ETHIOPIA FINEST: 8 Days Danakil Depression Erta’ale volcano region The Danakil is an area of extraordinary geological fascination: a strange lunar landscape studded with active volcanoes, malodorous sulfur-caked hot springs, solidified black lava flows, and vast salt-encrusted basins. It is one of active volcanic areas in the world where a lake of malted rock can be seen in a dramatic colorful appearance. It is hard to give a good explanation of the natural phenomenon of the Erta’ale volcano. Expeditions to Mount Erta Ale, an active volcano whose crator holds the World’s only permanent Lava Lake! Traditionally the Afar are nomadic pastoralists and, together with the Tigrians, are still involved in mining salt bars from the lake in the Dallol depression and carrying them by camel caravan up to Tigray, along age old routes. In many areas there are rough and sealed roads, and camel caravans are the only way to travel Dallol volcano is located in the Danakil Depression in North East of Ethiopia offers an opportunity to see the first signs of a new ocean basin forming. South of Dallol, the crust is cut into rectangular salt slabs and transported up into the highlands a near endless procession of camel caravans. The salt canyons south of Dallol Mountain are some of the most impressive geological features in the area. It looks like another planet because there are lots of colorful rocks in each meter. It’s quite like a science fiction. Not far from Dallol in the Danakil Depression north of the Great Rift Valley, the only volcanic crater below sea level has remained silent since 1926 as the seabed it will one day occupy gradually widens. Another impressive natural phenomenon of this region is Erta Ale, an active shield volcano in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia. It is the most active volcano in Ethiopia. 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. It is located in the Danakil Depression. The Afar people inhabited this harsh inhospitable region, will give a cultural encounter to your stay in the area. The Nomadic Afar people, dominantly Muslim, the women are dressed colorfully, mainly they live on herding camels and livestock; their villages are made up of small circular mobile huts with very inter woven kinship social structure led by elders Day 01 Arrive in Addis Ababa: Meet and greet at the airport by Africkenia Mountains and Safaris expeditions representative, get assisted to collect your luggage into the car and transfer to your hotel. Day 02 Drive to Logia: Drive through the Rift Valley to the small town of Logia for camping Day 03 Drive to Afrera, visit the salt lake and the saline. Interesting to see when locals are extracting table salt from the saline lake with traditional age old techniques. Overnight at the selected campsite Day 04 Drive to Dodom followed with walk to Erta’ale. Drive through the Afar desert to the base of Erta Ale volcano with a short stop at Dodom. Hike up to the volcano for approximately 3 hrs, accompanied by a camels carrying bottled water, food and camping equipment. Before dusk we select site that would be best for view and taking photos of the Lava Lake during the night after dinner. The weather on the top of this mountain is cool. Overnight at the selected campsite Day 05 After a last sunrise at the spectacular lava lake, we break down our camp and using the camels again, we return to the point of departure where the jeeps are waiting. After lunch, we continue for 1-2 hours back into the desert, where we will set camp near a typical temporary Afar village. Refreshing showers will be available from simple wells in a river bed. For those interested, we can also visit the Afar village and get an impression of the nomadic culture of the Afar. Over night at the selected campsite Day 06 After early breakfast drive to the Lake Asale, salty Lake and visit the salt workers and the merchant. Here you will observe salt cutting, the crust is cut into rectangular salt slabs and transported up into the highlands a near endless procession of camel caravans. The salt canyons south of Dallol Mountain are some of the most impressive geological features in the area. It looks like another planet because there are lots of colorful rocks and several colorful hot springs in each meter. Retrace your way back to Hamedela then proceed to Berahile for overnight stop. Overnight at the selected campsite Day 07 Leaving the Afar desert behind drive to Makele, the capital city of Tigray region, en route visit includes Mikael Imba, one of the rock hewn churches of Tigray within the Astbiclaster of rock churches. Hotel Day 08 Take a morning flight to Addis Ababa and evening departure. We fly back to Addis Ababa and some of the sight seeing in Addis Ababa or retire the remaining day before we meet again for FARE WELL dinner in Ethiopian traditional restaurant with tribal music and dance show. Get transfer to airport for out going flight to your home country.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 07:42:40 +0000
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