Entoto Natural Park is a park of serenity and resounding joy. It’s a unique place to discover the most breathtaking ancient mountain nature with streams flowing from clear springs and waterfalls. The Park lies on the south-eastern slopes of Mt Entoto, between the northern limit of the city of Addis Ababa at an altitude of 2,600 m and the track along the mountain ridge at altitude over 3,100 m.
As Fascinating and captivating as Entoto Natural Park is, it lacked the necessary infrastructures and stayed underdeveloped for long .To establish these necessary infrastructures and to make it a world-class visitor experience Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed initiated The Entoto Project alongside The Sheger River side projects .
Built with great imagination and ingenuity ,the planning and construction of the park was undergone by only Ethiopians in terms of Knowledge and finance. Now Entoto Park is fully equipped with various indoor and outdoor facilities including sport centers, library, Entertainment, Restaurants and coffee shops, Artificial Lake and Fountains Walk ways, Bike, scooter and cart roots.
Most of These facilities were constructed using local material so they blend in beautifully with the natural environment of the park. Entoto Natural Park will be significant in terms of facilitating service economies and changing the look and feel of the city of Addis Ababa. Some interesting activities in Entoto Natural Park include :-A Paintball arena which is a safe heaven for everyone who enjoys a good game of paintball.
A Horse riding ranch for both adults and children’s .Adults can follow a 3-5 kM trekking route on a horse back while children have their own horse riding arena with a trainer. Outdoor archery and In addition Entoto Park will include A Large Outdoor Amphitheatre that will be used for concerts theaters and live music. Other Sights that can be seen on foot in the natural environment of Entoto Natural Park include views of Addis Abeba, Entoto Mariam Church, and the historical museum, Menelik’s Palace, two Kedus Raguel and Kedus Elias Churches from different eras, the Washa Mikael Church ruins, and runners training on the forest trails.
The new park will continue to be a particular interest to birdwatchers with some 200 bird species registered in the mixed habitats of forest wood land, rock sloop cliffs and marshes. Of the total species recorded The Abyssinian Catbird (Parophasma galiniei) and Yellow-fronted Parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons) are endemic to Ethiopia. We invite you to Experience the park with its ability to produce a genuine and powerful creative joy where many families can reunite and rejoice in being free from stress and regaining health as well as stimulation.
If you are in Addis Ababa and have a few hours to spare, take a day trip or a half-day trip to Mount Entoto to see a different aspect of the region. The peak is the highest on this mountain and overlooks the capital city. Legend has it that it is from here that Emperor Menelik II and his wife Empress Taitu saw Addis Ababa for the first time and decided to make it the capital of the country. The mountain is considered sacred by many locals and offers a fantastic view of the capital city nestled in its foothills.
A trip up to the peak makes for a great afternoon excursion, whether you want to get some real exercise while you are at it or just have a nice and slow walk. You can hike all the way to the summit or take a local taxi partially up the hill. Most people take a taxi up and walk down so that they don't get too tired to explore the attractions atop the mountain.
It is not simply the scenery that makes the mountain an interesting attraction. The peak is also home to Entoto Maryam church and Entoto Maryam museum from a small palace where the emperor resided as he built the capital and the Entoto Observatory of Ethiopian Space Science Society. Entoto Maryam is an octagonal church dedicated to Virgin Mary and built by Menelik II. The church was dear to the emperor's heart. He was crowned here in 1889 and became the head of the church later. It is an important site for locals. The museum houses a collection of religious items and ceremonial clothing from the Menelik era, including the rifle he used in the battle of Adwa, his crown, and even a mirror that was gifted by Queen Victoria to the Empress. The palace offers a unique glimpse into the history of Ethiopia's distinct culture and for a small fee, you can enjoy a guided visit.
The mountain is densely covered by eucalyptus trees, which were imported from Australia over 125 years ago. So, it is not unusual to see local workers carrying large loads of eucalyptus wood down the hills and to the city to sell it or use it as a source of energy for their households.
After your visit, take a breather and refresh yourself with a cup of locally sourced, fresh Ethiopian coffee at one the roadside stalls in the area.
