Addis Ababa, the new flower, is a thriving metropolis, buzzing with life, and cosmopolitan in favor; with more than 120 embassies, it’s home to the African Union and the headquarters to the United Nation Economic Commission for Africa.
The tour is geared for folks transiting through Addis Ababa and have the day to sightsee before catching their next flight.
Addis is becoming a business hub as well, and executives with an extra day before heading home find the tour a great way to learn more before planning a more extensive trip in the future.
TOUR DETAILS
-
When9am to 6pm. There is flexibility based on your next flight
-
InclusionsMuseum and church entrance fees. Drop off at the end of the tour
-
Meeting PlacePick-up at Addis Ababa Airport or your hotel
-
TransportationA private minibus w/ guide for the day
-
Group Size1 - 8
-
PriceSolo traveler $116
Group of 2 – 8: $75 per person -
OptionsLunch & coffee for an additional $20
Tour Itinerary
Holy Trinity Church
Upon your arrival to Addis Ababa, the tour starts in the heart of the city, Meskel Square, the site of the annual Demera (The Finding of the True Cross) celebration at the end of September when thousands gather in celebration. Next up is the Holy Trinity Cathedral, a design unique for Ethiopia as well as Africa. The architecture is Greek in origin and the stain-glass windows will blow you away. Final resting place of Emperor Halie Selassie and his wife, Menen. On the grounds of the church are the graves of Sylvia Pankhurst, noted for her efforts to repatriate Ethiopian antiquities; former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and war heroes from WWII.
National Archeological Museum
Lucy has returned from her whirlwind tour and she’s next on our stop. The fossil hominid dates to at least 3.2 million years old and she is the star at the National Archeological Museum. While she is the most famous, she is not oldest as baby Selam, a fossil hominid, is 200 years older. Other important and interesting exhibits round out your visit.
Visit Haya Hulet
We return to Meskel Square and board the new Light Rail Train for Haya Hulet, an area of the city undergoing great transformation, a microcosm of the change the city is now experiencing. There is an option for lunch at Bahir Zaf, a restaurant of the Tree Global Alliance, a NGO dedicated for building skills in the service industry, in sponsorship with Hope for Children. We then walk around Haya Hulet and see the changing streetscape firsthand, the highrises mixed-in with traditional shops and then get some Ethiopian coffee.
The Tribes of Ethiopia Explained
Continuing our day; the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University beckons. Next: The Merkato, Africa’s largest open air market, is a fun stop to try your hand at bargain-hunting. End the day with a trip up Mount Entoto to view the panorama of the metropolis below.
