Road Trips
ADDIS - ADDIS ALEM - AMBO - WENCHI - WELISO - ADDIS
Code STT 001
Addis Alem Church and Museum:
Located 55 km west of Addis Ababa, Addis Alem is known for its prominent church - Debre-Tsion Mariam. This specially decorated church was originally built as a palace for Emperor Menelik II. The other main attraction of the church is the museum which houses various historical antiquities of royal families, and religious manuscripts.
Ambo, The capital of West Shewa Zone:
Ambo is situated 125 km west of Addis. The town is famed for its mineral water commonly known as “Ambo Wuha”. The mineral water of Ambo which has gained a good reputation throughout Ethiopia is processed and bottled here.
The main attractions of Ambo are hot spring baths, the Olympic size swimming pool, and various hotel and recreation facilities. The vicinity of Ambo is also endowed with natural splendor such as Huluka, Guder and Teltele Waterfalls, and scenic land formations of the valley.
Wanchi Crater Lake:
A scenic lake about 32 km southwest of Ambo along the road to Weliso, and is found halfway between the two towns.
The panoramic scenic beauty of the Crater Lake is a source of tourist appeal. By standing at the rim of the crater, you will be watching the uniquely shaped and crystal-clear water in a deep basin in addition to the circular slops covered with greenery alpine vegetation. There is also a small island where a monastery is located.
Weliso, situated about 116kms southwest of Addis Ababa:
Weliso hosts natural hot springs that serve for recreation and curative purposes. The Negash Lodge of Weliso is especially the ideal place where a recreational facility is integrated with natural resources. The Lodge offers a neatly and well-built swimming pool, spa, lodging services, cultural cottages and natural forest harboring colobus monkey (or mantled gureza) and birds of various species.
ADDIS - DEBREZEIT - ZIQUALA MONASTERY - ADDIS
Code STT 002
Debre Zeit (Bishoftu):
The town located at about 47kms southeast of Addis, on the main Addis-Djibouti road, is an easily accessible popular recreation and resort town for Overnight visitors and weekend excursionists throughout the year. Bishoftu’s tourist offer is characterized by a cluster of volcanic crater lakes and popular spiritual sites found around the town. Because of its low altitude (up to 1850m above sea level), Bishoftu has a warm climate. The major resort lakes are Lake Hora Arsade, Lake Bishoftu, Lake Babogaya, Lake Kuriftu, Lake Kilol and Lake Magarsa.
Mt. Ziquala and its Monastery:
Located at a distance of 27kms southwest from Debre-Zeit, it is the highest peak in the central Rift Valley reaching as high as 2989m above sea level. This elevation has made it a watchtower of the central Rift Valley region with cool climate on the top. It is covered with thick highland forest inhabited by the beautiful colobus monkeys and various bird species.
The mountain is accessible to the top either for mountain climbers on foot or by a four-wheel drive through a 9km long winding road. Also, the mountain provides the following wonderful attractions:
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Excellent panoramic view of the surrounding area;
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The Church of Abbo, 500 years old monastery and a newly built St. Mary Church by Emperor Haile Selassie and old religious manuscripts were written on well-prepared goat hides (or birana) and many more pilgrimage attractions that encourage visitors to the area.
ADDIS - AWASH MELKA QUNTURE - ADADI MARIAM - TIYA STELES - ADDIS
Code STT 003
Awash Melka Qunture:
50kms southwest of Addis along the Butajira road, Awash Melka Qunture is a small-town famous as a paleontological site. The main excavation in the site includes fossilized animal bones and Stone Age pebble tools of ancient men (estimated at about 2 million years old –exhibited at a mini museum).
Adadi Mariam Church:
It is an old cavernous church located 23kms from Awash Melka Qunture (including a 13kms detour) or 73kms from Addis Ababa on the same route. The church is famed for its unique earth and a rock-hewn underground cavern. It lies below the ground with steps descending to the main entrances. The church has 10 gates and 14 small windows that let in the sunlight. Besides being a site of religious pilgrimage, it is also a good attraction for tourists interested in historical wonders and religion.
Tiya Steles:
Not far from Adadi Mariam Church is the small town of Tiya found in the Gurage Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNP). Here one can see 36 ancient stele or obelisks, thirty-one of which are decorated with carvings and the tallest of them is 3.7 meters.
LANGANO - ABIJATA SHALLA AND ZIWAY
Code STT 007
Day 01: Drive from Addis Ababa to Lake Langano. On the way, visit the first Rift Valley Lake Ziway, 160 km from Addis, very rich in bird life - then proceed to Lake Langano and have lunch at Lake Langano site. Afternoon, enjoy swimming and scenic walks. Overnight stay at a reserved hotel.
Day 02: After breakfast, visit the Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park - very remarkable for its bird life, ostrich farm, hot spring, the colony of pink flamingo and Earth life pelicans, among others. Then drive back to Addis Ababa en route visit the volcanic lakes of Bishoftu (Debre-Zeit).
ABIJATA SHALLA - LANGANO - HAWASSA AND WENDO GENET
Code STT 008
Day 01: Drive from Addis Ababa to Lake Langano
On the way, visit the first Rift Valley Lakes such as Ziway, 160kms from Addis, which is very rich in bird life then after proceeding to Lake Langano. Lunch at Langano while enjoying swimming and scenic walks, boat ride to one of the oldest monasteries known as Debre -Tsion, which was once home for the Arc of the Covenant in the 9th century. Overnight stay at a reserved hotel.
Day 02: After breakfast, visit the Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park
Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park shelters a great number of aquatic birds. Then proceed to Wendo-Genet (which means the small paradise) is an area very green and famous for its natural hot springs. Rest for lunch at Ziway, continue driving to Lake Hawassa for an Overnight stay. If time permits, enjoy the beautiful lake outside your hotel.
Day 03: After breakfast, visit the local Fish Market
Here take a boat trip to watch hippopotamus. It is also possible to conduct bird watching at the top of the hill (named Amora Gedel). Late afternoon drive back to Addis Ababa.