Two Days in the Danakil Depression - 2 - $400
Trip Summary and Itinerary Map
Lake Asale
Drive by Lake Asale, one of the two hyper-saline lakes in the Danakil Depression. Lake Asale is one of the most visually striking lakes on Earth.
Dallol
Discover Dallol, a cinder cone volcano in the Danakil Depression. Dallol is a canvas of bright green, reds, and yellows distributed across hundreds of hot acidic springs and mounds of salt deposits. It’s one of the most remarkable geological phenomena in the world.
Salt Pans and Camel Caravans
The Danakil desert contains miles of sprawling salt pans. Local Afar people manually extract the salt from the ground (working under the extreme Danakil sun) and transport the salt back to Mekele via camel caravans. Witnessing this process first-hand is a humbling experience.
Itinerary
Day 1: Mekele to Danakil
At Mekele, you’ll meet the rest of your tour group and pile into the Toyota Landcruisers that will take you into the Danakil in convoy. You’ll begin the drive into the Danakil at around 9AM. The roads leading out of Mekele are smooth and asphalted, and as you drive further out of town there are some wonderful views of the Tigrayan landscape.
As you drive further towards the Afar region, the roads get rougher until you reach the Danakil Depression. Here, the roads are a maze of solidified lava, rock and sand with an occasional palm lined oasis.
Drive towards the small hamlet of Hamed Ela via Berhale. The Danakil Depression is said to ‘begin’ here. En route, you’ll likely see long camel caravans going in and out of the Danakil as they are loaded with salt, the main export of this region.
Note: The Journey into the Danakil Depression tour starts and ends in Mekele. The region is easily accessible via domestic flight from Addis Ababa, or along the historic circuit. Depending on your wider travel plans, we can make the necessary arrangements to get you to and from Mekele.
Overnight: Camping at Hamed Ela
Day 2: Danakil to Mekele
After breakfast at Hamed Ela, you’ll drive to Ragad (Asebo) and watch the local Afar people mining the salt from the ground and loading on to the camel caravans.
Drive to Dallol, one of the most stunning geological phenomena on the planet. The kaleidoscopic landscape of greens, reds, and yellows formed by acidic springs and salt mounds create an alien landscape.
Visit Lake Asale, one of the two hyper-saline lakes of the Danakil Depression and one of the most visually striking lakes anywhere in the world. The sun set over Lake Asale is extraordinary.
Begin the drive back to Mekele to line up with a return flight to Addis Ababa or continue your onwards journey with us.
Prices and Inclusions
Prices are per person to join an existing group.
Includes
- All entrance fees and licenses as per the program.
- Accommodation and all meals throughout the tour.
- Bottles of water for the trip.
- Surface transport by four-wheel drive Land-cruiser including fuel expense and drivers allowance.
- Local guide service for the afar region as per the program.
- Cooking, camping equipment.
- Scout and police service in Afar Region as per the program.
Excludes
- International flights and visa fees.
- Transport to and from Mekele.
- Any activities not mentioned as included.
- Other personal expenses, souvenirs, tips and gratuities, etc.
