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Addis Ababa Private City Tour with Immersive Cooking Class Lunch

5.02 reviewsNational Museum of Ethiopia

  • 6 hours
  • Free cancellation up to 24h before
  • Guided in English
  • Instant confirmation

Highlights

What makes this tour of Addis Ababa unique is its seamless blend of historical landmarks and vibrant cultural experiences in just 6 hours. Guests begin with the inspiring views and spiritual history of Mount Entoto, followed by an immersion into local artistry at the bustling Shiro Meda Market. The national museum enriches visitors with its diverse cultural exhibits related to Emperor Haile Selassie's former residence as well as many profound historical artefacts passed down from generations. The tour's highlight is by far the all out, immersive cooking experience where you follow the local guide through the joy in culinary gathering of ingredients and cooking hearty Ethiopian dishes. A standout feature is the inclusion of a "special secret place," promising an exclusive experience of hidden local gems known only to insiders as a way to conclude the tour. This ensures an unforgettable exploration of Addis Ababa, capturing its essence through a curated journey of discovery and intrigue.

Inclusions

What's included

  • Private transportation
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Cultural Coffee, Tea or Juice - A spontaneous stop as Ethiopian coffee is a novelty which we highly recommend so let us impress you.
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
  • Licensed Guide/Driver
  • We can accommodate dietary restrictions

What's not

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Restroom on board

Itinerary

  1. Welcome to Ethiopia, on arrival we will meet you at the airport, or your hotel and then offer you a fresh perspective on Addis Ababa, widely considered the African Capital City / Headquarters. We typically begin this by sightseeing the bustling aspects Addis Ababa has to offer through a drive up to Mount Entoto, the highest peak on the Entoto Mountains, which overlooks the city for a panoramic view. This way you are given the freedom to stop should anything intrigue you on the way, we are more than happy to answer any questions you may have on the way up too. The mountain reaches 3,200 meters above sea level and is densely covered by eucalyptus trees that were imported from Australia during the reign of Menelik II, and mostly planted during Emperor Haile Selassie's reign. Thus, it is sometimes referred to as the "lung of Addis Ababa". The forest on the mountain is an important source of firewood for the city. It was also a source of building material in earlier times.

    40 minAdmission included

  2. At Shiro Meda market, visitors can walk through or buy colorful handwoven locally made scarves, and dresses for men and women which are made from cotton and decorated with colorful embroidery. If visitors have time, they can visit the small startups working on weaving these colorful Ethiopian traditional clothes in the yellow condominium. This stop of the trip highlights local artistry where you may find enjoyment in bartering for the best price should anything interest you.

    25 min

  3. This is a great introduction to the history, culture and people of Ethiopia. It houses different collections like antiques, crafts, contemporary paintings, archaeological findings from different parts of the nation in exhibition to the public. This is also where the famous and oldest (3.2M years old) known human skeleton (fossil) - LUCY - Is displayed. We can even offer you a free guided tour at no additional charge, should you wish to learn more about the history of the contents in the museum which regarded as the treasure of the city. Please note that the National Museum is closed on Mondays in which case, we will have to interchange this experience with the Ethnological museum which we are confident will impress you just as much given that it is the palace of the former great emperor Haile Selassie who has had a rippling influence on Ethiopia as we know it today.

    1 hAdmission included

  4. This is your most culturally immersive stop of the tour, right in the heart of the city where we will be guiding you through a cooking class of authentic Ethiopian cuisine! By this point we are sure you will be hungry, so enjoy the traditional meal of this experience which comes with profound health benefits! Injera for example is a gluten free pancake made from fermented Teff flour that all Ethiopians love as it never feels heavy due to great digestive properties. You will be shown how to make and eat it with vitamin and protein rich Ethiopian sides like Shero and more. We will start with the shopping experience that is done when it comes to making such flavorful cuisine and explaining the significance of the ingredients. Settle into a lunch time created by you alongside an experienced chef/cook who will explain the process intimately. This is the most fun, private and hands on experience rewarding you with a delicious meal that you can even take home with you by the end of the day.

    2 h

  5. This is a special secret of ours where we take you to a viewpoint that we get exclusive access to. Overlooking the city of Addis with a luxury 360 view whilst being very much in the heart of it, you are sure to be tempted to click some scenic pictures.

    25 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

5.0

  • 52
  • 40
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  • 10

Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

Pickup
Pickup is included for everyone.
Ticket type
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operated by
Simen Land Tours
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • We can accommodate dietary restrictions

How it compares in Addis Ababa

  • Its from-price is 72% below the median of the 564 experiences we list in Addis Ababa.
  • It is shorter than most of them.
  • By number of reviews it ranks 305 of 564.
  • The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, stands high on a plateau among eucalyptus-covered hills, with museums, markets, churches and African Union offices.

At around 2,400 metres, Addis Ababa is one of the highest capitals in the world, laid out on the slopes of the Entoto hills. The National Museum of Ethiopia tells the story of human origins through Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old partial skeleton found in the country in 1974, while the Ethnological Museum is housed in a former imperial palace. Holy Trinity Cathedral and Saint George Cathedral are important churches, and Meskel Square hosts large gatherings.

Top-ranked sights in Addis Ababa: National Museum of Ethiopia, Mt. Entoto, IES Ethnographic Museum (Addis Ababa University).

See all 564 experiences in Addis Ababa

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