In the middle of the Arba Minch Eco Campsite’s central field, with wide views of Lake Chamo, stands a pole with a sign: Future. A Cool Pool Plan. The sign shows inspirational photos of what’s to come: a natural, hot spring-style pool. A few metres to its right, another pole: Future Restaurant.
Ten years ago, people laughed at owner and visionary Wondemu ‘Wonde’ (pronounced as ‘Wonday’) Aschalew Wondemu’s dream. When he first went to the government with a proposal to build a nature-based eco-camp near Arba Minch, officials dismissed him. ‘They said tourists only want luxury,’ he recalls with a smile. ‘But I know many travellers like to sleep outside. I like to be in nature, too.’
It took a decade of patience and persistence, but Wondemu’s vision didn’t fade. He kept refining his plan, fuelled by conversations with backpackers, cyclists, and fellow adventurers he met while working in tourism. When a new group of officials returned from a trip abroad, they had seen what Wondemu had long envisioned: sustainable camping spots across Africa where comfort came not from air conditioning but from birdsong and fresh air. ‘They called me and said, ‘Wonde, now we understand.’
The land came next—a friend pointed him to a patch of wild hillside overlooking Lake Chamo. ‘The first day I came, I put my tent under that tree,’ pointing to a large, lush tree next to the main building, ‘and spent the night. I instantly fell in love with the place.’
That was four years ago. Since then, Wondemu has been steadily turning this once-empty land into the first officially registered eco campsite in southern Ethiopia.
Today, Arba Minch Eco Camp is a shaded oasis, where simple bamboo cabins, local weaving, and recycled touches blend effortlessly into the landscape. Fruit trees sway in the breeze, and a container that once shipped 7up is being transformed into a communal kitchen. On top of it? A sun and star deck that can also be used for camping.
The camp offers a low-impact, immersive experience for travellers who value nature and independence. Guests can bring their own tents, rent one onsite, or stay in one of the growing number of cabins, each equipped with its own shower, toilet, and bunk beds. They can drive down to the local market for fresh fruit and vegetables and cook their own meals onsite. Solar energy powers the lights, and every effort is made to minimise environmental impact—from composting toilets to waste separation.
‘Eco and luxury can definitely go hand in hand,’ Wondemu says. ‘The luxury is to be outside, to stay long, and to feel nature.’
The camp has already become a well-known stop for long-distance cyclists crossing from Kenya to northern Ethiopia. ‘They say, ‘it’s the best place to stop to relax, to get energy,’ he laughs. ‘Now I’m on the map.’
Building the camp hasn’t been easy. Materials were hard to find, and local builders were unfamiliar with low-impact methods. ‘The first cabin took more than six months,’ he says. ‘Now we can build one in a month. But at the beginning, I had to explain everything—what kind of grass for the roof, how to plant trees for shade.’ Now, those trees are growing tall, and the shade is real.
In the works are even more features: a green rooftop bar, a natural plunge pool, a restaurant with sweeping lake views, and more recycled structures. It’s a slow, thoughtful evolution—rooted in Wondemu’s desire to create a space that’s not just for tourists, but for locals too. ‘If they have a long time, they can stay here. Learn. Breathe. Enjoy.’
What once was wilderness is now a place where people come to rest, reconnect, and recharge—just as Wondemu always dreamed.
That night, we gather under the stars to celebrate not just the camp’s unofficial opening, but the tenacity of a dream. Wonde has invited everyone who matters in Arba Minch—friends, neighbours, curious travellers. The terrace beneath his favourite tree fills with voices and laughter as we share grilled fish and chicken straight from the fire, rice, carrot-ginger soup, ripe avocado, and mushroom salad.
We drink ice-cold tej and areke from mismatched glasses. And then Aynalem Hazo begins to sing. Her voice, warm and soft, carrying centuries of ancient knowledge, rises with the notes of the krar—the very one I bought yesterday and will take home like a piece of this night. The music coils into the warm air, disappearing somewhere above Lake Chamo.
Morning comes slowly. The scent of burning wood creeps in like a whisper, then settles deep in the nose. A wind chime tinks gently in the tree under which Wondemu first pitched his tent. A breeze flutters the cabin curtains. Somewhere in the distance, the call to prayer floats over the hills. The wooden bunk bed creaks as I turn. Pans clatter in the outdoor kitchen. Birds call out the start of a new day. Down the path, the baby of one of the construction workers wails, then falls silent.
The camp is waking up. And the dream, now rooted, stretches a little further into the future.
Whether you choose a cozy cabin or a tent, Arba Minch Eco Campsite is the perfect place to relax in nature and the ideal base to explore the stunning surroundings, from Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo to Nech Sar National Park. Spot wildlife, enjoy guided boat tours, hike, cycle, or ride horses, or immerse yourself in local culture with customized activities – the campsite helps you arrange it all.
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