Ankober » Venture Ethiopia - Tours and Travel

Ankober

This small, remote but historic town lies on the edge of the escarpment that overlooks the Danakil Depression.  The town once acted as a medieval tollgate between the highlands and the Afar region.

  • Visit the ruins of one of Menelik II's palaces
  • See the church where Menelik II married Itegue Taitu
  • Spot endemic birdlife including Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged Goose and Ankober Serin

Situated 172 km north-east of Addis Ababa, and at 2870 m above sea level on the edge of the escarpment that drops down to the Afar Depression, Ankober offers spectacular views over the Great Rift Valley.

The city was founded by Merid Azmatch Amha Iyesus (1745-1775), of the Solomonic Dynasty.  His descendants ruled from there for about one hundred years and built up Ankober to become a very important city politically.  It served as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Shoa, and for a while as the capital of the Ethiopian Empire during the reign of Emperor Menelik II, prior to his moving the capital to Addis Ababa in 1886.

Menelik married Itegue Taitu at the Ankober Medhane Alem church, where the golden cloak of the wedding is still kept.  A number of Shoan rulers are also buried around the Ankober churches.  The small village of Let Marefeya, near to Ankober, served as the site of the Italian Geographical expedition centre in the 1880s. The head of the expedition, Count Antinori was buried there and his tomb can be visited today.

Map of Ankober