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(284)
We booked this trip (over other tour operators) as it included Entry/Admission to Mount Entoto (expecting to go into Entoto Park as there were multiple photos from other people's experiences), but all we did was stop at a random spot along the road and the guide said there's the view of Addis Ababa. We would have been better saving the additional cost and going with another tour operator who charges less and doing Mt Entoto (and Entoto Park) separately with the money saved. Very disappointed and a lack of understanding / acknowledgement from the tour provider over this.
Our guide (Sam) and driver (Rudolf?) were really nice, I enjoyed their company and explanations. Although I enjoyed what I saw, in the end it was all a little too far, and the road a little too bumpy. I was exhausted by the end of the day from sitting in that small uncomfortable van for so many hours. Lunch was good, but not having any coffee for us at the end was a huge fail for any Ethiopian tour.
I had an amazing tour with our guide, Semere, and our driver, Surafuel! Thank you! If you have the time while visiting Addis, I really recommend booking this tour so that you can see outside of the capital. Amazing scenery, especially around the Portuguese Bridge. You really do miss out on the beautiful nature in Ethiopia if you stay in Addis. It's a long drive (about 2 and a half hours both ways), but the journey is part of the adventure, and the van was comfortable. Great company as our tour was all solo travellers. I felt completely safe the entire trip. We saw the monastery, which is extremely interesting, and you learn a lot about the history of the Orthodox Christian church in Ethiopia. We then went to the Portuguese Bridge, and had a bit of a hike up to see the view of the Gorge and waterfalls. Amazing! And we were the only ones around. We then got lunch (traditional food) at a nearby spot with an amazing view, and stopped again for a coffee ceremony. Great day and great company!
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!
