Ethiopia Volcano Safari | Ethiopia Safari

Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Afdera Village

Early morning, your divers will pick you up in Mekele and you will proceed driving into the Danakil Depression.
Today’s journey will be mostly by asphalt road to Afdera via Abala town, where the local Afar regional police will accompany the trip.
Continue to Afdera.
Overnight camping/sleeping under the stars in Afdera village (very basic accommodations).

Day 2: Volcano

In the morning, visit Lake Afdera, a salt lake nearly 100 km2.
Here you can see the modern way of salt mining, as this place provides most of the salt for Ethiopia.
You can swim in the lake as well as the nearby hot spring.
After the visit, depart from Afdera to Erta Ale via Kursuwad.
The Erta Ale volcano has been in a constant state of eruption for over 40 years.
As the sun goes down you will start the 3-hour hike up to the crater rim of the Erta Ale volcano.
The hike may be done by camel or on foot.
At the top you will descend into the caldera and proceed to the crater’s edge.
Here you will see the permanent lava lake inside the volcano (the only permanent lava lake in the world).
Overnight on the rim of the volcano caldera in a crude hut.

Day 3: Hamed Ila Village

Today is an early morning start to witness the sun rise over the horizon.
You will have your last look at the volcano’s lake of lava before descending from the volcano.
After breakfast, return driving to Hamed Ila through the arid desert land of the Afar people.
In Hamed Ila you will see the life of the local Afar people.
You will also see the camel caravans on their way in and out from the salt lakes.
Overnight camping/sleeping under the stars in Hamed Ila village (very basic accommodations).

Day 4: Safari Ends

After breakfast, depart for Dallol, which at 116m below sea level is the lowest point on the African continent.
Admire the stunning landscape, the ground many shades of red, yellow and orange from the hot water, acids and minerals spurting up from the ground.
Continue to Lake Asale, which is the salt lake from which the Afar nomads extract salt.
You will witness (and even try) their laborious task of removing salt from the ground as hundreds of camels relax before the long trek back to Mekele.
After the visit, proceed back to Mekele, with your last views of this desert and the camel caravans dotting the horizon.

Rates Include

Minimum two (2) 4WD vehicles including driver, driver’s allowance (food and accommodation), fuel, insurance and governmental taxes
English-speaking guide
Permits to travel in Afar region
Local Afar road leaders, armed scouts, and security, as needed
All food and water while camping in the Danakil Depression
All cooking and camping materials, including cook to prepare food for entire expedition team
All other costs associated with travel in the Danakil Depression

St. Mary of Zion

Around 300AD the first St. Mary of Zion was built in the town of Axum by the first and largest Christian Kingdom outside of the Roman Empire. The church itself has been rebuilt several times over the past 1700 odd years, with the latest version (as you can see below) having been finished in 1964.

Fasilides Bath

Now after our amazing visit to the Fasil Ghebbi Royal Enclosure we have driven a short distance away to the famous Fasilides Bath. The bath (swimming pool) is only filled once a year and plays a huge role in the spiritual lives of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians in the celebration of Epiphany on 19th January every year.

Yemrehanna Kristos

About a 90-minute drive from the town of Lalibela and driving through totally magnificent scenery one finds a church that is built inside a cave. Yemrehanna Kristos dates back to 1100 to 1200 AD period in Ethiopia's history; some say this church predates even the rock hewn churches of Lalibela itself.

Lake Tana

Lake Tana is Ethiopia's largest lake and covers some 3673 square kilometres whilst being 85 Km long and 66 km at its widest but is rather shallow at a maximum depth of only 15 metres. The lake is also reported to be the source of the Blue Nile River which drains out of the lake near Bahir Dar.

Axum Stelae Field

This amazing Stelae field is around 1700 years old and is found on the opposite side of the road from the St. Mary of Zion Church and around 2 minutes drive from the centre of town. These Stelae are believed to be the grave stones of past Aksumite Kings.

Lalibela Churches Southern Cluster

The town of Lalibela hosts some of the Worlds most amazing Rock hewn churches dating back to around the 13 century. On this page, we get to explore the "Southern Cluster" of these churches, by Southern Cluster we mean the grouping of Churches south of the River Jordan.