Danakil Depression Tours: What to Know Before You Go

Danakil Depression Tours: What to Know Before You Go

Danakil Depression tours offer a fascinating insight into a remote part of the world. We provide insight into what you should know before you go

By some measures, Ethiopia's Danakil Depression is considered the hottest place on earth, with temperatures regularly reaching 45 °C (113 °F). Despite the challenges associated with visiting such a remote and hostile environment, numerous tours to the Danakil Depression are available.

Surprisingly, tour operators tend to provide very little information to their potential customers. Most tour operator websites are missing important information, such as: B. What to expect and what to pack.

We recommend a tour of the Danakil Depression when visiting Ethiopia, but such a trip may not be for everyone. We share our experiences and insights with those hoping to book a tour of one of the most hostile environments on Earth.

What we did

We booked a 3-day, 2-night, 3-day tour with Smiling Ethiopia, recommended in Lonely Planet Ethiopia. Different tour operators may offer different itineraries, but most follow something similar to the following.

Day 1

08:00: Departure from hotel in Wukro/Mekele to Erta Ale, lunch en route 15:00: Arrive at Erta Ale base camp 17:00: Dinner at Erta Ale base camp 18:00: Hike to Erta Ale crater nearby

Day 2

4:00 am: Trek back to Erta Ale base camp 7:00 am: Breakfast at Erta Ale base camp 8:00 am: Drive to Dallol, lunch on the way 3:00 pm: Arrive at Ahmedlea near Dallol 4:00 pm: Sunset visit to Asale Lake 6:00 pm: Dinner at Ahmedlea

Day 3

6:00 a.m.: Breakfast 7:00 a.m.: Visit to the Dallol sulfur lake, salt mountains and salt mines11:00 a.m.: Return to Wukro/Mekele with a stop for lunch on the way 2:00 p.m./3:00 p.m.: Arrive in Wukro/Mekele

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• alt=“Erta Ale wurde als die Wanderung zur Hölle und zurück beschrieben“>
• alt=“Salz und Mineralien sorgen bei Dallol in Äthiopien für Farben“>
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Atlas & Boots

What to expect

Lack of infrastructureNo showers, toilets, electricity or fresh water are available on Danakil Depression tours. You have to use the “bush” for toilet stops and avoid washing. All drinking water should be provided by your guide, but it's worth checking before departure. The mentioned “bush” is often just a ditch due to the lack of greenery in the desert.

alt=“Danakil Depression tours the camp”>Atlas & BootsThe bright African sun sets over the village of Ahmedlea near Dallol

Fast pace The climb to Erta Ale is quick. If you try to keep up with the leaders, they will only get faster! Expect to hike three hours uphill and three hours downhill, mostly in the dark, and don't be afraid to ask for regular stops or a slower pace.

A hot climate (of course!) It's called the "hottest place on earth" for a reason! Fortunately, most physical exertion occurs either after sunset or early in the morning. Be warned, however, that the region can be uncomfortably hot at any time of day.

A Colorful Military EscortA military escort is mandatory on all Danakil Depression tours. However, the escorts change at each destination and their uniforms are very different. We had at least one official soldier, one police officer, one boy scout (unofficial guide) and one plainclothes civilian.

alt=“Danakil Depression tours military escort”>Atlas & BootsTwo of our professional looking military men

A sense of danger Be careful. Don't stray far or leave your group. An older gentleman on another tour left his group in the morning to get a head start and caused a lot of chaos in the camp. Even more sobering is that a tourist was shot dead just days after our visit.

You may also want to keep an eye on where your military escort is pointing his weapon. They're pretty relaxed about the positioning of their weapons, which is a little unnerving to say the least!

Long days in the car The distances between the main sights are long and paved roads are rare. It's a three-hour bumpy and dusty drive from the paved road on the first day to get to Eta Ale. There is an asphalt road under construction, but it may not be ready for some time. The journey between Erta Ale and Dallol is essentially a day's drive, although there are regular stops for photo opportunities and lunch.

Latecomers and random players There was often a person in our vehicle that we had no idea about. This is acceptable because the distances are so great that you can't blame your guide for picking up people along the way. However, an explanation is rarely given and the copycats are occasionally left baffled or even annoyed. We had one passenger who spent some time playing music loudly on his phone and another who casually defecated on the rear wheel during a photo stop.

Gas MasksAt Erta Ale Base Camp we were issued gas masks for use on the volcano rim. The sulfur fumes from the lava are poisonous, so it's worth being careful and using them.

alt="Erta Ale has been described as a walk to hell and back">Atlas & BootsErta Ale fumes containing sulfur can be toxic

Children in the middle of the desertWhen you drive through the desert, don't be surprised if children appear out of the dust out of nowhere. The Afar live off the dry landscape and children are often allowed to hike.

Extreme Poverty Although Ethiopia has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it remains a very poor country. Hardship is widespread and around a third of Ethiopians live in poverty. The Afar region and its hostile climate are particularly harsh.

Pack something

• Helle Stirnlampe (eine pro Person)
• Schlafsack (leicht ist ausreichend)
• Taschentücher/Feuchttücher
• Sonnencreme
• Mütze oder Sonnenhut
• Antibakterielles Gel
• Müllbeutel

Danakil Depression Tours: the essentials

What:Danakil Depression Tours in Ethiopia.

Where:Our tour of the Danakil Depression was booked with a stay at Wukro Lodge in the town of Wukro. This cozy eco-lodge uses solar energy and offers traditional décor and excellent views of the surrounding hills. There's free Wi-Fi in public areas, a bar and restaurant on-site, and a pool under construction at the time of writing.

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Atlas & Boots

As previously mentioned, accommodation on Danakil Depression tours is extremely basic. At Erta Ale we camped on thin mattresses in a stone hut. The second night we slept under the stars on makeshift wooden beds. W

We recommend that you pack your own sleeping bag. While the area is known for rising temperatures, nights become windy. Note that there is no dresser, so you will have to walk a comfortable path to answer nature's call.

When:The best time to tour the Danakil Depression is between October and February, when rising temperatures are most bearable.

How:Our tour was with Smiling Ethiopia who are recommended in Lonely Planet Ethiopia. The two of us were accompanied by an English-speaking guide, two drivers, two chefs and a two-man military escort, transported in two 4×4 vehicles.

The tour was well organized and as comfortable as possible given the lack of underlying infrastructure in the area. (We recommend packing a bright headlamp, sleeping bag, tissues/wet wipes, and antibacterial gel.) Our SUVs were sturdy and strong, and we ate very well thanks to our talented chef Yidnak and his assistant.

We paid $300 per person for a 3-day, 2-night tour of Erta Ale, Dallol and the Assale Lake salt flats. It's expensive but worth the money. A 3-night, 4-day extended tour costs $400 per person. Book via Mulugeta Gebrehiwot: smilingethiopiatravel.com, smilingethiopiatravel@yahoo.com, (251-1) 150694.

Skybus and Selam operate comfortable buses between Addis Ababa and Mekele, the starting point for Danakil tours. If you choose Wukro Lodge, you can take a local bus from Mekele bus station to Wukro (15 ETB, 0.5 USD per person; 48 km) and then take a tuk tuk to the base. The lodge is a five-minute plod uphill.

Domestic flights are the fastest way to travel in Ethiopia (check the latest routes here). It is much cheaper to book flights at an Ethiopian Airlines office in the country. Be sure to mention if you flew internationally with them as you will be eligible for a significant discount.

Addis Ababa is the country's main international airport. Book international flights via skyscanner.net.

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Lonely Planet Ethiopia is a comprehensive travel guide to the country, ideal for those who want to both explore the top attractions and take the road less traveled. If you prefer to travel in a tour, we recommend G Adventures and their small group Ethiopia tours.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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