Southern
Omo Valley
Discover Omo Valley.
Southern Ethiopia
Arba Minch
“Forty springs”: two Rift Valley lakes, crocodiles on Lake Chamo and the Dorze highlands above.
Overview
About Arba Minch
Arba Minch means “forty springs”, for the water that rises at the foot of the escarpment and feeds a groundwater forest. Below the town lie Lakes Abaya and Chamo, divided by a forested ridge called the Bridge of God.
On Chamo’s shore, at the Crocodile Market, Nile crocodiles lie in the sun by the hundred. Nechisar National Park’s plains hold zebra, and the Dorze weave cotton in tall bamboo houses in the Gamo highlands above town.
- Region
- Southern
- Best time
- All year
Highlights
What makes it worth the journey
Highlights
- The Crocodile Market on Lake Chamo
- Zebra on the Nechisar plains
- The Bridge of God between two lakes
- Dorze bamboo houses and weaving
Things to do
- Take a boat on Lake Chamo
- Drive the Nechisar plains
- Walk in the forty springs forest
- Spend a morning with a Dorze family
Plan your visit
Before you go
Best time to visit
All year; wettest March to May
Getting there
Daily flights from Addis Ababa.
Getting around
By 4x4 and by boat on Lake Chamo.
Good to know
- Bring binoculars and insect repellent.
- Pack a warm layer for the Dorze highlands at about 2,400 m.
Gallery
A look at Arba Minch
Photos: Unsplash
Keep exploring
More places to see
Southern
Southern
Omo Valley
A river valley home to many distinct cultures, with colourful weekly markets.
Southern
Bale Mountains
Alpine moorland and forest, and the best place to look for the Ethiopian wolf.
Let us plan your Arba Minch trip
Tell us when you want to travel and what you love. A local specialist will reply with a suggested plan and a clear price.