HeritageJun 2026 · 4 min
The Waterfalls and History of the Portuguese Bridge
Gaze over the dramatic Jemma River gorge and stunning cascading waterfalls beside the historic 16th-century masonry bridge.
DB
Dr. Bekele DinsaHistorian
Archways Over the Chasm
Built in the 16th or 17th century using lime mortar and river stones, this iconic bridge provided strategic passage over the raging Gur River during the rainy season. Today, the surrounding canyon offers some of the most dramatic panoramic vistas in Ethiopia.
the ancient stone bridge spanning the gorge
Canyon Wildlife Encounters
The rocky plateaus surrounding the bridge are home to large colonies of endemic Gelada baboons, known as the 'bleeding-heart baboons'. Watch them forage peacefully along the vertiginous cliffs.
