Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours - Addis Ababa

8 to 9 hours private sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa by drive with professional tour guide
Drive on the Bole Road (African Avenue) and via Meskel Square (the main square in Addis Ababa) to the Holy Trinity Cathedral. – Addis Ababa’s most important religious site which is famous for its unique architecture, beautiful stained glass windows, and for being a burial site of the country’s most important people including Emperor Haile Sillassie I.

Then head to the National Museum of Ethiopia which has one of the best displays of archaeological finding in Africa. It is especially famous for sheltering the fossil remains of Lucy (3.18 mil years old) among other archeological findings and historical artifacts.

Next, drive though a beautiful eucalyptus trees forest to Mount Entoto (3,200 meters above sea level). Enjoy the panoramic view Addis Ababa from Mount Entoto, and visit a local family at Entoto to learn how to bake Enjera (the Ethiopian national bread) and to attend a typical traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. Ethiopia is one of the best places to have coffee as it is the origin of Coffee.

After lunch at one of the best cultural restaurants in Addis Ababa, visit the Ethnological Museum (one of the best ethnographic museums in Africa) whose building was the royal palace of Emperor Haile Sillassie I for 25 years.

Continue tour of Addis Ababa with visiting St. George Cathedral which is one of the oldest churches in Addis Ababa and famous also for its religious museum.

As Merkato is closed on Sundays, it is not at its best but driving through the market is still interesting.

Finally, drive on the main streets of Addis to see its various historical monuments and major landmarks such as the Headquarters of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the HQ of the African Union and Meskel Square – the central square in Addis Ababa.

If you want, stop at a supermarket if you may want to buy best Ethiopian Coffee and local spices.

This 8 hours multi-faceted excursion from Addis Ababa by drive with private vehicle takes visitors 100 km north of Addis Ababa to visit the Debre Libanos Monastery (the biggest in Ethiopia dating back to the 13th Century AD).

The cultural part of the tour helps visitors to experience the real cultural way of the local Oromo people to learn how to prepare Enjera (the Ethiopian pan cake) and attend a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony.

Enjoy the great views of the Jemma River Gorge and see one of the endemic mammals of Ethiopia – the Gelada Baboon. You will also walk around the handmade Portuguese Bridge (16th Century AD) and the beautiful waterfall around (between June and September).

Experience authentic culture, learn the religious background of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, enjoy short trekking around the Portuguese Bridge, and admire the picturesque view of the Jemma River Gorge with the help of a professional experienced English speaking tour guide - just in a day!

With this 8 to 9 hours private guided private excursion from Addis Ababa drive about 220 km in total to visit the unique still-active rock church of Adadi Mariam - carved out of a single piece of rock in the 13th Century AD, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Steles of Tiya to visit huge blocks of stone grave markers erected in 14th Century AD.
Tour also includes: -
• Enjoying the great scenery of the Rift Valley
• Visiting a local family of the Oromo people
• Learning to make Enjera (the Ethiopian national bread)
• On Thursdays and Sundays, visit a local weekly held cultural market
• And, attending typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony