I couldn’t explain to you why I found these tree plantations outside Addis Ababa interesting. But I did.

They’re located in the Entoto Mountains overlooking Addis Ababa and you can get there easily by catching a minibus along Entoto Avenue, which for two birr (like 15 cents) will take you to Entoto Church. When you arrive at the church, the sharks will pull on their priest’s robes and rush out to try and extract money from you for admission to the church or as a “donation” or some other bullshit. Ignore them and just keep walking up the road. You can’t get lost because there is only one road.

The view across the street from Entoto Church… You can see how much of the money the church takes in goes toward the poor and dispossessed:

This is the road I was referring to:

The first tree plantation we came to:

The summit of the Entoto Mountain chain… For some reason I have a thing for summits and communication towers. It’s one of those things I can’t explain – like my interest in tree plantations:

The views from the top of the mountain:

A view into the yard of one of the residents of the Entoto Mountains:

There were a lot of donkeys up in the mountains:

Some of the locals:

The tree plantations completely cover the sides of the Entoto Mountains:

All tree plantations… It’s depressing to think of the native flora and fauna that must have been exterminated for these vast agricultural projects:

A logging road leading into the artificial forest:

The Ethiopians are quite adept at using terracing to control erosion and to maximize the water received from rainfall:

The home of a logger for the tree plantations nestled amongst the trees:

A view of Addis Ababa from the tree plantations: