The construction of Unity Park was initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.) in 2018 and officially inaugurated and opened to the public on October 10/ 2019. Unity Park is located in the premises of the Grand Palace and it is composed of various historical, natural, and cultural sites. The Grand Palace, where Unity Park is located, was established in 1887 and without counting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.), the palace served as the living and working space of seven Ethiopian leaders. The palace covers an area of 40 hectares and contains myriads of historical buildings and plants that date back to the time of Emperor Menelik II.
This area offers visitors the chance to traverse hiking trails and discover unique Ethiopian attractions. Additionally, it provides an elevated perspective of certain sections of Addis Ababa. Achieving its current lush status required the transportation of 6,000 carloads of materials. Within this verdant space, one can find paintings that depict Ethiopia's rich array of natural and cultural resources.
The Black Mane Lions’ Zoo is one of the two zoos in Unity Park and features the endemic Black Mane lion, which it’s named after. This lion is mainly found in the Bale Mountains National Park, as well as Dedessa and Alitash National Parks. The Black Mane Lions’ Zoo, in addition to the Lions, also houses Nyala and Marabou stork. This zoo is Constructed by skilled Ethiopian experts using steel, cement, fiber, and other construction materials. This zoo has a 175-meter-long man-made cave, this cave replicates the aesthetics of Sof Omar's cave. Crafted to evoke a natural ambiance, the zoo incorporates sound effects that mimic the sounds of diverse animals, man-made waterfalls, ponds, and a small bridge. Within the cave, strategically placed windows offer visitors an optimal vantage point to observe the animals. These purposefully constructed windows allow for an enhanced viewing experience. On the other side of these windows is a spacious landscape where the lions live. It also has an animal den, food preparation, and medical quarters as well as a cafe for visitors.
The Indigenous Garden offers a brief look into local house-building techniques, numerous indigenous plants, and artistic features. There are plants for medicinal and aesthetic purposes, as well as plants used in making spices, food, and beverages. Some of these plants are also used in woodwork. The visitors also get a glimpse into the lifestyle, unique architecture, and overall landscape of the rural areas in a way that is pleasing to the eye. Another attraction in this part of the park is houses built in the shapes of two camels and a turtle. In addition, there are large, handmade, modern art-inspired pieces, sculpted from trees that have grown and aged over the years right here in the palace. What makes the Indigenous Garden stand out from the other attractions is the fact that every aspect of it is handmade and no machinery was used for construction. Artisans of all kinds from different parts of the country have participated in putting together the Indigenous Garden.
The construction of Emperor Menelik II’s Palace Complex buildings began in the early 1890s. Including the two-story octagonal building which is commonly known as egg house, this complex features Emperor Menelik II's bedroom and Reception Room, Etege Taytu’s dwellings, the Prince’s Bedrooms, and a small Banquet Room, all of which were connected through passageways. The Egg House, named because of the octagonal shape of its roof, served as Emperor Menelik II’s prayer room, his watchtower/balcony, and his office. The pipe installed at the entrance of the prayer room was a means of communication between the prayer room and Menelik II’s office. In addition, the country’s first telephone line was installed in the two small walk-in closets along the passageway to Emperor Menelik II’s bedroom. The building found on the east end of the complex was built in 1931 and this structure made of timber was the Council of Ministers’ meeting hall. The small single-room building found to the west near Emperor Menelik II’s dwellings was the waiting room of the Minister of War Fitawrari Habtegiorgis Dinegde, also known as Aba Mella.
Unity Archive, a repository of mostly written documents from the past 140 years, was renovated and inaugurated on June 4, 2023. Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world that has a long history of writing, and the Ministry of Pen was one of the major institutions that used writing for government administration. The Unity Archives is likely the only indigenous archive in Africa. The documents that are stored in different rooms have been organized in successive governments. Nonetheless, the source of all documents is the Grand Palace. The modern protection, organization, and digitization of documents is currently underway. This exhibition is part of the effort to modernize the protection and organization of the Unity Archive. It is divided into three broad domains: external affairs, internal affairs, and socio-cultural experiences. There are nine themes in these three major areas, and the documents were generated between the 1880s and 1990s.
The throne house is about a hundred years old building. The first floor houses the throne hall, where the Ethiopian Emperor's throne was located; the monarchs used to give audience to and confer with the nobility and foreign dignitaries. The room found at the back of the throne house was used to host banquets as well. Since 1974, the throne room has been used as a meeting hall for Derg members. The basement, which was initially used as a wine cellar during imperial times, was later used as a prison cell for senior officials of Emperor Haile Selassie by the Derg where they were held captive for eight years. Due to the political turmoil at the time, the basement was also used by the regime to torture and persecute numerous prisoners. Currently, the main exhibition of Unity Park Museum is housed in this building. As Ethiopia is made up of many nations, nationalities, and peoples with diversified beliefs and political views, the museum's exhibits commemorate some of Ethiopia's historical and cultural values. Including the room where the throne is located, the building has five exhibition rooms on the left, right, back, and basement; these are the throne room, exhibitions of faith, mythology, government, and the revolution and the Red Terror.
The Banquet Hall was built during the reign of Emperor Menelik II in 1898 - 1899. When the Hall was constructed, the Emperor used to host a feast daily, later these lavish dinners were only held during religious and coronation ceremonies as there was a rise in the number of guests. The banquet hall hosted many historical events throughout the years. In 1963, Emperor Haile Selassie held a state dinner for the founding fathers of the Organization of African Union (OAU). In 1979 it hosted the conference of the Commission for Organizing the Party of the Working People of Ethiopia (COPWE). On May 2O19, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.) hosted a 5-million-birr fundraising dinner named Dine for Shegger for the beautification of Addis Ababa project. The banquet hall has had several renovations over the years.
Unity Botanical Garden was established with the noble purpose of preserving and passing on Ethiopia's rich and diverse flora and fauna to future generations. In addition, it aims to foster research, education, environmental protection, and visitation, in both plant and seed form. The garden is composed of an open field and a grand greenhouse, which showcases the five traditional agroecological zones of Ethiopia, namely, Bereha, Kola, Woynadega, Dega, and Wurch. The open field section of the garden is designed to represent Woynadega. The adjacent 3200 m2 greenhouse features a spectacle of Ethiopian plant life, from the mountains to the valleys, boasting over 230 plant species. Notably, 15 of these species are rare and endemic to Ethiopia. Within the garden, visitors will find a vast array of flora, ranging from small plants to towering forest trees. In addition to the planted trees, the garden has an impressive collection of over 175 plant seeds. The greenhouse has plants representing the agroecological zones of Wurch, Dega, Kola, and Berha. To maintain the right conditions for plant growth, a state-of-the-art dripping system is installed in the greenhouse's ceiling, regulating air condition and humidity levels.
Unity Zoo, which is home to various mammals and various birds, is the first of its kind in our country. Comprising nine distinct exhibits- Meerkat, Aquarium, Peacocks, Cheetah, White Lions, Wild Dogs, Gelada Baboons, Aviary, and Safari- this zoo introduces a range of captivating wildlife experiences. Within Unity Zoo, the country's first aquarium showcases over twenty species of fish across three exhibits. Another highlight is the Aviary, featuring a breathtaking array of bird species, both large and small. The Safari exhibit houses eight types of animals, namely Giraffes, Zebras, Kudu, Impala, Eland, Gemsbok, Nyala, and Wildebeest. Both zoos within the park, namely the Black Mane Lions' Zoo and Unity Zoo, are meticulously designed to reflect the natural habitats of the animals they house.
The Regional Pavilions, constructed in 2019, were innovatively designed to showcase a wealth of information about each region's culture, history, heritage, natural resources, and investment potential. With a contemporary artistic touch, these pavilions offer visitors a comprehensive and immersive experience, seamlessly blending visuals, sounds, illustrations, and sculptures. Each state's pavilion is thoughtfully curated to provide visitors with a comfortable and efficient way to delve into the material, spiritual, and natural aspects of the respective region.
By Scanning the QR Code, You Can Download The Journey Map.
