Addis Ababa: Debre Libanos, Blue Nile Gorge, and Cave Tour
Description
On this popular road trip, you will pass through beautiful countryside scenery and the real Ethiopian way of life in action - farmers, rural communities, towns cut off from each other. At the destinations, you will visit the ancient Debre Libanos Monastery (and its cave church), the famed ‘Portuguese Bridge’ built in the 1890s, the Nile Gorge with its abundant endemic birdlife and gelada baboons and enjoy a view of Addis Ababa from a viewpoint set at 3,300 meters above sea level (Entoto Mountain). Please note spotting the Gelada Baboons can be a matter of luck, as they live in an open park.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Founded by Ethiopian Saint Abune Tekle Haymanot, within a steep riverine canyon in 1284, Debre Libanos later became the political centre of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and is where Emperor Lebna Dengal received the first Portuguese mission to Ethiopia in 1520. The Italian army destroyed the original church in a 1937 massacre that claimed the lives of 800 monks, deacons and lay worshippers. The modern church, its domed roof decorated with stained-glass windows, remains an important pilgrimage site.
Although the locals believe the stone-arch Portuguese bridge was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, it was actually built in the 1890s by Ras Darge in the old Portuguese style. The narrow span makes a spectacular picture and the gushing (in the rainy season) cascade just below it is very impressive.
You will see the Jemma River Gorge, which is the stating point for the African Great Rift Valley and is one of Ethiopia’s most dramatic stretches of road that starts its serpentine descent to the bottom of the Blue Nile Gorge, 1km below. The gorge is accessed by a road that offers spectacular views, and a pair of bridges cross the river.
You will drive by the historic Entoto Church, which in its compound has the first church in/around Addis Ababa. It is a tranquil church with typical ancient architecture of Ethiopian Churches.
Entoto is where Addis Ababa was first established. From almost 3,300 meters altitude, the Hill provides a spectacular views of the vast parts of Addis Ababa.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Flexible pickup from anywhere in Addis Ababa, including Bole Airport, any hotels or home addresses
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 7 years
Reviews(281)
This was great. Would have been better with a guide, and one that speaks English. Long drive there and back with bad roads. But the baboon stop, the monastery and the Portuguese stop especially are well worth it. The food stop was a miss for me though. Little bit of a dive. One one traveler felt comfortable eating there. Overall still well worth it. Pack your food and drinks. I’d go for the Portuguese bridge alone 10/10.
Nice guide, fine trip, raining season would be better to see the waterfalls
We had an incredible day with the awesome guide Semere! Everything from a coffee ceremony to seeing baboons, the canyon and the bridge. Wonderful scenery the whole way!
İt was a great experience to discover beautiful nature of debre libanos. Our driver Abiy is so kind accompanying us sürüngen the trip. Highly recommended.
Great tour. Very friendly tour guides! We went to the market, the church, in the wild and saw the beautiful Gelada Baboons that can only be seen in Ethiopia! We always felt very safe. I can only recommend it!! :)
Such a Amazing,Awesome tour trip we enjoyed a lot really from start to end all Tour places are Super and Beautiful Special Feedback to *Mr GABRU* Our Tour Guider he makes our trips so beautiful/Enjoyable/Caring/Lovely. We really so much happy and grateful to have such Great Guider MR GABRU 🤝💯🫂❤️ These man will sure sure grow Ethiopian Addis’s Ababa all Foreign Tours Proud and Happy,Enjoyable by his Attractive Communications,Caring and Joyful Ethiopia Food Injera and Coffee ☕️ was Delicious ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ *5 Star for MR GABRU and his Tours Team* Thanks a lot 🇪🇹🤝☕️💯🗻🌄
Gabru, our tour guide was so friendly & accommodating. We appreciate him showing us his beautiful country!
This is one of the best trips I have ever experienced. The trip distance is long but the tour guide Gebru is very warm and knowledgeable so it is not boring. We saw so may donkeys and monkeys. We saw churches and museums, and bridge and beautiful scenery. The Portuguese bridge is located in a place they call grande canyon of ethiopia, this time it is a green one.
After a last minute booking, they were very accommodating to finding transport for a large group. Pick up and drop off was easy at hotel. But what made the day special was our tour guide, Gebre, he was so knowledgeable, patient and funny. I'm glad I made a friend in him.
The experience was 5 out 5 very friendly well prepared from the begging to the end everything step was well done very professional I would like to give my gratitude to MR GIBRU for his hospitality and being at the top with us explaining with care minor details to each places that we visited
