Category: Danakil Depression

All tours customizable to your needs!

I had to go there myself. I mean, why intentionally travel to the hottest place on the planet? On the way, you get the idea. Dreamy landscapes that stretch forever, a hot nighttime wind that doesn’t ever let up. I had been told to drink a lot of water, more than you think you need. By the end of the first day, I was way behind. Only after liter number four did I feel the need to go.

This is the Danakil Depression, with its nomadic tribes and salts mine workers and endless camel caravans. The land that time forgot. A friend called it nature’s chemistry experiment, bubbling up to the surface in hot springs in all glorious sulphuric colors. And then the opportunity to peer into the earth’s crust – climbing onto camels to ascend the dome of an active volcano and glimpse its lava lake below.Surreal.
Tour Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Addis Ababa
Arrive Addis Ababa Bole international airport meet our staff at exit  gate and assist to transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel of your choice.

Day 02: Addis Ababa
AM We exploring Addis Ababa beginning with a visit to the National Museum, one of the most important sub- Saharan museums in all of Africa. The museum is home to the fossilized humanoid Lucy, as well as an amazing collection of artifacts, royal items and art. We then visit the Ethnological Museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie.
PM we take time in St. George Cathedral, built in 1896 by Emperor Menelik and then continue on to Holy Trinity Cathedral. Holy Trinity Cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in Ethiopia and has survived through many historical periods, as its interesting architecture can attest to. The Cathedral contains the thrones and the tombs of the emperor and some of the royal family. Visit Merkato, the largest open air market in Africa. Overnight at hotel of your choice.

Day 03: drive to Awash
Morning start drive 230km South of Addis Ababa in the rift valley pass the Town DebreZeith creator Lake and Nazareth town to visit Awash Park with its volcano landscapes and savannah grassland habitat for a variety of bird species. Arrive and check in Late afternoon we explore the Awash National park which is home to mammals such as Oryx, Lesser Kudu, Hammadryas Baboon and Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Saltfs Dick-dick and more.
Overnight Genet Hotel/Awash Falls Lodge at Awash Town.

Day 04: drive to Afdera
Morning after breakfast start drive after passing the town and cross the Awash River bridge outside the town we get to the junction where the road forks, straight ahead for Dire Dawa and Harar, and left for Djibouti and the Red Sea. This day we wonder the Rift valley scenery and Afar people and their village. Have lunch at Samara, process our entrance permission  and also from here we will have two Police men and one road guide accompany us for the Afar depression continue to Afdera. Overnight  camping at side  of Lake Afdera or Local hotel.

Day 05: Drive to Kusrewad and Erta Ale.
Drive to kusrewad here where we arrange the camel to ascend our logistics and for those who wish to ride, Local militia  and rock guide apart from those who already with us. Late afternoon start  walking to Ertaeale. Around 5 pm 3 hours trek climb to Erta Ale volcano and overnight on the top of the mountain. Erta Ale is 613 meters tall, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century. Overnight on the Summit.

Day 06: Drive to Hammed Ela
Around 9 am we will be at foot base of the volcanic mountain where our cook and cars camp have our breakfast and drive to Hammed Ela via Kusrewad. This day drive will be the most  challenging drive of all day which may be happen to stuck in the Sand and inhospitable weather, we should keep rehydrate to you manage the driving. Arrive Hammed Ela overnight camping at Hammed Ela.

Day 07:  DallolSalphur spring,  LakeAssale Salt Bar and camel caravans.
Excursion to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assale, follow up camelfs caravans and walk with the Afar and people from highland. The traditional way of extracting  Salt bar, which once used as local currency, packing on the Camel.   Youfll see how they prepare their traditional bread, how they travel, communicate & more. It is another unique experience. Back to HamedEla. Camping.
Day 08:  Hammed Ela – Mekele.
Drive to Mekele via the town of Berhale in the River bed  Ascend all way to the Tigrian highland with the camel caravans and stop for photo over the depression. Overnight Mekelle.

Day 09: Dive to Kombolcha
Drive to Kombolcha through beautiful mountain scenery via Alamata-Kobbo on the way visit the Agaw and Amhara people at their village. Stop at Hayk to Island Monastery and then proceed to Kombolcha overnight Tekle/Sunny Land at Kombolcha.

Day 10: Drive to Addis Ababa
Returning to Addis through Kemise and Senbete the local towns where Amhara, Oromo and Afar people get together on market days.
We will also explore the underground tunnels of the Debresina Mountains and stop at Tarmaber view point to locate the endemic AnkoberSerin, Brown-rumped Seedeater, Stripe-breasted Seedeater and Yellow-crowned Canary and the Endemic Gelada Baboon .Overnight at hotel of your choice.
N.B The above route can be reverse without affecting the No. of days or we can combine with north historic route, Omo valley tribal Safari, with historic Harar. Tell us you wish our team will offer the best the best combination.

All tours customizable to your needs!
I had to go there myself. I mean, why intentionally travel to the hottest place on the planet? On the way, you get the idea. Dreamy landscapes that stretch forever, a hot nighttime wind that doesn’t ever let up. I had been told to drink a lot of water, more than you think you need. By the end of the first day, I was way behind. Only after liter number four did I feel the need to go.
This is the Danakil Depression, with its nomadic tribes and salts mine workers and endless camel caravans. The land that time forgot. A friend called it nature’s chemistry experiment, bubbling up to the surface in hot springs in all glorious sulphuric colors. And then the opportunity to peer into the earth’s crust – climbing onto camels to ascend the dome of an active volcano and glimpse its lava lake below.Surreal.

Tour Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Addis Ababa
Arrive Addis Ababa Bole international airport meet our staff at exit  gate and assist to transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel of your choice.

Day 02: Addis Ababa
AM We exploring Addis Ababa beginning with a visit to the National Museum, one of the most important sub- Saharan museums in all of Africa? The museum is home to the fossilized humanoid Lucy, as well as an amazing collection of artifacts, royal items and art. We then visit the Ethnological Museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie.
PM we take time in St. George Cathedral, built in 1896 by Emperor Menelik and then continue on to Holy Trinity Cathedral. Holy Trinity Cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in Ethiopia and has survived through many historical periods, as its interesting architecture can attest to. The Cathedral contains the thrones and the tombs of the emperor and some of the royal family. Visit Merkato, the largest open air market in Africa. Overnight at hotel of your choice.

Day 03: Addis Ababa- Mekelle (flight)
Early in the morning transfer to Bole international airport fly to Mekelle. Mekelle Town is a capital city for Tigrian Region which expanding from time to time. Here where we meet our ground transportation and be introduced with drives by escorting guide. The town is pleasant to walk and also we explore the castle of Emperor Yohannes and visit the museum built for commemoration of those sacrificed their life during the struggle against the Revolutionary government. Overnight Axum/Abraha Castle at Mekelle.

Day 04:  Mekele – Hammed Ela Drive
Drive to HamedEla via Berhale. At Berhale pay entrance have permission from Berhale Administrational bureau and also two police men and road guide and then proceed to Hammed Ela. The Danakil Depression can be said to ‘begin’ here. It is one of the most inhospitable regions on the face of Earth, but is nonetheless spectacular, full of eye-catching colors, as in the Salphur springs. The desert has several points lying more than 116 meters below sea level and temperatures can rise above 50C. Visit the Asale Salt Lake, where salt is still extracted using ancestral techniques. Camping at Hammed Ela.

Day 05:  Dallol Sulfur spring, Lake Assale Salt Bar and camel caravans.
Excursion to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assale, follow up camel caravans and walk with the Afar and people from highland. The traditional way of extracting Salt bar, which once used as local currency, packing on the Camel.   Youfll see how they prepare their traditional bread, how they travel, communicate & more. It is another unique experience. Back to HamedEla. Camping.

Day 06: Had Ela, Kusrewad and Erta Ale.
Drive to kusrewad here where we arrange the camel to ascend our logistics and for those who wish to ride, Local militia and rock guide apart from those who already with us. Late afternoon start walking to Erta eale. Around 5 pm 3 hours trek climb to Erta Ale volcano and overnight on the top of the mountain. Erta Ale is 613 meters tall, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century. Overnight on the Summit.

Day 07: Descend from Erta Ale and drive to Hammed Ela
Around 9 am we will be at foot base of the volcanic mountain where our cook and cars camp have our breakfast and drive to Hammed Ela via Kusrewad. So again we trace to the same way we came from on the sand to Hammed Ela overnight Berhale camping

Day 08:  Hammed Ela – Mekele.
Drive to Mekele through the town of Berhale.  Ascend to the Tigrian highland with the camel caravan and stop for photo over the depression. Overnight Mekelle.

Day 09: Mekelle – Addis Ababa
This morning our drivers gave we transfer to Mekelle airport for our flight to Addis. We say to them goodbye at the gate of airport. Arrival Addis afternoon at leisure and depending up on your departure time transfer to Bole international airport and fly back home.

All tours customizable to your needs!
I had to go there myself. I mean, why intentionally travel to the hottest place on the planet? On the way, you get the idea. Dreamy landscapes that stretch forever, a hot nighttime wind that doesn’t ever let up. I had been told to drink a lot of water, more than you think you need. By the end of the first day, I was way behind. Only after liter number four did I feel the need to go.
This is the Danakil Depression, with its nomadic tribes and salts mine workers and endless camel caravans. The land that time forgot. A friend called it nature’s chemistry experiment, bubbling up to the surface in hot springs in all glorious sulphuric colors. And then the opportunity to peer into the earth’s crust – climbing onto camels to ascend the dome of an active volcano and glimpse its lava lake below.Surreal.

Tour Itinerary

Day. 01: Arrival of Addis Ababa and Sight seeing
Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfer you to the hotel. Full day sightseeing of the Capital, which includes: historical sites including the National Archaeological Museum, to view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeleton was discovered in 1974. Continue to the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University; a great insight into the many different peoples of Ethiopia and their respective cultures. After visiting Holy Trinity Cathedral, visit the ‘Merkato’, the largest open-air market in East Africa. We will end the day with a drive to the top of Mount Entoto, which rises to an altitude of 10,500 feet and offers a panoramic view of the metropolis.
Day 2 another excursion today, this time north to Debre Libanos.
Passing through the Solulta plain, an area where many athletes do their training, we come to the Jemma Valley Gorge where we can expect to see the endemic Gelada baboon, a magnificent primate with a long mane. There is great scenery as the land drops nearly 1000 meters towards the Jemma River, which is one of the tributaries of the Nile.
Debre Libanos is an important monastic center for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, the monastery there was founded by the renowned 13th century mystic, Saint Teclehaimanot and there is a small cave near the church (which is of recent construction) where he is said to have stood for seven years on one leg, until the other wasted away and dropped off.
Leaving the Gorge we proceed to the church. After the church visitors can make the climb to the cave of St Teklehaimanot. If you continue up the hill from the cave from the top there’s a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. We will set off back to Addis Ababa late afternoon.
Day3: Fly to Mekele and drive to Hamdela, Beginning the tour to Danakil Desert.
Early in the morning after breakfast transfer to air port to fly to Mekelle and meet the vehicle and guide at the air port and short break coffee bars in Mekelle. Then continue driving to Hamedela and Picnic lunch at Berhale where we arrange the permits and police escort. You will be around late afternoon at Hamdela campsite where you will be staying camping for two nights. On the way you will also admire some local Tigre and Afar tribes’ village and camel caravan carrying the salt bars to transport it to the nearest local town. O/n Camping Hamedela

Day 4: Excursion to Daloll depression.
After early breakfast drive to the Lake Asale, salty Lake and visit the salt workers and the merchant, then head to Dallol/Denakil Depression, which straddles the Eritrean border to the east of the Tigrian Highlands and is officially listed as the hottest and active place on the earth surface with an average temperature of 40 – 50 degrees Celsius. Most of this vast and unpopulated region lies below sea level at 116 Meters.
Camping at Hamdela

Day 5: Hamed Ela – Dodome – Erta Ale
Early In the morning, drive to Dodome. Here we will arrange camels to transport your luggage and water, and then you will start hiking to the Erta Ale Volcanic hills (613 meters above sea level) which is 15km one way, and walk to see the volcanic eruption. The eruption is so colorful and spectacular. At night, we will camp nearby the eruption, on the crater rim above the active lava lake.

Day 6 drive to Afrera.
Camping overnight, desert area of the Afar Region. One of the leak found which 115 below sea level. You will have good opportunity to explore many of desrt hot springs. Camping at the shore of the leak.

Day 7.drive to awash national park.
On this day you will see many of afar nomads with their huge amount of livestock.  The Afer people are one of Ethiopian ethnic group with amazing culture which is inspire traveler.
O/n Awash falls lodge.

Day 8 safari and game view Awash National Park,
The park established in 1966, the Park is home to more than 80 species of mammals and 454 species of birds, with major attractions, Trek along drive in Awash National Park, where one can see large herds of Beisa oryx and Soemmering’s gazelle and numerous mammal and bird species,ecolodge in the wilderness,  further drive to Addis Ababa  Admire Lake Beseka and the Fentale crater. Early evening enjoy a “farewell dinner” and coffee ceremony at a famous traditional Ethiopian restaurant. After sampling the various national dishes, enjoy an Ethiopian Folkloric show before your transfer to air port fly back to home