Nature journeys
Eucalyptus trails on the ridge where Menelik II kept his first capital, two hilltop churches, and Addis Ababa spread out below.
Overview
Before Addis Ababa existed, Menelik II and Empress Taytu kept their court on Entoto, the ridge that rises to about 3,200 m above the north of the city. Menelik was crowned emperor at Entoto Maryam in 1889, in the church Taytu had founded beside their palace. Entoto Raguel, the other royal church, stands a short walk along the ridge.
Between them run trails through eucalyptus, the trees planted in Menelik’s time to feed the new capital’s fires. The walking is steady rather than hard, but the air is thin and cool, and it ends with the whole city laid out below you.
Itinerary
The road climbs out of the traffic into cooler air and the smell of eucalyptus. At Entoto Maryam your guide shows you the church where Menelik was crowned, then forest trails lead along the ridge to Entoto Raguel and its small museum of manuscripts and crosses. The walk ends at a viewpoint over Addis Ababa.
Itineraries can change with weather, road and flight conditions. We will tell you promptly if they do.
Gallery
Photo: Unsplash
Good to know
Dress code: Comfortable walking clothes; shoulders and knees covered at both churches, and women may want a light scarf.
This tour follows the Flexible policy. Days are whole calendar days before departure.
| When you cancel | What you get back |
|---|---|
| 14 or more days before departure | Full refund |
| 7 to 13 days before departure | 50% refund |
| Fewer than 7 days before departure | No refund |
Questions
You may also like
Departs 21 Nov
Addis Ababa
Run or walk Africa’s biggest road race at 2,350 m on Sunday, then end the week at a Thanksgiving table in Addis Ababa.
Departs 17 Jan
Addis Ababa
Walk beside the tabots to Jan Meda on the eve, then stand in the crowd at dawn as the blessed water falls.
Departs 01 Nov
Addis Ababa
The city often called Africa’s capital, in one easy day: the emperor’s tomb, the hammering lanes of Merkato and the hill where Addis began.
Plan with us
Choose your dates above, or tell us what you have in mind and we will shape the trip around you.
