The Oldest Park in Africa, Just Miles from Addis Ababa
Absolutely a tranquil scene reigns over the area. It is full of life
capable of refreshing bodies and souls of visitors. That is what visitors
of the Menagesha - Suba forest, located some 45 km west of the capital
- Addis Ababa, would say.
The giant old trees in the forest have resisted time, lasting for
500 years. The Menagesha - Suba natural forest, which started to
exist in the 17th century, had defiantly passed through such a long
period of time. It still exists well protected and preserved. The
forest itself has "responsibly" been a sanctuary for wild
life including those rarest ones. It has not only sheltered them
well but also fed them with its own leaves and parts.
The forest is still sheltering a number of wildlife amazingly including
those endemic ones, which are unthinkable to be found with in the
vicinity of Addis Ababa. The forest eases the burdens of visitors
from flying hours or driving hundreds of miles to remote parts of
Ethiopia to see some of the endemic animals that make Ethiopia famous
in the world.
The forest makes the oldest park in Africa. The giant trees are
said to have over 500 years of age. History refers Emperor Zera
Yacob (1434-1468) as the one who, with his sovereign power, first
assigned the area to be a "crown forest." That time, the
area was planted with seedlings of junipers taken from the "Wef
- Washa" forest found in Ankober and Debre Sina, small towns
some 200 k.ms north of Addis Ababa.
Two alternative routes take visitors to the spot from the capital.
In either of the two routes, visitors would be unknowingly engulfed
by the spectacular old forest as they are slowly lulled by the surrounding
greenery. They would be greeted by flying colobus monkeys even before
they pay entrance fees. If visitors are lucky enough, on their route
to the office of the park, they would also come across some other
wild animals. Some of these wild animals would let visitors clearly
visualize them until their guests are fully satisfied or most probably
until the hosts think that their visitors had enough, provided the
intruders watch out their physical movements.
As visitors go nearer to the forest, they would reach the first
sawmill of Ethiopia, which is found in the small village called
Suba, near the entrance gate of the forest itself. The machinery
was said to have been installed around 1900 by Mr. 'Otto', a German
Austrian entrepreneur. Prior to this place the sawmill was first
planted inside the forest at a place named 'Otto' village.
During the period of the Italian occupation (1936-1942), a small
railway had been stretched to the place where the sawmill was located
so as to transport logs. The sawmill was infact said to have been
operating until 1955.
There are old trees as tall as over 50 meters and as thick as eight
meters. The state forest covers a total area of some 3,500 hectares.
It is one of the best remaining examples of dry afro-montane forests.
Some 2,500 hectares of the area is covered with the original natural
forest while the remaining 1000 hectares is still under plantation.
The high forest at the Menagesha - Suba State Forest is dominated
by the African Pencil Cedar, locally known as Tid trees. The biggest
trees have over 50 meters height and two meters width with a single
trunck of a single tree. The other long-standing big trees that
have equally enjoyed old life in this part of the forest are African
Podo and Red Stink wood or Iron wood trees. Other young trees have
also significantly increased the natural beauty of the park.
What is more important in terms of attracting tourists to the place
is the presence of various wild life found besides the age old trees
in the park. A survey made in 2001 has proved the presence of 32
species of mammals and 186 species of birds in the forest. Further,
to the wonders of visitors, two of the wild mammals as well as four
of the birds are endemic. The mammals and the birds make the place
an ideal place of recreation and even a compelling miss-not-area
hardly possible to think in a vicinity of a capital city.
The endemic mammals are Menelik's Bush-buck and white-footed rat.
The endemic birds that are compelling visitors to stream into the
forest are Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker; Black - headed
Siskin and Yellow-fronted Parrot.
There are also other interesting birds, which are not found everywhere
except in Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. Included in this category
are: Abyssinian Black-headed Forest Oriole, Abyssinian Slaty flycatcher,
Banded Barbet, Black-winged Lovebird, Thick-billed Raven, Wattled
Ibis, White-backed Black Tit and white-collared Pigeon.
Though not endemic, other bird species are also residents of the
forest and its surroundings significantly contribute to the sight-seeing
and the melody of the old life in the living forest of the past.
Wild animals including three members of cat family Caracal, Leopard
and Serval Cat are found in the den in large numbers. Other interesting
animals such as Abyssinian Black and White Colobus, Abyssinian Hare
and Bush Pig and Klipspinger are also among those frequently seen
by visitors.
Five trails that have contoured the mountain clad in the old forest
create a vital road infrastructure network for exploring the park.
Other vital information published and handed out at the main gate
also helps visitors to make their choices which areas and trecks
suit them best depending on the purposes and duration of their tours,
physical strength and so on.
Once visitors are in the forest, they have the chance to camp at
various sites prepared for the purpose near and afar. The sites
would let you see some of the animals when they come closer to your
camping site in search of piped water in bowls during summer time.
The presence of guesthouses and dormitories inside the forest near
the head office would add the comfort to visitors if they wish to
stay long. Of course, visitors need to take their own food for there
is no such a service in the park. The park, as a gift of nature
is frequented by local and foreign tourists. Nevertheless, those
who come from abroad from Europe, Canada, other African countries
make the highest number.
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