Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed has now inaugurated the Entoto Natural Park. The Prime Minister on the occasion expressed his gratitude to those who have contributed towards the construction of the park, which is part of the Beautifying Sheger Project.
The park has been equipped with various facilities, including sports centers, restaurants, coffee shops (visitors can enjoy the taste of authentic Ethiopian coffee at the park served by major brands) trails for horseback riding, paths for bikes and walking and even a soccer field. Creation and running of the park has created a range of job opportunities for local people; some 400 women who used to make a living by collecting fire wood in the forest – women you would always see with their backs bent over carrying heavy and cumbersome bundles of wood which they would sell in the Shirameda area – they have now been trained to work in the restaurants and cafes in Entoto Park.
A statue has been erected in the park to honour healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Entoto Park is situated in a densely eucalyptus forested area just above Addis , often regarded as the “lungs” of Addis Ababa. Many of Ethiopia’s legendary long distance runners use Entoto in training and it remains a popular place for foreign visitors and residents to run.
The entrance with parking is half way up the hill (beyond Shiromeda market) before you reach Mariam Church but if you keep driving along the road you can reach another entrance (or exit depending on which side you approach from) with some parking. The path then leads you deep into the forest along trails that twist and turn.
