Addis Ababa, the Capital City

Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, lies at the heart of the country and was established by king Minillik II in 1887. Addis Ababa, in Amharic means new flower. The city is situated at an altitude that ranges from 1500 meters above sea level to the height of 3100 meters around Entoto Mountain. The city of Addis is a melting pot of different ethnic, religious and cultural groups representing much of the country and their ways of life. Addis Ababa is also the diplomatic capital of Africa and it hosts the African Union since 1961, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), more than hundred embassies and many other International NGOs.

If you stay in Addis, the city offers a number of things to do. Firstly, it is home to different churches, historical monuments and museums. Ethnological Museum is the richest in the country with cultural and handcrafts exhibits of various ethnic groups. Also, the national museum displays cultural and archaeological relics including LUCY - the 3.2 million year old hominid. Visiting the biggest open air market, Merkato, is another ideal experience in Addis sight seeing, where traditional stuffs and modern imported goods can be purchased. In addition, there is a possibility of making short day trips to the surrounding archaeological, cultural, religious and natural attractions. Glory Tours arranges full and half day city tours, excursions out of Addis, night outs to Traditional and European entertainments for Business travelers and Transit passengers.

Activities In and Around Addis Ababa:

1. A half-day sight seeing tour of Addis Ababa - Entoto mountains, Trinity Cathedral, National Museum, Merkato open air market;
2. A full-day sight seeing tour of Addis Ababa - Entoto mountains, St. George Cathedral, Trinity Cathedral, National Museum, Ethnological Museum, Merkato open air market.

A Day Excursion Out Of Addis Ababa:

1. Melka Kunture Archaeological site where fossils of pre-historic age (nearly 2 million year old) have been discovered.
2. Debre Libanos Church and Blue Nile Gorge (Full Day). Blue Nile gorge is about one mile in both width and depth and driving to the riverbed from the start of the gorge takes about 45 minutes.
3. A one day trip to the Nazareth/Sodore Resort. The distance from Addis to Nazareth town is 99 kms and after Nazareth, Sodore is only 15 minutes drive. At Sodore huge trees offer shade and shelter to entertaining Monkeys and Birds. After lunch, visiting the garden of the hotel is worthwhile followed by a late afternoon drive back to Addis.

Melka Kunture

Stone tools discovered at this archaeological site are about 1.5 million years old. Few kms drive from this point, Adadi Mariam Church is located. This Church is believed to date back to the time of Lalibela and gives a good image of the Lalibela rock hewn Churches of the 12th century.

Blue Nile Gorge

The Blue Nile gorge is a spectacular gorge, which is even bigger than the Grand Canyon in the USA. Plateaus along the route to the gorge are covered with lush vegetation. Debre Libanos is found 100 kms from Addis and it is the biggest monasteries in the country from 13th century. The endemic Gelada Baboon, Lammergeyer, Rupples Vultures and a Portuguese Bridge from 16th century are attractions of the area. Once at the gorge, our customers often take picnic lunch on either side of the river and start back to Addis to arrive before dusk.

Sodore Resort

Sodere is a resort 126 kms south of Addis Ababa. The centre has an olympic-size swimming pool filled with warm mineral water. The majestic Awash River passes near by the swimming pool and Hippos and Crocodiles can be observed from time to time.