Picnics & Baths
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Photos: Bees' Cliff, Area No.14, Highland Plateau, Entoto Natural Park. |
Picnics & Baths
Seasons for Picnics Among Hilarious Baths
Months of Weather Protection
The average temperature in Addis Ababa is 16.3°C. However, since the temperature is falling with increasing altitude, the top of the Park is estimated to be about 12°C. The wind can also be strong, so the climate can be pretty harsh, especially during the rains and in the higher parts. Water: Drinking water must be available all year round, but since most brooks dry out sometime during the year, cautious behaviour is to bring water in rugged bottles before any adventure. There are, however, a few springs within the Park area, providing water for all seasons. Rain Season: There are two rainy seasons per year, the minor rains from March to May and the big rains from July to September. The highest rainfall intensity occurs in July and August (Demissew 1988).
Meandering Streams above The Canyon's Abyss
Natural Rock Pools above Bees' Cliff
The meandering stream of the high plateau just above Bees Cliff (14) provides an extraordinary bath with natural threshold barriers that form the conditions for elongated and naturally dammed pools. However, some **[Caution] require the most fun bathing events. This caution is crucial because the depth of these pools rarely exceeds one metre and, therefore, could very likely cause serious injury if accidental jumping during diving activities.
The Plateau's Brooks and baths
Caution: Required Bottom Examination
Prudent cautionary principles also apply to swimming underwater or jumping into the brooks. A few surprising and hidden larger underwater stones could contaminate the otherwise welcoming horizontal bottom section. These stones are generally very easy to find and remove but prevail as hazardous, as the dominant rainy season regularly supplies the bottoms of the pools with renewed rock bumps.
**Caution During Rainy Seasons
Since all streams around Entoto run up within a short distance to the highest part of the plateau, there is no risk of being surprised by far and accumulated sudden river flow from an unknown range. There is no known weakness in the deep rock pools that could constitute a magazine water mass just waiting to break through a weak point in the cliff bottom. However, no person should walk on the riverbanks of the ravines in the aftermath of heavy rain.
Picnics Provision and Bath Seasons
Water: Drinking water must be available all year round, and due care is crucial since most brooks dry out sometime during the year. There are, however, a few springs within the Park area, providing water for all seasons. The most necessary for the Park's experience and picnics, as well as the candy shop (2), is right next to the Sanctuary (32) and across the bus stop at the community Entoto Kidane Mehret (1). Baths are pleasant some weeks after the rainy season's usually very regular end date, which otherwise constitutes a real danger during the rainy season's torrential water flow. Rain Season: There are two rainy seasons per year, the minor rains from March to May and the big rains from July to September. The highest rainfall intensity occurs in July and August (Demissew, 1988).
The Natural Cliff Pools Above the Abyss
Grande Adventure above the Canyon
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These photos show the location of the spring- water and natural pools at the southern rim ledge of the high plateau, just above (14) The rock pools above Bees' Cliff (14) |
Assistance Direction to the High Plateau
Trails to High Plateau's Rock Pools
The different ways to access these natural pools just above Bees' Cliff (14) follow those previously described from points (37) - [A]. Furthermore, there are several very different path choices just uphill from point (38), which also becomes enriched by a more thorough, independent acquaintance with the full south-eastern to north-western eroded soil road (41) located just above points (14 - 16). This plateau just above Bees' Cliff (14) is a magnificently beautiful place with a great panorama view over the gorge and many characters in the landscape.
A Great Wildlife View with the Meandering Streams
The concealed Abyss, its waterfall and the river's further gorge meandering (35) are hair-raising near the pools. These are the nature baths just above Bees Cliff (14), and the threshold down to this Abyss invites a great nature drama. The rock pools with waterfall and Ravens' flight in playful hay above their home of vertically rising cliff-sides linger far above Entoto Kidane Mehret (1) but so alluringly near in the distance.
The Enchanting Valley of Entoto Kidane Mehret [A]
A Pleasant Site For Family's Adventure
The valley within the map square [A] of Entoto Kidane Mehret Church (32) with its Sanctuary gives at first an impression of the ravine above this river in its fascinating formations and complete contact. This valley [A] is soon after the bridge opening in the most graceful river-dell, which constitutes the dramatically elegant and sculptural valley just below Entoto Kidane Mehret (1). This valley [A] is also the inviting base for many enchanting paths and adventures. Within this open gully with a bridge crossing the valley [A], this enticingly cosy and inspiring river-dell attracts waiting in pleasure to avoid losing its beauty. Instead, a serene ardour prevails to spiritually remain and fully be in harmony, spiritually engulfing its beauty of sculptural shape and its feeling of premonition adventures.
A Landscape of Serene and Enchanting Beauty
A Highland Climate of Pleasure & Play
Bees' Cliff 14 requires caution in the canyon but assisting by the wide map loop surrounding the gentle and fascinating points 36 and 41-42 Detailed Information with Activities |
A Turmoil of Chaos in Waterfall and Thunder
A Time of Fragrance, Harmony and Beauty
However, the high plateau and Bees' Cliff (14) are elevated above any instant protection by the community's facilities of taxis, bus station and shops from the quaint ledge town (1) and Entoto Kidane Mehret Church (32). Due to this harsh reality, some reservations are required for the rainy season, when the high plateau needs extra caution. However, the sizeable rainy season ends in September - October, which quite soon makes the water flow attractive and harmonious.
Morning Hours of Wonderful Respite
The most necessary for the Park's experience and picnics, as well as the candy shop (2), is right next to the Sanctuary (32) and across the bus stop at the community Entoto Kidane Mehret (1). While the Italian reservoir offers this required, convenient and exciting beauty, and since the tempests usually follow a bound rhythm, its experience in beautiful, cosy daily hours can be appealing and irresistible. Planning the picnic requires conscious behaviour to return the short distance to Entoto Kidane Mehret (1) in time before the next thunderstorm.
The Inviting Beauty of Entoto Kidane Mehret
A Gorgeous Site With Spring Sources
The valley of Entoto Kidane Mehret (32) is nothing less than a hidden place of serene qualities and unique nature but also a path towards the forgotten harbours of the human soul. Here the first silent breeze whispers smoothly through the well-fragrance of elusive and wild incense. Here, at the first steps behind the Sanctuary (32), Nature almost seductively caresses the senses gently to any visitor in serene pleasure to expect any adventure of serenity and grandeur. Thus, this is the gate to the spiritual realm and the path to an irresistible original mountain nature with its overwhelming grandiose impressions. At the end of the rainy season in September - October, the high plateau becomes a lush mountain Nature of deep attraction where streams and waterfalls stabilize in exquisite flowing beauty. A gentle, romantic flow of ideal conditions becomes evident in October- November.
The Sanctuary and Valley of Entoto Kidane Mehret
The Cosy Choice for the Young Family
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Water to the Capital and the Reservoir (19) |
The comfortable choice for a cosy picnic
The Italians established an extensive reservoir to provide the Capital with water during the occupation. This mountain reservoir (underground water technology) has lost some importance in favour of more significant catchment dams. This reservoir is very near Valley near Entoto Kidane Mehret Church, within the sculptural river-dell, as shown within the map point (19) square [A].The Valley [A] and its Landscape
This valley of Entoto Kidane Mehret (32) starts rather dramatically with a deep gorge beneath Entoto Kidane Mehret (32) and provides unique, beautiful scenery with a brook passing by. Thus, Entoto Kidane Mehret's valley [A] offers a first inviting view from the concealed path (5) high above the gorge, just after passing behind the sanctuary (32). The path continues with a bridge crossing just some steps downhill from the Sanctuary of Entoto Kidane Mehret (32).
The Sanctuary of Entoto Kidane Meheret
The Cautious Choice for the Young Family
The most beautiful and versatile Nature and fascinating places, which are also reachable with charming simplicity, are often the primary for family picnics but can often be challenging to accomplish within the convenience of the whole family's interest. Due to weather conditions, duties, and family members' interest in comfort and alluring entertainment, the picnic's requirements will require unique and beautiful characteristics. The comfy promenade to reach the Italian-built spring water facility (19) is within these young family requirements and, therefore, an excellent choice for most activities and nature interests. Entoto Kidane Mehret's inhabitants bring their household water from this source. Thus, the company is apparent by playing with children and people fetching quantities of water to their homes. The valley of Entoto Kidane Mehret (1) constitutes the bridge crossing just some steps downhill of the Sanctuary (32) and further invites a gentle walk to the place for a family picnic and games at the Italian reservoir (19), located just to the right by a gently undulated and charmingly curved path.
The Italian Underground Fort-Ruin and Bath
Adventure Views from a Grand Cliff Ledge
The Cliff Dwelling of the Italian Fort
A Cosy Cliffhanger Glade with a Waterfall
This Italian fortification (38) is very close to the actual path upwards and just above waits near the charming site of the farmhouse (39); see both of these points within the map circle (B). Here, with a slight downhill, the pipeline connects to the reservoir and underground installation by Mussolini's troops from the farmhouse area. Visiting this beautiful place is an exciting and short deviation from the path. Real adventure baths are enjoyable up to some months after the rainy season, which usually has a very regular end date from August to September. Of course, it's dangerous to bath in connection to severe precipitations.
**Caution: Thorough Bath Examination
The Italian fortification Fort and Dam Wier
Regarding the safety of this old Italian fortification (38) within map circle (B), all kinds of bath demand must first be preceded by a thorough bottom and wall examination. The purpose is to ensure the reservoir's bottom conditions where larger stones and iron objects could pose a severe injury hazard.
A Thrilling Adventure Among Waterfall and Fortress
A Stunning Site on the Mountain's Shoulder
This mountainous fortress facility (38) - (B) was built in the late thirties in an attempt by the invading Italian forces to gain control with a strategically significant overview of the Capital and the landscape. Through the mentioned upland topography, the site is magnificent and gives an incentive to consider the facility being reconstructed for adventure tourism. However, careful and prudent distance is required while walking at this potentially dangerous and dizzying precipice. This dramatic cliff passage is the deviating and captivating cliff path to this concealed and lofty site with its characters of high drama in a cosy, entertaining atmosphere.Highland Views Among Waterfall and Cliff Pools
This mountain site (38) - (B) is dramatically located on the mountainside, with complete contact with splendid panoramic views. The varied nature drama and exciting surroundings, including the spillway waterfall, adorn this Italian fortress' patinated architecture. Thus, walking at a prudent distance overview to the dizzying precipice, any spectator is seduced by thrilling expectation and pleasure. All this is thanks to the cosy atmosphere of this mysteriously forgotten cliff ledge with its mountainous fortress and reservoir. ![]() |
From this secret water vault beneath the rock pools, the big waterfall, and Abyss are here still hidden but respectfully close, only some metre behind the view of the bath photo. 14. Waterfalls and Hidden Arches |
Photographs: Nature and Waterfall
These photos of water-filled streams and cascading waterfalls are shot just above Bees' Cliff (14) at Entoto's southern highland plateau - from early October to November. Regarding all of these active water sports photographs, it has been about one to two months since the long rainy season ended.
Seasons for Swimming or Hiking
Despite the time since these photo opportunities and the last rains were over a month ago, the fresh spring water flowing on the higher ground of Entoto is still an excellent asset for bathing. But maybe those hilarious adventures would have been even more suitable if they had occurred a month earlier and thus offered even more fun, spontaneous bath activities.
Alerts: Safety and Security |
With Torrential Deluges & Abyss
Therefore, it's appropriate for young families to avoid Bees' Cliff (14). Instead, it's recommended to enjoy the pleasant and sunny day hours by enjoying the beautifully undulated promenade within a delightful valley [A] and its enchantingly sculptural glen and path towards the Italian spring water facility (19) - [A] or maybe the little more adventurous terrain at the Italian fortress (38) - (B). This place introduces and provides a sculptural overview when hiking the southern slope of Entoto's rising shoulder. The bridge crossing just below Entoto Kidane Mehret (32) with its valley [A] clearly displays the crossroads for hiking or cosy picnics and their several directly following trails. This is the valley with gentle terrain and more mountainous paths [A], and here is the invitation to the rising mountainside. With this, the first careful invitation to a flavour of wilderness is given but with a mysterious feeling of an unknown grandeur, still only waiting in a stimulating foreboding.
Warm Sunbathing but Cold Mornings
The Afternoon's Warm and Inviting Cliffs
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Natural Highland Pools above Bees' Cliff (14) Spring Water with Bath |
Natural Freshly Purging Spring Water
This flowing spring water meant it after rainy seasons, usually not rainwater flowing in its origin but instead chilled and underground fresh spring water. This freshwater phenomenon is simply Highlands and mountains affected by gravity, which downloads torrential deluges from the rainy seasons into the natural aquifers.
The Breathtaking Views of the High Plateau
Among Ancient Junipers and Social TranquillityThe different ways to access these natural pools just above Bees' Cliff (14) follow those previously described from point (37). Thus, there are several very different path choices just uphill from point (38) but also becomes enriched by a more thorough, independent acquaintance with the full south-eastern to north-western eroded soil road (41) located just above points (14 - 16). This high viewpoint (16) provides places for picnics in social tranquillity and contemplation about the unique nature, facilitated quickly by the high point of view, even over the mist-veiled Capital far below the southern slopes. Bees' Cliff (14) is very near now, with its Abyss, where the river's further gorge meandering (35) becomes intuitively felt through the profound cooling airflow rising from the unknown Abyss below the field of view. Much closer, the farmhouse is reminded and not far below even the spiritually chanting walls of Entoto Kidane Mehret Church (32). Hiking Preparations: The Southern Slope of the Park
Observe One Heavy Rain Season Every Year
Morning Hours of Wonderful Thunder Respite
There are two rainy seasons per year, the short rainy season from March to May and the significant rains from July to September. The highest rainfall intensity occurs in July and August (Demissew, 1988). However, this place may appear scary during the relatively long rainy season with high water flows and intertwined with sudden thunderstorms where only a powerful terrain vehicle would give protection. While this site offers an exhilarating beauty and the storms usually follow a bound rhythm, its experience in beautiful, cosy daily hours can be both an exciting and irresistible occurrence. It provided a conscious behaviour to return in time before the next thunderstorm.
Characterized by frigid nights, the average temperature of the mountain Entoto's plateau is below comfortable bathing degrees with its average temperature of about 12 ° C. Thus, the result of these lengthy and cold nights, in turn, determines the degree of cooling effect in the mentioned natural Highland pools. However, the mountain afternoon hike is usually hot, so any refreshing bath is enticing, fun, welcoming, and comfortable. Due to the chilly spring water in the brook, it's pleasurably and crucial to wait for baths until the sun warms up the surrounding rocks. Usually, this comfortable warmed rock degree occurs at about lunchtime and then invites a relaxing half-hour or more extended warming sunbathing. These adventurous nature drama and beautiful experiences at the stream of the well-formed and clean rocks above Bees' Cliff (14) are amazingly alluring and unforgettable.
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