It was originally protected by Zera Yacob (1399 – 26 August 1468) the Emperor of Ethiopia. The total area of the park is around 2500 hectare and the forest have natural and endemic big trees like Juniperus and Eric arboreal. It is one of the tourist destinations for a day trip from Addis Ababa because of its remarkable natural indigenous tree species and some endemic birds and endemic antelopes of Minilk Bushbuck.