Exploring Ankober Palace Lodge: A Journey Through History and Engineering in the Land of Great Kingdoms – Ethiopia

It was around 9:30 AM on December 16, 2019, when my classmates—fifth-year civil engineering students—and I, along with Yeserah G. and Yohannes G. (highway engineers and lecturers at Debre Berhan University), began our journey. We departed from Debre Berhan, the highest town in Africa and an early capital of Ethiopia, heading towards Ankober, the former capital of the Ethiopian kingdom of Shewa. Ankober is located 40 kilometers east of Debre Berhan and about 140 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa. Our journey was both educational and touristic. Along the way, our lecturers, Yeserah G. and Yohannes G., explained highway engineering concepts related to the road we were traveling on. The road was under construction, having originally been a gravel road overhauled in May 2009.

“Our instructors, Yeserah and Yohannes, explained the necessity of removing silty soil, ensuring slope stability, and carrying out deep excavations for the construction of the new road.”

After three hours, we arrived in Ankober, where our bus stopped at the center of the village. Since Ankober is mountainous, cars cannot navigate the area, and motorcycles are the primary means of transport. From there, we began our walk towards Ankober Palace Lodge, one of the main highlights of our journey. Ankober Palace Lodge is a reconstruction of Emperor Menelik II’s palace in Ankober, where he ruled in the 19th century. The lodge is situated on top of a hill, offering spectacular views of the famous Rift Valley, which stretches from the Red Sea to the shores of Lake Malawi. During our visit, we had the opportunity to learn about the region’s history by exploring historic sites and a small museum displaying ancient books, artwork, clothing, and other artifacts.                             

After a long and tiring climb, we finally arrived at the upper house, standing at an elevation of 2,870 meters above sea level.

    

 Emperor Menilek II

Finally, I would like to share a brief account of Emperor Menelik II. Born in 1844, Emperor Menelik II played a pivotal role in unifying the Ethiopian Empire in the 19th century, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Emperor Tewodros II and Emperor Yohannes IV. He is credited with modernizing Ethiopia and establishing the country’s first western-style schools in 1908. Menelik also played a crucial role in developing Ethiopia’s infrastructure. In 1895, he granted the concession for the construction of the Ethio-Djibouti railway line, which opened Ethiopia’s interior to the rest of the world. The same year, he introduced national and international telephone and telegraph services, just ten years after the telephone was invented. One of his most remarkable achievements was successfully defending Ethiopia from colonial invaders during the 19th century. In 1896, he led Ethiopian forces to a historic victory at the Battle of Adwa, decisively defeating the Italian army. This was the first time an African power successfully stopped European colonization, making Menelik a symbol of African resistance and pride. To this day, he is revered as a wise and strategic leader who preserved Ethiopia’s independence and laid the foundation for its modernization.

By: Farah Jama Farah who studies BSc in Civil Engineering from Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia.