Day Trip From Addis Ababa To Debre Libanos and Portuguese Bridge

The drive to Debre Libanos leads across the highlands north of Addis Ababa. It offers a glimpse into the lovely village landscape of Ethiopia, and then suddenly drops open into a 1,000 m deep gorge at Debre Libanos. You'll take a short rest at the top of the gorge, keeping your eyes open for various bird species. On a short hike (1.5 to 2 hours), you'll cross an old bridge built for commercial purposes in order to arrive at a terraced waterfall and caves inhabited by monkeys. In the afternoon, we'll visit the sanctuary where the famous monastery of Debre Azbo (later Debre Libanos) was founded in the 13th century and destroyed in 1937 during the Italian occupation. We visit the octagonal church with the glass-paintings of the artist Afework Tekle, who also designed the windows of the Africa Hall in Addis Ababa as well as the newly built museum in which art treasures of the monastery are shown.

Though local guides insist the small stone-arch Portuguese bridge near Debre Libanos was erected by the Portuguese in the 16th century, it was actually built at the turn of the 19th century by Ethiopians, albeit in the old Portuguese style. The narrow span makes a pretty picture and the gushing (in the rainy season) cascade just below it is even more impressive.