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Desert, Salt and Volcanoes

14 days expedition to Erta Ale volcano and Dallol hydrothermal field (Danakil desert, Ethiopia)

"A very memorable trip ... exactly the kind of thing I've been looking for" (Jim K., UK - November 2015)

Erta Ale's lava lake in 2008

Green ponds and yellow-brown salt deposits at Dallol

Desert, salt and volcanoes

14 days expedition to Erta Ale volcano and Dallol hydrothermal field (Danakil desert, Ethiopia)

Tour type

Expedition: active volcanoes - photography - adventure

Difficulty

Moderate

Group size: 3-8

Duration

14 days / 13 nights

17-30 Nov 2024

27 Dec 24 - 9 Jan 2025

2-15 Feb 2025

1-14 Oct 2025

more ...

Price per person

$ 4390 €£¥

Experience one of the geologically most active areas on the planet! The Danakil desert is famous for Erta Ale, one of the world´s few permanently active volcanoes. Until 2017, it hosted a spectacular boiling lava lake, which is now gradually returning (as of late 2020). Don't miss your chance to see the surreal landscapes of colors, salt, geysers and hot springs at the hydrothermal area of Dallol.

See the dramatic change of environment when the jeep expedition starts in Addis Ababa (at 2355 m), and gradually descents into the Danakil depression, passing through Awash National Park before reaching the banks of Afrera salt lake (at - 100 m). The journey continues as we climb Erta Ale shield volcano and spend 3 full days and nights exploring the volcano´s caldera. We then set up camp at the Afar village of Hamed Ela and have 2 full days to discover the hydrothermal area of Dallol and Assale salt lake, including the centuries-old ritual of salt cutting. Finally explore the UNESCO world heritage site of the rock hewn churches of Lalibela.

We have been organising tours to the Danakil since early 2007 and hence have expertise in arranging such expeditions. Our highly competent Ethiopian main guide Osman and his friendly team will safely take you through the desert in 4x4 jeeps. The sometimes Spartan character of living conditions in the Danakil are partially compensated by the large variety of meals freshly prepared by our cook!

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Spectacular, varied scenery of forested highlands, upland grassland, steppe, desert, shield volcano and salt lake deposits
Short morning safari in Awash National Park
Afrera salt lake camping with hot springs bath under the stars
3 full days/nights on the summit of Erta Ale active volcano
2 visits to the colourful and fascinating hydrothermal activity at Dallol
Century-old salt mining and camel caravans at Lake Assale
Full day for Lalibela rock hewn churches (UNESCO world heritage site)
Small international groups
Experience - we organise Danakil adventures since 2007
Professionally outfitted expedition and thorough preparation
Excellent Ethiopian volcanologist as main guide
Comfortable travel in 4x4 jeeps (window seat guaranteed)
Dedicated supply vehicle and experienced cook
Competent and friendly local team and drivers
No rushing from place to place - plenty photographic opportunities
Interaction with local people, introduction into local customs

14 days itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Addis-Abeba
Arrival at the airport of Addis Ababa, transfer to the hotel and welcome dinner

Day 2: From Addis Ababa to Awash National Park
Morning start of our jeep expedition: driving into the Rift Valley and arrive in Awash by afternoon. Besides lunch, there are a few stops planned along the way to take in the changing landscape and get an introduction into its geological formation. Wildlife safari in Awash National Park in the afternoon. Relax at Doho Lodge's hot spring pools in the evening.

Day 3: Awash National Park to Semera, Alelobad Geyser
Mid-morning drive through the Rift Valley to the regional capital Semera, where we will need to process entry permits for the Danakil Depression. In the mid-afternoon, we will be visiting Alelobad Geyser located 16 km east of Logia town.

Day 4: Into the Danakil, camping at Afdera salt lake
Continue driving along the main road from Semera to Serdo, then turn northward through a volcanic desert landscape into the Danakil depression - campsite at the shore of Afdera salt lake.

Day 5: From Afdera salt lake to Erta Ale volcano
Morning option to further explore the salt works and mining town before we drive onward and climb to the Erta Ale volcano's base camp on the caldera rim, the final hours being a proper off-road 4x4 drive through the Afar desert. Observation of Erta Ale volcano's activity from close in the evening.

Day 6: Full day exploring of Erta Ale´s caldera
Early morning, breakfast on the rim and optional group tour around Erta Ale's caldera. After lunch, free time to relax and explore the summit caldera. Evening: viewing Erta Ale's eruption. Overnight in base camp.

Day 7: Exploring Erta Ale´s fissure eruption site
Hiking expedition to the site on the volcano's flank where since January 2017 a new eruption is going on.

Day 8: Descend from Erta Ale to basecamp, drive to Hamed Ela
Early morning descend from Erta Ale back down to basecamp, breakfast, 4X4 drive to return to the main road and continue our journey to the Afar village of Hamed Ela.

Day 9: Full day to explore Dallol
This day focuses on discovering the colourful alien landscape of the hydrothermal system at Dallol. We organise two visits - around sunrise and sunset - to optimise light conditions for photography whilst also minimising exposure to the mid-day sun and heat.

Day 10: Lake Assale, salt mining and camel loading - transfer to Mekele
This day is reserved for the glistening plane of Assale salt lake, traditional salt cutting and camel loading, and the irregularly formed salt deposits, spectaculuar salt canyons, and colourful acid ponds south of Dallol. In the afternoon we leave the Dallol area and drive up to the highlands and spend the night in a hotel in Mekele.

Day 11: Tigray's rock-hewn chruches of Gheralta
Day trip from Mekele to visit the spectacular sandstone formations and famous rock-hewn churches of Tigray and Gheralta.

Day 12: Mekele to Lalibela
Today we drive from Mekele via Woldia to Lalibela, one of the most historic towns in
Ethiopia due to its world famous UNESCO world heritage rock hewn churches cut underground into the basalt plateau. The drive to Lalibela is an experience on its own as this part of Ethiopia has some of the most breathtaking landscapes. We arrive in Lalibela in the late afternoon and spend the next 2 nights in a hotel in Lalibela.

Day 13: Lalibela rock hewn churches
Full day visit of the UNESCO world heritage site of the rock hewn churches of Lalibela.

Day 14: Flight from Lalibela to Addis Ababa - end of tour
A morning flight takes us back to Addis Ababa, free time in Addis, farewell dinner, transfer to airport.

Dates and details

Booking inquiry

Arrival info:

The expedition starts and ends in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia´s capital. International flights to and from Ethiopia are not included as default, but feel free to contact us if you would like any assistance with finding the best flight connections for you.

Tour guide

The tour will be accompanied by a very experienced Ethiopian expedition leader. On most group tours, either a geologist from our Europe team or a geology professor from Addis Ababa's university also accompanies the group.

Additional info

Physical requirements

The walks on this tour are not particularly difficult, but you should have experience with hiking on uneven and rugged terrain. Although we organise our Danakil during the cooler months of the year, temperatures in the Danakil depression usually range between 35-40 deg C (95-105 deg F), but can easily soar up to 45-50 deg C (120-130 deg F) in the hottest hours near Dallol.
The hike to / from Erta Ale´s summit area and caldera rim from base camp and back requires about 10 km trekking over uneven, but relatively easy and gently climbing terrain (about 500 m altitude gain / descend) and is done in the early morning hours prior to sunrise in order to minimize the impact of heat. To approach the edge of the lava lake and other parts of the caldera one needs to walk across the uneven, easy to moderately difficult to walk on platy, ropy or hollow pahoehoe lava flows. Good boots, long pants and gloves are a must. Extra care must be taken when walking over the lava tubes as the thin, glassy crusts of the hardened lava sometimes break so that you suddenly sink up to max halve meter into the hollow cavity below. Walking sticks to "test" the terrain and keep balance are recommended.

Sanitary conditions during most part of this expedition will be very to extremely basic and you should therefore be in excellent overall health. No proper washing facilities are available while in the desert (approx. 7 days). Unfortunately, the local toilet habits in the Afar region and in particular around the salt lakes and atop the volcano is to do your business more or less anywhere; the area around Ahmed Ela (the salt-cutters'town near Dallol) is littered with garbage and human and animal excrement, resulting in a high rate of stomach bugs / traveler´s disease among visitors to the region.
We therefore ask you to consult a medical doctor about going to the Danakil prior to joining the expedition. One should particularly take precautions / medicine against dehydration, diarrhea and stomach infections.

14 days itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Addis-Abeba

Yekatit 12 Square (Sidist Kilo) monument in Addis Ababa (Jay Ramji - February 2016)

Ethiopian lady carrying a bustle of twigs up on Entoto Hill near Addis Ababa (Jay Ramji - February 2016)

Mozaic at the entrance of the National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Upon your arrival at Addis Ababa international airport you will be picked and transfered to a nice hotel in the city. Depending on the time of your arrival, you can use the afernoon freely to recover from your flights or acclimatise and explore Ethopia´s capital. In the evening the group will come together for a welcome dinner and meet their tour guide.
NOTE: Please take into account the possibility of flight delays and try not to arrive too late as the jeep expedition into the Danakil that will leave the next morning can not be postponed or wait for delayed travelers.

Day 2

From Addis Ababa to Awash National Park

Tawny eagle at a crater lake in Bishoftu (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Driving through lowland vegetation and farming fields on the road to Awash (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Local houses with the volcanic ridge of Mt Fentale in the background (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

We leave Addis Ababa (2355 m) after breakfast and start our multiple day jeep drive down into the Danakil depression. A first break is the viewpoint at Bishoftu lake (ca 1920 m), one of 7 volcanic crater lakes 40 km SE of Addis Ababa. After lunch in Adama (ca 1710 m) we have about 1 or 2 more short breaks to take in the changing landscape and discover its volcanic features (a collapse caldera, Mt Fentale volcano near Lake Basaka) before we arrive in the market town of Awash (ca. 1000 m), which is already within the East African Rift Valley.
In the mid-afternoon, we will have a wildlife safari in Awash National Park (ca. 1000 m): Among other animals, you might see East African orex, gazelle and vultures between the acacia trees and we might even surprise a few Nile crocodiles sunbathing at the foot of the Awash waterfalls!.
In the late afternoon and next morning, we will have the opportunity to swim and relax at Doho Lodge's hot spring pools facing the beautiful lake.
(288 km / 6.5 hrs overall driving time)

Day 3

Awash National Park to Semera, Alelobad Geyser

East African orex grazing in the savannah of Awash NP (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Awash waterfalls in the National Park (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Red steppe to half-desert landscape on the road to Logiya (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Mid-morning drive through the Rift Valley to the regional capital Semera, where we will need to process entry permits for the Danakil Depression. In the mid-afternoon, we will be visiting Alelobad Geyser located 16 km east of Logia town.
(372 km / 7 hrs overall driving time)

Day 4

Into the Danakil, camping at Afdera salt lake

Red volcanic rocks and a small crater lake at the southern tip of the 2005 fissure eruption (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Heading north into the Danakil depression through a volcanic desert landscape (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

One of the brine pools at the Afdera salt works around sun set (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

After an early breakfast we continue our journey on the main road into Eritrea. Possible en-route stops are the crater lake and volcanic deposits at the southern end of the 2005 Dabbahu fissure eruption, and the ruins of a 1936 Italian basecamp. In Serdo (ca. 400 m) we finally leave the Awash - Asseb highway and turn onto the recently asphalted road heading north to Afdera salt lake. The drive first takes us up through a rugged moonscape characterised by volcanic rifts and faults, obsidian flows, young black lava and gravel desert, before we start our final descend down into the flat, salt-covered Danakil depression at the hypersaline lake Afdera (ca. -100 m). We reach the lake by late afternoon so that we can explore its shoreline and salt works before sunset. As our camp is set up next to the lake, we can enjoy bathing in hydrothermal springs and swimming in the salt lake underneath a starlit night sky!
(240 km /5 hrs overall driving time)

Day 5

From Afdera salt lake to Erta Ale volcano

Dawn at the camp site along the shore of Lake Afdera (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Salt workers during the morning shift (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Being overtaken by small camel caravans on the last part of the off-road drive to base camp (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

An early start is rewarded by a beautiful sun rise above Afdera lake in which the salt workers take their morning bath - also the last opportunitiy for our group for a number of days to come. After breakfast you have the option to walk from the salt works to the small mining town whilst the camp is being broken up. From now on we have a dedicated Afar guide and policemen to accompany us to Erta Ale and later onward to Dallol.
After a few hours through the Afar desert an off-road track leads us to the base camp of Erta Ale volcano on the caldera rim. In the evening, we can already descend towards the active crater pit (ca. 45 min hike, 1.5 km one way) for close-up lava viewing.
Overnight in basic stone-huts back up at the rim.
(83 km / 2.5 hrs overall driving)

Day 6

Full day exploring of Erta Ale´s caldera

Aerial photograph of Erta Ale's summit caldera with the North Crater (left), the South Crater (right) and the summit camp on the caldera rim (bottom left) (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

Nighttime observation of the violently boiling and splashing lava lake at the bottom of the South Crater (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

Panorama of what is left of the North Crater after its dramatic collapse one year earlier (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

Early morning, breakfast on the rim and optional group tour around Erta Ale's caldera. After lunch, free time to relax and explore the summit caldera. Evening: viewing Erta Ale's eruption. Overnight in base camp.

Day 7

Exploring Erta Ale´s fissure eruption site

Red hot lava flowing over and consuming the thin black crust on a lava lake (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

Aerial view of part of a large lava lake that formed at the new fissure eruption site on Erta Ale's southern flank (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

Liquid red hot lava and pieces of cooled black crust plunging down into a cavity on one side of the lava lake (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

After your first night camping on the rim of Erta Ale's summit caldera you will undertake a hike to the volcano's flank where a fissure eruption started on 20 January 2017. At that time, a fracture opened up here and drained the magma from the summit area to erupt here, creating vast new lava flows, fields, spattering hornito's and a lava lake. Although some lava returned to the south crater in the summit caldera, this eruption site also continued to remain active since then and will be explored today.

Day 8

Descend from Erta Ale to basecamp, drive to Hamed Ela

View from Erta Ale camp onto observers gathered around the active lava lake for sunrise (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

The Afar village of Hamed Ela where we set up camp for 2 nights, sleeping on wooden beds underneath the stars (Jay Ramji - February 2016)

Camel caravans laden with the precious salt pass through Hamed Ela in the late afternoon (Tom Pfeiffer - February 2009)

After a last short night camping on Erta Ale´s caldera rim (ca. 565 m) and breakfast, we start our descend. At basecamp (ca. 140 m) we re-arrange our luggage back onto the jeeps and start our travel to the area of Dallol and Lake Assale taking a route along a quickly changing scenery from lava dessert via steppe to mountainous highlands. First we retrace our off road steps to the foot of the volcano where we take a road and head west, climbing out of the Danakil onto the western highlands (ca. 2000 m). There we shortly take the main road north before turning east and heading back down into the Danakil.
On the way we make a stop at Afdera Salt Lake where modern salt extraction are taking place. We have a chance to swim in the Salt Lake and take a bath in the small ponds with the hot spring water. After the picnic lunch we proceed to Ahmed Ela.
Depending on road and weather conditions we arrive at the Afar village of Hamed Ela (ca. -85 m) in the course of the afternoon and set up camp. The rest of the afternoon / evening can be used to rest, have a semi-shower, explore Hamed Ela, observe the camel caravans passing through...
(95 km / 3.5 hrs overall driving)

Day 9

Full day to explore Dallol

Colourful green - orange - yellow pools, geysirs and mineral deposits at Dallol´s hydrothermal area (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

The thick layers of salt uplifted in the Dallol dome are visible within the cliffs of the western canyon (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

Yellow-brown salt deposits and small geysirs reflect in one of the many acid pools at the hydrothermal site of Dallol (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

Early morning start for a first visit to the fascinating hydrothermal area of Dallol which will be organised around sunrise. The Dallol salt dome seems to appear out of nowhere in the middle of the endless and flat desert. Hundreds of small geysirs, fumaroles and hot springs are dotted along and on top of this hill and created an alien landscape of coulourful pools and weird mineral deposits. The western edge of the dome hides an impressive canyon that cuts through the thick layers of salt. Another highlight is the ghost town, almost entirely built in salt, where miners lived in the 1930s to extract potash from the area. We return to Hamed Ela for lunch and use the hottest hours of the early afternoon to rest, explore the village, watch the passing camel caravans, ... A second short expedition to Dallol will leave in the late afternoon to catch the area´s magical atmosphere around sunset.

Day 10

Lake Assale, salt mining and camel loading - transfer to Mekele

The edge of lake Assale is a wide stretch of brine and glistening salt crystals (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

One of many small acid pools amidst the red-brownish layers of salt deposits (Jay Ramji - February 2016)

Aerial view of one of the larger acid ponds and salt deposits near Assale salt lake ad Dallol (Stefan Tommasini - January 2018)

We start our final day in the Danakil early and drive towards the endless, glistening white plane of Assale salt lake. On the way there we make several stops to explore another moonscape of irregular layers of salt dotted with a number of colourful acid lakes, impressive canyons cut into the salt deposit by erosion, watch the camel caravans cross the salt dessert and observe the ancient tradition of cutting salt blocks and arranging on the camels for transport.
By noon, it is time for us to leave the desert. We drive westward through the tectonically affected eastern escarpment of the great Rift valley and up into the highlands to Mekele, the capital city of the Tigray region. The return to a comfortable hotel room with a proper bed, fresh sheets, electricity, hot and cold water and a toilet will feel just wonderful!
(220 km / 6.5 hrs overall driving)

Day 11

Tigray's rock-hewn chruches of Gheralta

Starting off in the morning, we will have a full day visit the spectacular highlands south of Mekele and visit some of the famous Tigray's Rock Hewn Churches - two
from the Atsbi Cluster Churches around Wukro and further on the Abraha we'Atsbeha Church from the Gheralta Cluster.
Geologically, this is western part of the updomed section of the African continental plate which then was split by the formation of the Rift Valley. It consists of thick sequences of ancient sediments, mostly limestones full of fossiles, and thick sequences of sandstone, sometimes cut by volcanic dikes. Erosion has removed parts of the upper layers, leaving behind a breathtaking scenery of tower- and table-shaped hills and flat-top mountains, with steep cliff. Over millennia, these have been used as hiding places and countless generations have built narrow paths and steps into the sides of these mountains, leading to the otherwise hidden churches cut into the rocks like nests in niches and on top of the sandstone plateaus.
Return back to Mekele in the late afternoon, overnight at the same hotel.
(170 km / 4 hrs overall driving)

Day 12

Mekele to Lalibela

Today we drive from Mekele via Woldia to Lalibela, one of the most historic towns in
Ethiopia due to its world famous UNESCO world heritage rock hewn churches cut underground into the basalt plateau. The drive to Lalibela is an experience on its own as this part of Ethiopia has some of the most breathtaking landscapes. We arrive in Lalibela in the late afternoon and spend the next 2 nights in a hotel in Lalibela.
(419 km / 8 hrs overall driving time)

Day 13

Lalibela rock hewn churches

looking down onto the church of Saint George / Bet Girogis

Ethiopian orthodox priest at the entrance of a ca 900 year old rock hewn church

Doorway windows and church bell outside the rock hewn ´Tomb of Adam´

This day will be spend at 2500m above sea level exploring the Lalibela rock hewn churches which were intricately carved into volcanic red tuff stone during the reign of the area´s most famous ruler, Saint-King Gebre Meskel Lalibela, from the late 12th to early 13th century. Some of the major churches that we visit include Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Mariam, Bet Amanuel, Bet Giorgis ,Bet Meskel, Bet Denagel, Bethlehem, Bet Merkorios, Aba Libanos and Bet Golgotha. The group spends the last evening of this expedition enjoying a farewell dinner at a local restaurant serving Ethiopian delicacies.

Day 14

Flight from Lalibela to Addis Ababa - end of tour

Digesting the Danakil volcano adventure over a pint and longmissed western lunch at the ´´Beer Garden Inn´´ in Addis Ababa (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Both locals and travelers visit the Tomoca coffee house for a quick drink or to stock up on precious beans (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

The National Museum of Ethiopia holds the 3 million year old humanoid skeleton known as Lucy (Jay Ramji - February 2016)

The tour ends today. In the morning we take a domestic flight back to Addis Ababa. For those leaving on an international flight in the evening, you will have time to explore Addis (e.g. visit Lucy, the oldest humanoid found in the Danakil, go to one of the local coffee places), and we will have time for a farewell dinner before bringing you back to the airport in the evening.

Tour Dates & Prices

Dates	Status	Price per person ($)	*SRS ()**	Group size
17-30 Nov 2024	few places left	$ 4390 €£¥	$ 150 €£¥	3-8
27 Dec 24 - 9 Jan 2025	guaranteed	$ 4390 €£¥	$ 150 €£¥	3-8
2-15 Feb 2025	guaranteed	$ 4390 €£¥	$ 150 €£¥	3-8
1-14 Oct 2025	space available	$ 4390 €£¥	$ 150 €£¥	3-8
20 Nov - 3 Dec 2025	space available	$ 4390 €£¥	$ 150 €£¥	3-8
22 Jan - 4 Feb 2026	space available	$ 4390 €£¥	$ 150 €£¥	3-8
(*) Single room supplement

Prices for tours at custom dates on request

Included:

Hotel accommodation as indicated in itinerary on twin-occupancy basis
Camping nights from Day 4 to Day 9, all with single-occupancy tents when required
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for all days throughout the tour
8 liters of bottled water per person per day
Full-time accompanying Geologist Guide from Addis University from Day 1 to Day 8
Surface transportation with air-conditioned 4WD Toyota Land Cruisers (2016 - 2018 models) with fuel cost and driver per day included
Two vehicles to be assigned for group of 3-5 clients plus 1 tour leader
Three vehicles to be assigned for group of 6-8 clients plus 1 tour leader
Danakil Depression visit permit as well as entrance fees, guide fees, police/militia fees, camel fees, etc.
Entrance fees for visits in Mekele surroundings and Lalibela
Support logistics 4WD vehicle with cook and cook assistant for the group from Day 4 to Day 10
Ethiopian Airlines domestic flight from Lalibela to Addis Ababa
All taxes pertaining to the tour

Not included:

Flight to and from Addis Ababa
Single room/tent supplement
Light personal sleeping bag
Alcoholic drinks
Extra nights in Addis Ababa (if required)
Tips for the main guide, drivers and cook

Discounts:

Returning customers receive 5% (or 8% - if you have been on at least 3 trips with us) discount on the base tour price.
Group booking discount: If at least 4 people together book this trip, 5% (additional) discount is given, combineable to a maximum of 10%.

Add-ons:

Extra hotel**** nights in Addis Ababa: 125 USD per night (double) / 100 USD (single)

'wonderful memories of my trip to Ethiopia -- and especially Erta Ale!'

“Hello, Ingrid!

We just said good bye to Enku and our driver, Misfen, at Lalibela airport. This has been a most wonderful trip. Thank you so much for the organization and thoughtfulness behind all of it. It's the best trip of my life, really!

Erta Ale was smoking fiercely last week. We did not see the lava lake, unfortunately, because of the fumes. However, our three days spent trekking on the caldera, observing the lava fields, hornitos, Pele's hair, fissures, etc, offered me much satisfaction. Last year, the lava lake was splendid, bubbling like a cauldron, but there was only time to see it once in the dark. So my two occasions on Ethiopia's most active volcano, last year and this, complemented each other and gave me full satisfaction.

Very best regards and many thanks,”

- Giannella G (from US) about her participation on our 14 days Desert, salt and volcanoes expedition in the Danakil depression, Ethiopia in December 2018.

"... at times I felt genuinely sorry for those tourists travelling with other operators"

Anastasia and our Danakil expedition leader Enku at Dallol

Close up of the surface of actively flowing lava at the new fissure eruption site (image: Anastasia G.)

"Dear Ingrid,

I wanted to express my sincerest gratitudeto Volcano Discovery for organizing such an amazing trip.
Everything was so wonderfully arranged and to such a high standard that at times I felt genuinely sorry for those tourists travelling with other operators.
Once again Volcano Discovery has proven that they are the best at what they do.

Enku is everything one wants in a guide: he is professional, extremely knowledgeable, helpful, well organized, but also he is a wonderful human being - nice, considerate, attentive and very kind.

I would also like to thank you personally for your invaluable contribution to this trip, for always staying in touch, answering every little question and making arrangements to suit our needs. Thanks very much for this.

I hope that I will be able to travel with Volcano Discovery again in the future and who knows, maybe meet you in person someday!

Sincerely yours,"

- Anastasia G (from Russia) about her participation on our Desert, salt and volcanoes expedtion to Erta Ale and Dallol, Ethiopia in January 2018.

"As a feed back for the tour: just perfect!"

"Dear Ingrid,

just returned from the tour. It was fantastic. Very well organised and interesting with lots of impressions!
Enko is a very good guide with detailed information and also emphatic.
I can only recommend your company and the tour!

As a feed back for the tour: just perfect!

Kind regards"

- Uwe S (from Germany) about his participation on our Desert, salt and volcanoes expedtion to Erta Ale and Dallol, Ethiopia in January 2018.

"one of the most memorable trips I have been on - all for good reason!"

"Hi Ingrid,

my wife and I had a great time in Ethiopia and developed a great understanding of the people and country. Lalibela - especially at that time of year - was simply spectacular. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
...
Enku, Tami and Lulu were fantastic and their knowledge (especially Enku) helped us gain a great understanding of Ethiopia. Even though we lost our logistics truck, Enku was able to make alternate arrangements so all was good there. Tami and Lulu were both wonderful and a pleasure to be around.
...
This will stay as one of the most memorable trips I have been on - all for good reason. Even with all the unexpected things that happened, we had a great time and those things are what makes the journey and memories. Enku and crew were fantastic and I think he is probably the best guide in the country.
...

Regards"

- Mo V (from Canada) about his participation on our Desert, salt and volcanoes expedtion to Erta Ale and Dallol, Ethiopia in December 2017.

"we had a perfect trip!"

Jens visiting the Erta Ale lava lake for the second time in his life

Dear Ingrid,

we – Andrei, Cris as well my person – have had a perfect trip! It was interesting for me to compare the lava level in 2009 when making my first journey to this volcano with Tom and the situation now. It was amazing and an unbelievable experience to stay 1,5 m aside the boiling molten rock.
Enku and his staff had done an absolutely perfect job and with my colleagues I have had so much fun like never before!
With best regards,

- Jens (from Germany) about his Desert, salts and volcanoes expedition in over Christmas / New Year 2016/2017. You can also see some of his Erta Ale volcano photographs as well as read the
eye witness report on Erta Ale´s activity during this expedition

"we had a great time... Dallol was stunning" (2016 Danakil volcano tour)

The overflowing pearched lava lake of Erta Ale (image: Hans en Jooske)

Rejuvenated Dallol was larger and more colourful than ever (image: Hans en Jooske)

Pele´s hair and tears are scattered all around Erta Ale´s caldera (image: Hans en Jooske)

"Goedenavond Ingrid,

Thanks for your email! We had a great time and Enku took very good care of us and was a very enjoyable companion/guide with lots of stories and information to share on all kinds of topics. Demis was a wonderful and very careful driver who seemed to have an eagle-eye for wildlife, and of course Meski was such a lovely and cheerful lady, very warm and welcoming to everyone. So we had a wonderful crew with us. And yes the nature was spectacular. Even without Enku's enthusiasm (he couldn't wait to get to Erta Ale and was so happy when we got there and it was even beyond his expectations) we could see that Erta Ale was doing something very special, and we thoroughly enjoyed the many day- and night-shows it gave us. Dallol was stunning, we were immediately immersed by the colours, and amazed to hear from Enku that what we were raving about was normally not active ground, and that the
whole area was far bigger than normal! He was shocked to see that the rocky non-active area where the Flemish crew had done their interview was now bubbling away in white, yellow and orange, such a change in two weeks time..."

- Hans en Jooske about their Desert, salts and volcanoes expedition in November 2016 of which they shared some photographs with us

"The Erta Ale/Dallol trip was absolutely superb."

Observing Erta Ale´s lava lake after sunset (image: Jay Ramji)

Sunrise over Erta Ale´s south crater with lava lake (image: Jay Ramji)

Market day in the Tigray town of Wukro (image: Jay Ramji)

"Dear Ingrid And Tom,

Just a quick note to let you know that the Erta Ale/Dallol trip was absolutely superb. Spending time at Erta Ale and Dallol were the highlights, but I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects.
I love wildlife and bird watching which I wasn't expecting on this trip and was pleasantly surprised at how much of this I was able to do. I found Enku to be an excellent guide; very knowledgeable about the area and as a volcanologist. Him and his team looked after us as very well and please convey my thanks to him.

4 in the group was just the right number and the dynamics worked very well. Thanks goes to you too to set this up at the last minute. The recent overflow that happened about 10 days before we arrived at Erta Ale had changed the landscape somewhat (looking at past photos) such that we had get close to the rim of the crater to get good views.
The lake was particularly active and we enjoyed the spectacle. Also, at Dallol it was a little cooler than I was expecting and I was able to cope with the heat. I'm currently going through my photographs which eventually I'll put on Flickr (however, no photos can ever capture the images I have stored in my mind!)"

-Jay R. (UK) about the Danakil Expedition in February 2016

It was a terrific experience (2015 Danakil volcano tour)

"Many thanks indeed for allowing the Danakil trip over Christmas to run with just two clients. I am so very grateful to you. It was a terrific experience, and more than met my every expectation. Karen and I got on famously, and Enku rounded out the trio with his own understated but terrific personality.

Everything went well. For so many years I've wanted to visit the Danakil, and you made this possible for me. The highlight of course is Erta Ale which is an experience unlike any other I can imagine. To be able to get so close to a lava lake is stunning in itself; to see the Cauldron boiling and bubbling in front of you is indescribably mesmerizing. The rain we encountered there was both a nuisance and a blessing. Two cold nights with a wet sleeping bag and mattress, bah. But hey, you have the world's best clothes dryer on your doorstep. However the consequent flooding of the salt pans resulted in a surreal experience when apparently driving across the ocean on the way to Dallol. Pure magic. Khellem produced throughout the trip first rate fodder, with the most unusual Christmas Day pudding: three layers of injera sandwiched with marmalade and Nutella. Yum. Plus firework sparklers for all! A Christmas to remember.

You've probably had a report from Enku. The night of our arrival, the lava lake was close to one metre from the rim; we were able to gather some splendid samples of lava-splatter, solidifying in front of us. The level fell with oscillations over the next three days to maybe three/four metres below the rim, but with good bubbles and fountains. My sole regret of the trip: not to witness an overflow!
Thanks again to you and the local support team for making this spectacular trip possible."

-Andrew B., US, about the Danakil volcano expedition of December 2015)

the trip was totally fabulous (Danakil volcano tour)

Our small group at the lava lake

Green salt ponds at Dallol

Camel caravans on the salt lake

"Hi Ingrid

Good to hear from you! Yes the trip was totally fabulous and I will be uploading some of the pictures which came out brilliantly I am so pleased.
...
I will certainly be booking future trips with you and I would love to go on another trip with Enku - I think we wore him out doing extra walks & we even took ourselves up the big hill surrounding Wukuru as I am not one for sitting around in hotel & neither was he - I think we were both rather fitter than his normal clientele!
I am aware the groups are normally bigger so many thanks for not cancelling the trip - it certainly has been a 20 yr wait for me to go there and I am pleased to have found your company when I was searching around for how to get there! The itinerary was spot on & as I mentioned I could have easily spent another day at both volcanoes - Andrew & I were actually rather keen to do a climb up one of the sandstone rock churches even if just for the view but we couldn't fit that in as well!"

-Karen A. from UK, about the Danakil volcano tour in December 2015)

"I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and had great experiences" (Danakil volcano tour 2015)

"Hi Ingrid

I received your calendar gift just after Christmas. It was a very nice surprise. ...
I was able to tell many people of our adventure over the Christmas and New Year break. I think it was wildly apparent to those that I told that I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and had great experiences.
Most people thought we were crazy, but everyone was impressed.

I saw Tom's video on TV before Christmas – It was on one of the science channels – it was really impressive and such a buzz to see the things we experience firsthand.
I think the way you ran the tour was great. There will always be unforeseen challenges and they will probably always be different. I think when the “heat was on” people got a little stressed and that will always create some interesting reactions. Being involved with Volcanoes you know that – turn up the heat and anything can happen!!!
All the very best for 2016. I wish you all the best success in the Volcano world and beyond!"

-Paul W. from Australia about the Danakil volcano expedition from November 2015)

Ingrid's feedback about the Danakil volcano tour

Crocodile in Awash river

Ingrid's selfie at the lava lake

"I find it very difficult to express my feelings and thoughts about this trip, which was by far the most adventurous experience I have ever done.
Although I had prepared it as well as possible and had seen many photographs of this area and read feedback from previous participants, it was really still a surprisingly big and unique moment when I stood next to the lava lake, traveled through the Danakil Desert, saw the giant salt planes, spotted for the first time crocodiles, vultures and orex in their natural habitat,
swam in a salt lake under a star-filled night sky, camped for three days on the crater rim of a volcano without any running water or electricity, ...
"
Read all

(Ingrid Smet, Belgium about the Erta Ale lava lake and Dallol expedition in November 2015)

"eine faszinierende Reise (2015 Danakil Reise)"

Rückmeldung zur Danakilreise im Feb. 2015

"...wieder einmal hat es VolcanoDiscovery / Volcano-Adventures geschafft, eine faszinierende Reise zu liefern, diesmal nach Äthiopien.
Hochachtung und vielen Dank gegührt dem Team vor Ort, das die Tour bestens organisiert und zu vollster Zufriedenheit und sicher durchgeführt hat."

-Dietmar B. über die Danakil Expedition im February 2015
Dietmar's Bilderauswahl zur Reise

eine so perfekt durchdachte und organisierte Reise, die meine Erwartungen in diesem Maße erfüllt hat." (2011 Reise in die Danakil Wüste)

"Hallo,
nach der wirklich tollen Reise in die Danakil Wüste möchte ich mich bei Euch und dem äthiopischen Team nochmal ganz herzlich bedanken. Ich habe selten eine so perfekt durchdachte und organisierte Reise erlebt, die meine Erwartungen in diesem Maße erfüllt hat. Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Reisenden, die wir dort getroffen haben, hatte ich immer das Gefühl, auf Reisen zu sein, nicht auf der Jagd oder auf der Flucht. Bitte ändert nichts am Ablauf!
Schade ist dass die Sicherheitskräfte verhindern, dass man in der blauen Stunde am Dallol oder auch am Salzsee sein kann. Die Aktivität am Erta Ale war mehr als sehenswert, der Lavasee hat einen sehr hohen Stand und war sehr aktiv. Der Nordkrater hat mich wirklich überrascht.

Liebe Grüsse, Tom" (2011 Reise in die Danakil Wüste)

"This travel was unique and exceptional." 2011 Danakil expedition)

"Alex, Beleta, Reinhard,
First of all I would like to express again my most great full thanks to Beleta. You did an excellent job to organize and manage this splendid trip to a fascinating part of your country: the Afar with its amazing people, the active volcanoes and it's harsh but vast landscape of salt lakes.
You must have had some hard time to satisfy all the wishes of us crazy individualists: Two Germans and even a Bulgarian! And all those additional demands imposed on to you by your fellow countrymen like the Afar police men, the soldiers, the militia and all the administrators we run into together.
Beleta, you helped us to come to a closer understanding of your country and your people. I can't imagine to have had a better ambassador of your country than you!
Please transmit my thanks again to our drivers among them Tsigaye and last but not least to Sancho, our cook during this trip, who took care about our well-being.
Last but not least, I must have some words about my very well esteemed fellow travelers, Alex and Reinhard. Without you I can't imagine to have done this travel. You lifted me out of that valley of ignorance of handling an expensive camera and both of you taught me how to shoot decent pictures with my camera. I would like to express my gratitude to both of you for the many tips and hints you gave me. If there would be an opportunity to travel again with all of you I would certainly do so.
I am also indebted to Tom's Volcano Discovery and his dedicated colleagues. This travel was unique and exceptional.
...
Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year."
- Daniel F. (Saudi Arabia)

"...hat meine Erwartungen weit übertroffen." (2010 Äthiopien Expedition)

Spattering of Erta Ale lava lake around dusk (image: Roland Gerth)

Sunrise at shore of Afdera salt lake (image: Roland Gerth)

"Hallo Tom
... Die Äthiopien-Reise war Abenteuer pur und hat meine Erwartungen weit übertroffen. Ich möchte mich noch für deinen Einsatz bedanken, dass wir ausreichend Zeit bekamen am Dallol zu fotografieren. Die Fotos sind toll geworden und du findest eine Auswahl auf meiner Homepage."
-Roland G., Schweiz (2010)

... restera pour moi une voyage inoubliable...( 2010 Expédition au Danakil)

"Bonjour Tom,
L'expédition dans le Danakil du 21/11 au 03/12/2010 restera pour moi une voyage inoubliable : un excellent timing, une bonne organisation, un petit groupe constitué de gens sympatiques, ta présence parmi nous, du soleil tout le temps, des paysages magnifiques, beaucoup d'aventure, sans oublier bien sûr l'Erta Ale et Dallol qui méritent à eux seul le voyage.
Félicitations pour l'organisation.
Bien à toi."
Michel H. - Bruxelles, 2010 (Expédition au Danakil)

Thank you for a fantastic trip (2008 Danakil volcano expedition)

"...thank you for a fantastic trip. I enjoyed it and got a clearer understanding of the rift system in East Africa and the process of the triple junction there. It was also great to meet Thomas, Michel, Michael and Rowland."
- Kwame O. (UK) on our 2008 Desert, salt and volcanoes tour

Any (future) trip that is off the beaten track...I am in ( 2008 Danakil expedition)

Panorama of Dallol (photo: Jorge Santos)

"Hi everybody, ... Just to tell you that was pleasure having you guys and gals on this trip, I believe we had good fun moments and maybe we will meet again in another trip. Any trip that is off the beaten track, requires lugging 15kg of photo gear up the mountain, no toilettes, a reasonable amount of risk, etc, but could deliver good shots...I am in." - Jorge Santos

Frank working at the lava lake of Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia

"Hallo Tom, ich möchte mich hiermit bei Dir für die exzellente logistische Organisation der Touren nach Äthiopien Januar 2008 (Erta Ale, Dallol) und Indonesien Juli 2008 (Krakatau und Tengger Kaldera) bedanken. Dank Deiner netten und kompetenten Partner vor Ort (Solomon, Doni und alle anderen) fühlte ich mich in sehr guten Händen aufgehoben und verköstigt. Somit konnte ich mich auf meine fotografischen Aktivitäten konzentrieren, ohne mir über organisatorische Dinge Sorgen machen zu müssen. Ich bin überzeugt, dass wir noch einige weitere Exkursionen zusammen machen werden und kann Volcano Discovery Touren sehr empfehlen.
Good luck und gut Lava"
Frank Krahmer - Premium Nature Photography
http://www.frankkrahmer.de

Marlies and Solomon at Dallol

Hello Tom Hello Solomon
WOW - the DANAKIL has it all
Sand - stones - rocks - lava - salt - camels, not to forget the fascinating volcano ERTA ALE and the mysterious and magic scenery at DALLOL. Thank you TOM for taking me on your pilot expedition. Thank you SOLOMON for being such a great and helpful tour guide. (Marlies B, UK, 2007 Erta Ale - Dallol expedition).

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