Arba-Minch
Arba-Minch, the capital city of Gamo Gofa Zone, is one of the largest towns in SNNPRS. It is located on a lovely position overlooking Lake Abaya to the north, Lake Chamo to the south. Currently, the  Arba-Minch town is getting expanded and developing mainly due to the increasing flow of national and international tourist in the area. The town is the best route to arrive to the country’s famous tourist destinations including Konso and South Omo Zone or the famous lower Omo valley. Besides, the town provided a base for exploring the nearby different natural and cultural attractions including Nech-Sar National Park, Crocodile Markets, Arba-Minch ground water Forest, The Forty springs, Bridges of God, Lake Chamo , Lake Abaya, traditional handicraft products and Cultural landscape of Dorze and Chencha area.
Arba-Minch is one of the fast growing towns in the country and is a combination of two towns located in a four km distance apart, Sikela on the plain to the north is commercial and residential center, Shecha, perched on the hill overlooking the lakes, is where most of the government buildings ad suitable hotels are found. Currently, due to the growth of Arba-Minch the two towns (Shecha and Sikela) become one.
Gamo-Gofa Zone and Arba-Minch area Attractions
Arba-Minch, the capital city of Gamo-gofa Zone, and its surrounding area endowed with diverse and unique cultural and Natural attractions in the country.. Almost all the attractions are accessible by asphalt or gravel roads and lake transport. There is public transport as well as available car and boat rent in Arba-Minch town. Some of the attractions include:
Nech-Sar National Park :- One of the top most beautiful and biologically rich natural wonders in east Africa,
The two Great Rift Valley Lakes:- Lake Abaya the largest lake in the Ethiopian Rift system covering 1200km2. Lake Chamo which is located south of lake Abaya very well known for its high fish productivity and crocodile population in the world..
The Forty Springs:- There are a numerous springs emited from the foothill of Arba-Minch escarpment. the number of holes of the spring is more than 100 but the people traditionally estimated to be 40 and it is from which the name of the town derived as Forty Springs means “Arba-Minch” in Amharic.
Crocodile Market:- one of the famous attraction in Africa and unique in consisting a congregation of hundredth Giant Nile crocodile population along the shore of Chamo Lake. The name of the sites derived from the congregation the giant Nile Crocodiles in one sites which is similar with traditional markets of the country where many people gather on one sites for marketing.
Arba-Minch Crocodile Farm and Hippo-viewing platform:- the ranch is established on the shore of Lake Abaya to grow hatchelling collected from the two lakes. Tourist can visit the ranch to appreciate the stages of development and handling requirements of crocs. It is the best sites providing viewing for the Lake-Abaya and Hippo herds. There is also local and motor boat services by the organized ArbaMinch locals near the ranch.
Market:-The most interesting market in Gamo-Gofa Zone is the Arba-Minch market. It is one of the big Markets, which stands on Saturday and Thursday every week. Tourist can get fresh fruits, bamboo products and diverse agricultural products. Other Market include Chencha (Tuesday & Saturday),Dorze (Monday & Thursdays), Selamber (Saturday), Sawla (Saturday)
Fishing on the lakes:-Fishing is possible with permission on both lakes: catfish, tilapia, barbus, tiger fish and Nile perch are available in both lakes but Lake Chamo is highly productive with high fish catch.
The Dorze and Chencha people traditional practices: the weaving, handicraft products, the colorful market with woven products, Dorze Huts together with the beautiful landscape and Guge Mountains (the highest peak in the region)
Maze National Park:-Maze valley wildlife area is found within GamoGofa zone located in between five Woredas/districts/ namely: Qucha, Deramalo, Kemba, Doumba-Gofa and Zala Woredas. The park has access through Sodo town and via Jinla (at the Back).Maze National Park is rich in wildlife resources (mammals & Birds) including the endangered & endemic Swayne’s hartebeests population.
Place to stay and eat in Arba-Minch:
Sikela (Down town) holds different hotels and restaurants ArbaMinch Tourist Hotel (standard hotel with quality services), others include Abi restaurants, Kayro Hotel .Shecha (upper town) Paradise Hotel, Swayne’s Hotel, Bekele-Mola Hotel, Soma lodge are perched along the Arba-Minch escarpment overlooking to the south, north and east the ArbaMinch Ground water forest, the volcano between the two lakes (the bridge of God), Nech-Sar NationalPark and the views of the two lakes. Andinet Hotel, Abaya Hotel, Wubete Hotel, Chamo Hotel, Arba-Minch Hotel, soma restaurant are found with in the town.. There are also a number of pensions, restaurants and hotels in both upper & down towns and in the middle of the two towns.
Visitors can have information about the various attractions & services available in ArbaMinch and surrounding areas from the Gamo-Gofa Zone Culture and Tourism Office situated some 300m from the Agip station along Bekele Mola Hotel in (Shecha) ArbaMinch.. Here tourists can get information about NechSar National Park, Lake chamo & Abaya, Chencha & Dorze cultural villages, and about trekking in Arba-Minch Ground water forest and Guge Mountains as well as cycling and bird watching trips
Address
Gamo Gofa Zone State Communication, Culture, and Tourism Department
P.O. Box 69
Telephone: +251468812046
Fax: +251468812282
Arba-Minch |
