TE  -  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, a dining 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.

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