of transferring his capital here.
One can see today the imperial compound, Menelik’s residence, adining hall, kitchen and the church of Mariam, which was planned to be the counterpart of Mariamtsion Church in Axum.
The church has some interesting paintings and a small museum nearby contains clothes and decorations of former Ethiopian rulers.
We then set off for Addis Ababa, passing Gefersa reservoir (good for birds) and arriving early evening.

Rift Valley Lakes: Zeway, Langano, Shalla & Abiata
Tour Code: GHET - ST 011 2 days
Day 1: We set off early down the Rift Valley, passing through Debre Zeit, and by the lakes of Koka and Zeway before arriving at Lake Langano where we will check into the Bekele Molla hotel. (If there are birders in the party, we will stop at Lake Zeway and head down to the lakeshore where huge numbers of water birds are congregated. African pygmy Geese, yellow billed storks, Collared Pratincoles, Lesser and greater Jacanas, African Jacanas, White Pelicans, Fish Eagles, crowned and common cranes are some of the species to be seen here in impressive numbers.) Lake Langano is bilharzia and crocodile free, and visitors can go for a swim, walk along the shores of the lake or go bird watching in the acacia forests along the lakeshores.
Around 4.00 PM we will make the short drive to Shalla and Abiata National Park, and after passing the tame ostriches at the gate, head first towards Shalla Lake which with a maximum depth of 300 meters is the deepest of the Rift Valley Lakes.
We can stop at a look out point over the two lakes before heading down to the lakeshore where there are?a number of springs so hot that locals boil maize in them. We then head towards Abiata Lake, where by this time of day the lakes shores will be pink from the thousands of both lesser and greater Flamingo’s which feed in the shallows. African Pochard, Avocet, Gull billed Tern and Pintail, Ruff and a variety of ducks are among other species to be seen.
Day 2: We will spend the morning relaxing by the lake, take our lunch in the hotel and leave for Addis Ababa mid afternoon.

HET - ST 0004
Senbete (Sunday) Market, 1 day
This trip can only be done on a Sunday, the day the market takes place.
Pick up from the hotel is earlier than usual at 6.30 am, since it is about 275 km to Senbete or about 4 hours’ drive up the main road north, or the Asmara road.
There is spectacular mountain scenery en route. We should aim to get to the market before it gets hot, and before the other shoppers imbibe too much local beer, honey wine and home distilled spirits!
Markets in Ethiopia are not only about buying and selling, but are major social occasions, where people meet and exchange information. Once the business is done, the socializing begins.
Senbete market is a place where the highlands and lowlands meet, and brings together different ethnic groups: the Afar (with their camels and distinctive knives), the Oromo, the Amhara, Gurage and Argoba.
Visitors can buy different kinds of crafts, jewelry, baskets and woven materials.
We can either take a picnic lunch, or stop at a local restaurant. We should set off back to Addis Ababa after lunch, arriving early evening.

GHET - ST 009
Sodere hot springs - 1 day
Pick up from the hotel is at 7.30, and we then set off on the southeast, turning east at Mojo. We turn off the main road before Nazareth for the hot springs resort of Sodere, which lies along the Awash River. There is a large naturally heated swimming pool, and a number of smaller pools throughout the grounds of the resort. Vervet monkeys and baboons are common in the resort, and visitors can see crocodiles basking along the banks of the Awash River. The forests, which fringe the river, are also good for birds.
Lunch will be taken at the resort, and we will set off back to Addis Ababa around 4.00 PM, arriving early evening.

GHET - ST 012
Wondo Genet - 2 days
Day 1: We set off early down the Rift Valley, passing through Debre Zeit, and by the lakes of Koka, Zeway, Langano, Abiata and Shalla. We start to climb after passing Langano, leaving the drier acacia forest for the greener areas aroundShashemene. Shashemene is situated at a crossroads, with roads north south and east west. It is also home to a Rastafarian community from the Caribbean. The late Emperor Haile Selassie I granted them land here in perpetuity in recognition of the support and solidarity of the people of African origin in the Caribbean for Ethiopia at the time of the Fascist aggression in 1935, when Mussolini’s Italian forces invaded the country.
From Shashemene we turn east for about 13 km for the mountain and spa resort of Wondo Genet - or "place of heaven". Haile Selassie had a lodge here, now part of the hotel, and the waters are reputed to have curative properties. The hot water comes gushing out of the rocks and one can stand underneath, getting a natural hydro massage. There is also a naturally heated swimming pool. The scenery around the lodge is hilly and Juniper forested. While most visitors may prefer to relax around the spa, there are some very good walks in the hills, with plenty of bird life: the endemic yellow fronted parrot, the Black-headed forest Oriole and the Golden-backed Woodpecker can easily be seen, along with the Redwing starling, Grosbeak Weaver, Mountain wagtail and Black Roughwing Swallow and wildlife - with Colobus and Vervet monkeys, anubis baboon and bushbuck. Spectacular sunsets can be seen from the terrace outside the bar, with a great view of Lake Awassa.
Day 2: More relaxation or forest walks. After taking lunch in the hotel, we return to Addis Ababa. We will take a stop at the Bekele Molla hotel on the shores of Lake Langano, and arrive in Addis Ababa late afternoon.

GHET - ST 011 2 days
Rift Valley Lakes:
Zeway, Langano, Shalla & Abiata
Day 1: We set off early down the Rift Valley, passing through Debre Zeit, and by the lakes of Koka and Zeway before arriving at Lake Langano where we will check into the Bekele Molla hotel. (If there are birders in the party, we will stop at Lake Zeway and head down to the lakeshore where huge numbers of water birds are congregated.
African pygmy Geese, yellow billed storks, Collared Pratincoles, Lesser and greater Jacanas, African Jacanas, White Pelicans, Fish Eagles, crowned and common cranes are some of the species to be seen here in impressive numbers.)
Lake Langano is bilharzia and crocodile free, and visitors can go for a swim, walk along the shores of the lake or go bird watching in the acacia forests along the lakeshores.
Around 4.00 PM we will make the short drive to Shalla and Abiata National Park, and after passing the tame ostriches at the gate, head first towards ?Shalla Lake which with a maximum depth of 300 meters is the deepest of the Rift Valley Lakes.
We can stop at a look out point over the two lakes before heading down to the lakeshore where there are?a number of springs so hot that locals boil maize in them. We then head towards Abiata Lake, where by this time of day the lakes shores will be pink from the thousands of both lesser and greater Flamingo’s which feed in the shallows. African Pochard, Avocet, Gull billed Tern and Pintail, Ruff and a variety of ducks are among other species to be seen.
Day 2: We will spend the morning relaxing by the lake, take our lunch in the hotel and leave for Addis Ababa mid afternoon.

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