A Day at Minilik Meskot

Minilik Meskot is a truly unique sight kept hidden above the clouds in North Shewa. The great Emperor Minilik II himself was from Shewa and had his first capital here. Ye Minilik Meskot directly translates to “Minilik’s Window,” and rightfully so. This historical place has received some attention lately, which has led to a steady increase in visitors over the past few years. The scenery is remarkable because this is a very elevated vantage point at around 3,300 meters above sea level. Emperor Minilik II could see Debre Birhan, Tarmaber, and even the neighboring Awash Zone 3 from here. And so Cheena Hiking headed there to experience this privilege.

Enthusiastic hikers in the foggy North Shewa mountains (2023)

The roads were very smooth as we took the A2 highway exit via Legetafo. We stopped by the small charming town of Aleltu for a coffee break and stocked up on water. We continued our drive to our destination and passed by the iconic Debre Berhan. Beyond Debre Berhan, everything started to change. We were very high up in the skies by this point, which was made evident by the air quality. While we were enjoying the clean, fresh air, a storm was upon us, and half the sky turned dark gray. We knew we had arrived when the fog made it challenging to see a few meters ahead. The weather had unexpectedly become very wet across the country, and this was how it manifested in Ankober. It was a beautiful sight, and the adventure began when we hopped off the bus and started exploring. We began our moderate hike by climbing a steep hill after seeing some wool weavers with their works on display. They had a variety of hand-woven hats, circular seat coolers, jewelry, and more.

A surprise encounter with the security dummy (2023)

The troupe kept going strong, and we enjoyed every minute of this trip to such a magical place. Despite the foggy surroundings and almost complete silence, this paradise stimulates nearly all senses. Most of our trail had sprouting thyme leaves which gave their strong aroma with every step we took. The landscape was ever-changing; every phase of the journey was unique in its own right. From jagged terrain and terrifying cliffs to flatter plateaus, each sight was thrilling.

Hiking towards Menilik Meskot (2023)

The sun finally peered through the clouds, lighting up the distant lands after a few hours of hiking in these mysterious lands. At this point, we finally understood the vastness of the whole area. We could now see as far as Emperor Minilik II could scout, and it was such a breathtaking view. We circled back and returned to our almost unrecognizable starting point, which looked entirely different following the weather change.

Hiking uphill to Menilik Meskot (2023)

It was a bright afternoon, with the sun warming us after such a cold trip. We had our lunch and relaxed a bit more, enjoying the unprecedented window view. After a while, we packed up and began our return trip with plenty of satisfaction and memories shared among us. We were just on schedule, and that allowed us to arrive in Addis early. We would like to thank everyone who made this trip possible and so unforgettable. See you on the next one!

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