Items | Discover Debre Libanos Monastery, Portuguese Bridge and Jimma Valley
Discover Debre Libanos Monastery, Portuguese Bridge and Jimma Valley
(2) Reviews
Addis Ababa
Important Information
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Public transportation options are available nearby
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Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
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Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
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This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
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Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
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We will visit one of the most important sites in the history of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Admire stunning views of the Gur River from the Portuguese Bridge, as it plunges into a waterfall hundreds of meters high. You will also see a cave where Gelada baboons sleep at night. Look out for the endemic birds including banded barbet, Abyssinian woodpecker, Ruppell's black chat and white-winged cliff chat. Then, descend to the Blue Nile gorge, often compared to the Grand Canyon and cited as "the largest canyon in Africa."
Highlights
10 hours
Offered in English & French
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
10 hours
Offered in English & French
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Private transportation
Lunch
Alcoholic Beverages
Gratuities
Meeting Points
Departure
Venture Ethiopia
Customers can meet us at our office which is within the compound of the Taitu Hotel, or we can pick up customers from any hotel within 6km of the Taitu Hotel.
Return
Discover Debre Libanos Monastery, Portuguese Bridge and Jimma Valley
(2) Reviews
Addis Ababa
About
We will visit one of the most important sites in the history of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Admire stunning views of the Gur River from the Portuguese Bridge, as it plunges into a waterfall hundreds of meters high. You will also see a cave where Gelada baboons sleep at night. Look out for the endemic birds including banded barbet, Abyssinian woodpecker, Ruppell's black chat and white-winged cliff chat. Then, descend to the Blue Nile gorge, often compared to the Grand Canyon and cited as "the largest canyon in Africa."
Highlights
10 hours
Offered in English & French
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
10 hours
Offered in English & French
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Private transportation
Lunch
Alcoholic Beverages
Gratuities
Meeting Points
Departure
Venture Ethiopia
Customers can meet us at our office which is within the compound of the Taitu Hotel, or we can pick up customers from any hotel within 6km of the Taitu Hotel.
Return
Itinerary
1
Debre Libanos
Founded in 1284 by Abuna Tekle Haymanot, Debre Libanos Monastery served as the centre of the Ethiopian Church for almost 500 years. Today, the site has a calm, tranquil feel, situated amongst pleasant woodland and streams, but in 1937 this was the site of one of the worst atrocities of the Italian occupation. Fascist troops attacked and destroyed the monastery, killing 297 monks, more than 100 deacons and at least 400 lay people. Although a new church was constructed on the site in the 1950s, it never regained the same status it previously held as a centre of religious learning. It does, however, remain an important pilgrimage site for Orthodox Christians, who come to pay homage to the bones of the massacred monks.
3 hours
2
Portuguese Bridge
There is controversy about the origins of the so-called Portuguese Bridge. According to some, it was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, but others say that it was built by Ras Darge (Emperor Menelik II’s uncle) in the 19th century. After crossing the Portuguese Bridge, walk a short way along the side of the river until and you'll reach a large rock from where you can see a magnificent 600m waterfall. The waterfall is at its most impressive during the rainy season (July-September). You may also see endemic Galada Baboons here.
