Departing west from Addis Ababa, drive to the Menagesha National
Forest for some hiking. Here you will enjoy the wildlife, such as the
colobus monkeys and endemic Menelik’s bushbuck, as well as birds,
including the endemic Ethiopian oriole and Abyssinian woodpecker. You
can also stop at the Gefersa Reservoir, which supplies water to Addis
Ababa, and is a nice birdwatching and wildlife spot. Return to Addis
Ababa in the afternoon.
*An asterisk denotes a community-based tourism initiative. By
visiting these sites, you are directly supporting the local community.
Overview
The forest has been accorded some sort of protection since the fifteenth century, initially by imperial decree, more recently through formal legislation. It was established by Emperor Zara Yaqob, who ordered seedlings to be planted on Wechecha’s denuded southwestern slopes.
