Lake Abaya

Arba Minch


Divided by the lyrical ‘Bridge of God’ from Lake Chamo, beautiful Abaya is Ethiopia’s second-largest lake. Its peculiar reddish-brown waters are a result of elevated natural concentrations of suspended sediments, and it has a large population of crocodiles, which are said to be aggressive towards people and animals because the lake has few fish, their preferred food.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Arba Minch attractions

1. Nechisar Plain

6.17 MILES

The main wildlife-watching circuit crosses the Bridge of God to the park’s namesake savannah, but the road is so atrocious that many tour companies prefer…

2. Arba Minch Crocodile Ranch

7.67 MILES

Walking between the masses of crocs in their concrete tanks at this government-run facility is more humdrum than it sounds, except during feeding, which…

3. Nechisar National Park

9.29 MILES

Spanning the narrow yet mountainous ‘Bridge of God’ that separates Lakes Chamo and Abaya, Nechisar National Park ranks among the most scenic national…

4. Forty Springs

10.53 MILES

Arba Minch, which is Amharic for ‘Forty Springs’, is named after the innumerable little springs that bubble up right at the base of the ridge below the…

5. Hayzo

11.31 MILES

Hayzo is one of the few Southern Nations’ villages that has succeeded in turning the influx of tourists into a positive experience for all concerned. You…

6. Chencha Market

13.94 MILES

The village of Chencha, 8km further up the road from Hayzo, has a vibrant market on Tuesday and Saturday.

7. Crocodile Market

14.06 MILES

Where the Kulfo River empties into Lake Chamo you’ll find oodles of crocodiles sunning themselves. Both the size of the congregation and the size of the…

8. Lake Chamo

16.27 MILES

Lake Chamo supports a very large population of crocodiles and, unlike neighbouring Lake Abaya, the waters are not rusty in colour.