7 Days Tour to Danakil and Ertale

Tour Highlights

DANAKIL DEPRESSION: The faulting and cracking of the eastern part of Africa caused the Great Rift Valley, which extends from the Middle East to Mozambique, passing in a north-south direction right through Ethiopia. This shearing of the earth's surface occurred at the same time that the Arabian Peninsula, geologically a part of Africa, was separated from the rest of the continent.This volcanic activity, which has created the faulting & cracking of the earth, has continued until today & Danakil Depression is the witness among the many hot springs all over the country.The following itineraries are designed to take you to the very interesting place of adventure called "ERT-ALLE" (meaning the smoking mountain in one of the local languages of Ethiopia ‘AFARIGNA’) where earth tremors are often felt and exposed cones of old volcanic plugs are seen throughout the plateau.

Day 01: ARRIVAL AND HALF DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDIS ABABA

Upon arrival at Bole international airport, be met by our representative and transferred to a hotel. After check in to a hotel, depending on the arrival time a half day city tour in Addis Ababa including National & ethnographic museum, Trinity church and the panoramic view of Entoto Mariam mountain. Overnight in Hotel Meal: Lunch and Dinner.

Accomodation: Saro – Maria/ Azzeman Hotel

Day  02: Addis- Mekele-Hamedela

Take morning flight to Mekele meet our guide at Mekele airport and drive towards  Hamed ela through Berhale where we will pick up police scouts, road guides and permits for the Afar region. From Berehale, proceed driving to Hamed ela, where we will watch the camel caravans carrying salt from the salt lake to Mekele for sale. Overnight camping in Hamed ela

Day 03: Hamedela

Morning after breakfast take a day trip to Dallol, which at 116m below sea level is the lowest point on the African continent. Here the landscape is beautiful, the ground many shades of brown, red and yellow from hot water spring of sulfuric acid and minerals that spurt and bubble from the ground, visit to Lake Asale, and the salt mines from which the Afar nomads have the laborious task of removing the salt as generations have done, while hundreds of camels await to carry the loads on the long trek back to Mekele. At the end of the day we return to Hamed ela for overnight stay.

Day 04: Hamedela- Erta’ale

This morning we have to be on the road at 6: am, to continue to Erta Ale via Kusawad, where we will stop for lunch at about 12 am and continue our 2 hour drive to the crater base and wait till dusk to start the trek. The Erta Ale volcano( Erta’ale means "Smoking Mountain in the local Afar Language) has been in a constant state of eruption for over 40 years, definitely one the highlights of the trip! We will camp in the village of El Dom, where it will be an early dinner and start the long trek to the crater which can take a good 4 hours or 5 hours at normal pace. Overnight camping around Erta’ale.Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner:Overnight: Camping at Erta’ale.

Day 05: Ertale- Afdera

Today we woke up early to watch the early sunrise over the desert horizon, hike back to camp for breakfast and continue driving to Afdera village for lunch. A free afternoon in Afdrera the mineral rich lake (lies at an altitude of 103 meters below sea level ) is a good place to relax and swim in the hot spring pools and in the cool lake. Overnight camping Afdera:Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner-Overnight: Camping at Lake Shore

Day 06: Afdera- Mekele

After breakfast drive back to Mekele with the visit of afar village on the way.

Accomodation:  Planet /Axum hotel

Day 07: Mekele- Addis

Morning after breakfast you will be transfer to airport to fly back to Addis depending on your flight schedule you will have Farewell dinner party in one of the best traditional restaurant followed by folkloric dance of different Ethiopian nations and nationalities then you will transfer to Airport to fly back home.

End Of Safari and Our Services !

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