MENELIK II PALACE

Built in traditional style and perched on top of a small hillock, the lodge occupies the site of the palace of the former Emperor Menelik II, who is widely regarded as being the father of modern Ethiopia.

Built in traditional style and perched on top of a small hillock, the lodge occupies the site of the palace of the former Emperor Menelik II, who is widely regarded as being the father of modern Ethiopia. As a warrior leader he united the nation and then stamped his authority as their Emperor and took his place in history by defeating the invading Italians at the battle of Adwa in 1896. This was the first time that a European army had been beaten in any battle of consequence by an African Nation. Emperor Menelik continued the process of unification and modernisation of Ethiopia – introducing electricity and phones, more schools and hospitals, and most famously building the Addis to Djibouti
railway. Ankober was for centuries the capital of the Shoan kingdom and controlled the important trade and transport caravan route to Zeila and the Red Sea. The town went into economic decline when the capital was moved to Addis (1878) and into further decline when the railway was built. Much of the population joined the migration to Addis Ababa. (Alun Thomas, Discover Ankober; Discover the Coffee Caravan Route in Ethiopia).