Unity Park

Unity Park occupies part of the National Palace compound, the seat of government since Menelik II built it in the 1880s, and it opened to the public in 2019 after a restoration that turned the historic buildings and grounds into a visitor attraction. The route takes in Menelik's original throne hall and banqueting house, Haile Selassie's offices, a pavilion on the regions of Ethiopia, landscaped gardens with fountains, and a zoo section holding lions descended from the imperial collection. The project was expensive and drew criticism over cost and over the presentation of history, which is worth knowing. Because it sits inside a working government compound, entry is controlled, timed and subject to security screening, and booking ahead is the norm.

What you actually see

• Menelik's throne hall - the nineteenth-century palace interior.
• Haile Selassie's offices - the imperial working rooms.
• The regional pavilion - displays on Ethiopia's peoples and regions.
• The lion enclosure - animals descended from the imperial collection.

When to go

Year round; the park is open on set days with timed entry and closes for state occasions. Booking ahead is advisable. Mornings avoid the heaviest crowds and the midday sun in the gardens.

Honest expectations

Entry involves security screening and a fixed route with a guide; independent wandering is not possible. Ticket prices for foreign visitors are high by local standards. The zoo enclosures attract criticism on welfare grounds. The presentation of imperial history is celebratory rather than critical.

Nearby

Holy Trinity Cathedral lies east; the National Museum is north.