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Pass through the industrial area of the Southern Addis Ababa and drive through Akaki town. Continue through scenic country side, villages and farmlands doted with Tukuls(local thatched dwellings) viewing Mt. Zequla to the right and Mt. Yerer to the left and then to crater lakes of Debre Zeit. There view the lovely crater lakes of Hora and Bisheftu where many species of birds can be viewed..

Drive through farm lands and typical villages to Debre Zeit. Visit the volcanic crater lakes there and continue to Koka Dam where the Awash river is harnessed to provide hydro electric power.

         View the man made Koka Lake and visit the Hippo pool on the Awash river. Proceed to Sodere resort to enjoy a swim in the spa/hot water and visit Nazareth on you way back to Addis Ababa.

Drive 50kms South of Addis Ababa on the Addis Butajira road on the bank of the upper Awash river and visit an Archaeological site for early stone age tools. Continue through the country side to visit the 12th – 13th century rock-hewn church of Adadi Mariam which could be considered as an extension of the Lalibella rock-hewn churches style. The area is named after a kind of tree which is commonly found in the vicinity called "Adadi" in Oromo language.

Tiya is 20km further down South where a field of obelisk like stones  mark tombs of ancient in habitants

of the area.

 

Drive West of Addis Ababa passing through rolling farmland and wooded hill sides and visit Geffersa reservoir with many species of birds. Drive through the Supa indigenous juniper forest which covers the lower slopes of mount Wuhocha that rises more than ten thousand feet. Emperor Menelik’s strangely decorated small church of Debre Zion at Addis Alem is worth visiting.

Drive through potters village. On your way visit Geffersa reservoir with many species of birds and drive across the Menagesha forest to Ambo – source of the well known bottled mineral water. Drive to the left of Ambo town through extremely scenic landscape to see a crater lake. Down ward from the top of the hills could be seen a monastery on the island of lake Wonchi.

The road to the North via the Blue Nile Gorge passes through the Entoto Mountain which encircles Addis from West to North East.

Debre Libanos is a 15th Century monastery built in the gorge of Jemma River, one of the tributaries of the Blue Nile. This monastery is 104kms. From Addis and is approachable by an excellent road which passes through rolling plains and flat farmland.

Though the monastery has been rebuilt by Emperor Haile Selasie after being burnt down by the Italians during the occupation(1937 – 1941), it still has this serenity which characterizes most Ethiopian churches and monasteries.

 The Portuguese Bridge built in the 17th century gives a spectacular view of the Jemma Valley. The overall view of the whole gorge reminds one of the Grand Canyon in a smaller scale.

Drive 201kms North-West of Addis on the Addis Gojam road. En route visit the 13th century monastery of Debre libanos and the new church perched on the rim of a dizzying gorge of one of the Blue Nile tributaries. Proceed to Blue Nile Gorge which is over a mile wide and deeper than the Grand Canyon of the United States of America. View the old and new bridges built on the river.

Drive 140km North East of Addis Ababa to visit the Debre Berhan town founded by King Zera Yacob(1434 – 1468). It was important in the earlier days because of its proximity to Ankober and the trade route through the Rift Valley to the coast. Ankober is located a short distance of 43kms from Debre Berhan and is built on the edge of the great escarpment of the Rift Valley. It is also founded by King Zera Yacob in the 15th century. Ruins of the palaces of King Sahle Selassie and his predecessors are worth visiting. Menelik’s capital before Entoto near Addis was Ankober.

The Great Rift Valley’s passage through Ethiopia is marked by a chain of seven lakes fed by many rivers from both sides. These lakes have their own special life and character and provide ideal habitats for a variety of Flora and Fauna which makes the region such a delight for naturalists and tourists. One can visit Lakes Zewai, Langano, Abiata and Shala before returning to Addis for the night.