Located in the South Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 10°45′N 38°45′E / 10.750°N 38.750°E / 10.750; 38.750 with an elevation of 1827 meters above sea level.

The city is bordered by Eastern Gojjam in the west, Kelala and Wogide in the south, Leganbo (Akesta) in the east and Sayint (Agibar) in the north.

Mekane Selam hosts an airport ( IATA code MKS) with an unpaved runway, the former destination of scheduled flights by Ethiopian Airlines.

[1] The Swedish geologist Erik Nilsson visited Mekane Selam (which he called Agibar) during the first half of 1933, where he spent some time with the province's governor, Dejazmach Workneh.

These were the remnants of 51 battalions which had managed to escape from Gojjam ahead of Gideon Force and were trapped in the town when Wilfred Thesiger completed a 50-mile march in 24 hours with his men and seized the ridge connecting two hills the Italians had intended to use for their retreat.