Arba Minch, Ethiopia
አርባ ምንጭ
Arba Minch is a town of 201,000 people in South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia.
Why visit Arba Minch
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 19 places to eat and 26 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Nechisar National Park.
Weather in Arba Minch
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Arba Minch
Arba Minch (Ganta Garo) is a city and separate woreda in the southern part of Ethiopia. "Arba Minch" means "40 Springs", originated from the presence of more than 40 springs. It is located in the Gamo Zone of the South Ethiopia Regional State, about 500 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, at an elevation of 1285 meters above sea level. It is the largest town in Gamo Zone.
From the Wikipedia article Arba Minch (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Arba Minch on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Museums and landmarks2
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes19
Soma
Restaurant · Ethiopian · 2.9 km
Very nice grilled fish for 2 persons (already adepted to tourist prices)
7 more on the map.
Where to stay26
14 more on the map.
History
Arba Minch (Ganta Garo) was founded in the early 1960s by the Ganta Kawo Alemayehu Arshe and the city succeeded Chencha as the provincial capital city of Gamu-Gofa. The word "Ganta Garo" mean the place in which Ganta people, animals, etc. live plentily (abundantly). The oral tradition has it that Alemayehu Arshe to fight with prominent figures of Chencha to move the capital to Arba Minch. One of the reasons for the move was for travelers from Gidole to Chencha to take a break after a long, hot crossing of the arid Rift Valley area.
Roads were built linking the new town to Soddo and making Arba Minch only a day's journey by road to the capital, Addis Ababa. A telephone line connecting the town to the capital, costing E$ 250,000, was turned up on 15 July 1967.
Arba Minch had previously served as a capital city for Gamo Gofa Province (Gamo Gofa Teklay Gizat), North Omo Zone (Semen Omo), Kilil 9 (Region 9), Gamo Gofa Zone, and now is serving as a capital city of Gamo Zone.
The Norwegian Lutheran Mission opened a station at Arba Minch in 1970, which included a trade school; the school's operation was later taken over by the Mekane Yesus Church. At the beginning of the Ethiopian Revolution public demonstrations occurred in the town, and four people were killed in clashes with the police on 28 March 1974. Following the revolution privately held plantations were made into state farms.
From the History section of Arba Minch on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries11
Healthcare4
Map of Arba Minch
81 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Arba Minch Airport (AMH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 km away.
- Ch’ench’a 24 km north, about 24 min by car
- Gīdolē 47 km southwest, about 47 min by car
- Kele 54 km east, about 54 min by car
- Yirga Ch’efē 73 km east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Gasuba 76 km north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Felege Neway 79 km west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Tebela 79 km north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Wenago 85 km east, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Konso 87 km south, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Hagere Maryam 88 km southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Mosque in Arba Minch, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Road entering Arba Minch, Ethiopia, JosepMGracia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bus station in Arba Minch, Ethiopia, JosepMGracia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cattle crossing a road near Arba Minch, Ethiopia, JosepMGracia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Main street in Arba Minch, Ethiopia, JosepMGracia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hillside neighbourhood in Arba Minch, Ethiopia, JosepMGracia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rural landscape on the outskirts of Arba Minch, Ethiopia, JosepMGracia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street in Arba Minch, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Arba Minch, Ethiopia (8184639667), Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kebe, Arba Minch, Ethiopia (8190615930), Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Monument in Arba Minch, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Skyline view of AMU1, Admasu B / Original uploaded by: Gulmammad, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LakeChamoCrocodile, MauritsV, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Swimming for fun, Tedynway, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ethiopia 9, Genet girma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Paradise Lodge (11502793116), David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- Sunrise Over Lake Abaya (11499070824), David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- Child Labourer, Ethiopia (8049504657), Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Nechisar National Park 01, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Chamo 01, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wolaita Sodo page banner, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Abaya 01, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nechisar National Park, Ethiopia, Yin Myo Aung, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ethio 10, Genet girma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ethiopia 8, Genet girma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Crocodile Ranch, David Stanley, CC BY 2.0
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Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.