Debre Libanos and the Blue Nile Gorge

The perfect getaway from Addis Ababa is the Debre Libanos and the Blue Nile Gorge tour. Drive 110 kilometres north of Addis Ababa over the Entoto Mountains passing through the Sululta Plains, where you will certainly come across with Ethiopian runners training in this beautiful highlands.  The first stop will be the Monastery of Debre Libanos, founded in the 13th century by Abune Tekle Haymanot.  Overlooking the Jemma River Gorge, a tributary of the Blue Nile, this monastery houses ecclesiastical, cultural and historical relics, and boasts a rare grove of trees that have disappeared from elsewhere in the region.

On the way, you can also visit the 16th century bridge that is still used today and believed to have been built by the Portuguese. Stop by the Ethio German Park Hotel for lunch while admiring the views. 

In the late afternoon, drive back to Addis Ababa in the late afternoon.