Mount Entoto is the highest peak overlooking the city of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and has views of the city. It reaches 3,200 meters above sea level and is part of the Entoto mountain chain.
It is a historical place where Emperor Menelik II resided and built his palace, when he came from Ankober and founded Addis Ababa.
It is considered a sacred mountain and has many monasteries. Mount Entoto is also the location of a number of celebrated churches, including Saint Raguel and Saint Mary.
The mountain is densely covered by eucalyptus trees that were imported from Australia during the reign of Menelik II, and mostly planted during Emperor Haile Selassie’s reign. Thus, it is sometimes referred to as the “lung of Addis Ababa”. The forest on the mountain is an important source of firewood for the city. It was also a source of building material in earlier times.
The national museum at Entoto is endowed with historical regalia and artefacts worn and used by past emperors and empresses of Ethiopia.
The first palace, and church built by Emperor Menelik before moving to Addis has remained a vital part of the rich history of the Ethiopia.
The bell used by the first church in Ethiopia, the transition of different currency introduced by past Emperors, the bed of Emperor Haile Selassie over 150 years ago made from animals skin, parchments of the New Testament made of goat skin all adorned the museum.
Entoto Mountain is naturally cool given its height above the sea and it presents a spectacular view of the city of Addis below.
The mountain is regard as a sacred place, as such it is not lacking in receiving indigenes who always troop to offer prays at the Saint Mary church situated on it.
Indigenes of Entoto are generally friendly, and receptive to tourists, and are eager to show visitors around town.
According to Weldegebrial, one of the plans of the government of the Ethiopia is to diversify the economy and explore other means of making the country more robust especially in the area of tourism.
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