Ankober is a town of Ethiopia, at one time the capital of the historical Shewa kingdom and later district. It is located about 90 mi northeast of Addis Ababa, 9 34' N, 39 54' E, at about 8,500 feet in elevation.
Ankober is approached through undulating countryside, then through more mountainous country including Mt Kundi (3500m), and the maximum elevation of the surrounding mountain peaks is about 12600 ft. (3840m).
In Ankober, the church of St George was built by Amha Iyesus, in a grove of wild fig and euphorbia trees.
During its occupation by Emperor Tewedros in the 1850s, Ankober declined, but was later rebuilt by Sahle Selassie?s famous grandson, the modernising King Menelik, who used this as his capital until moving to Entoto in 1878, and then to Addis Ababa in 1886.
Founded by King Amaha Iyesus, Ankober commanded the very important trade route between the eastern lowlands and the Showan plateau.
From the town of Ankober, there are marvelous views over the escarpment.
For ornithologists there is the chance of seeing the very rare Ankober serin, and other species such as Smith's francolin, the yellow throated serin, the white billed starling and the fl winged love bird.
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