At the northern edge of Addis Ababa, a mountain ridge rises to an altitude of more than 3,100 meters above sea level. On the hill tops of Entoto mountain sits one of Ethiopia’s most recent tourism magnets built under the umbrella of PM Abiy Ahmed’s “Sheger River Side Project.”
The construction of the park was finalized around the end of 2020, and was inaugurated to the public on the 30th of September 2020 in a somewhat lavish ceremony attended by H.E PM Abiy Ahmed himself.
The park hosts a variety of indoor and outdoor facilities including an artificial lake, a fountain, walkways, bicycle and scooter roads built mostly with local materials along with a number of sport centers, a library, coffee shops and fascinating restaurants serving the best of the country’s local cuisine. There are about 12 service providers, including Kuriftu resort and spa. Visitors can have a taste of authentic Ethiopian coffee at the park served by major brands in the country such as Kaldis’ and Tomoca. Art galleries and children playing grounds are also available.
Fuad Ahmmed, human resource manager at Kuriftu resort and spa at Entoto park, said “A sprawling complex in the Addis Ababa hills complete with a spa, tents, stables and a go kart track, along with restaurants and jogging and cycling trails. We have all of these world class standard services at an affordable price.”
The park enables tourists to enjoy a variety of interesting activities including 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. 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 Amphitheater that will be used for concerts, theaters and live music.
In addition to the facilities the park hosts inside, it’s also surrounded by a number of other interesting historical, natural and cultural sites like the Entoto Mariam church, a church that hosted the coronation of Ethiopia’s famed emperor and Addis Ababa’s founder Menelik II.
Besides Entoto Mariam, there are also other historical sites in the area including Menelik II’s palace and the ruins of the Washa Mikael Church.
In addition to being an interesting place for its recreational values, the park can also be an attraction for bird watchers with some 200 bird species nesting in the mixed habitats of the forest woodland, rock sloop cliffs and marshes. Among the total of 200 bird species recorded in the area, two species: The Abyssinian Catbird (Parophasma galiniei) and Yellow-fronted Parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons) are endemic to Ethiopia.
Visiting this place should be a goal of your heart, you will see the place where exquisite nature shines with marvel in harmony with Ethiopia’s elegant culture.
Article By: Kaleab Ayenew
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