Expedition · Afar Region
Danakil Depression
Where the earth feels alive.
- Best Time
- Nov – Jan
- Suggested Stay
- 3 – 8 days
- Altitude
- Down to about 125 m below sea level
- Region
- Afar Region
Why We Go
Salt flats, volcanoes, geothermal colour and a culture adapted to one of the hottest places people live.
The Danakil lies within the Afar Triangle, where the Arabian plate and two African plates are pulling apart. Salt stretches toward the horizon, volcanic landscapes rise from the desert, and people have built lives in an environment outsiders often call simply "extreme".
At about 125 metres below sea level, the Danakil is one of the lowest places in Africa, and one of the hottest places on Earth where people live: the settlement of Dallol recorded an average annual temperature of 34 °C between 1960 and 1966. Official Ethiopian tourism information names Erta Ale, Dallol, Lake Assale and Lake Afdera among its major attractions.
It is also part of the story of humanity. In 1974, at Hadar in the Afar region, researchers found "Lucy", a 3.2-million-year-old skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis, which is why Afar is often called a cradle of humankind.
The Danakil is not empty. It is alive, and it is lived in.
Highlights
- Erta Ale: a 613 m shield volcano with a 1.6 km summit caldera
- Dallol: acid springs, salt chimneys and mineral colour
- Lake Assale: the salt plain, about 120 m below sea level
- Lake Afdera: a hypersaline lake fed by hot springs
- Hamed Ela: the salt workers’ settlement and our base camp
- Afar communities and the centuries-old salt trade
The Danakil is not a theme park
There are no comfortable roads to every site, and no guarantee that nature will perform on schedule. Conditions change, routes change and volcanic activity changes. That is what makes the Danakil an expedition destination. Our job is to manage the logistics while giving you the space to experience the landscape.
How a Danakil expedition usually runs
Most expeditions start in Semera. The first day descends to Lake Afdera (usually three to four hours on the road), then continues to the base of Erta Ale for an evening walk to the crater. The next day crosses the desert to Hamed Ela, the base for the Lake Assale salt plain and Dallol. Longer expeditions add nights at Afdera, Erta Ale and Hamed Ela rather than extra driving.
Why travel with a local operator
The Danakil needs more than a booking. The Ethiopian tourism authority describes remote Danakil tracks as requiring 4×4 vehicles and navigation skills, and recommends experienced operators with several vehicles. Every expedition we run includes:
- Route planning and current access information
- Suitable 4×4 vehicles
- Experienced field staff and local Afar guides
- Water and heat management
- Camp logistics
- Contingency planning
Questions travellers ask
- How hot is the Danakil?
- Extremely hot. Dallol holds the record for the highest average annual temperature of any inhabited place, about 34 °C. Even in the cooler season, November to January, expect significant heat, which is why days start early and the hottest hours are for rest.
- Is the Danakil safe?
- It is a remote expedition environment, and regional conditions must always be checked before departure. Official advice currently restricts travel in parts of Afar, so we confirm what is possible and responsible for your dates before we quote, and we change or cancel a route when conditions require it.
- Can I visit without an operator?
- No. Remote routes require 4×4 vehicles, local Afar guides and access arrangements. Travelling with an experienced operator is strongly recommended.
- How long should I spend?
- A minimum of two nights is generally needed for the classic route of Erta Ale, Lake Assale and Dallol. Four days or more allows rest and a slower expedition.
Expeditions Including Danakil Depression
Routes that pass through here
Plan This Destination
Build Danakil Depression into your journey
Tell us what you are curious about, what you want to photograph and how slowly or quickly you want to travel. We build the journey around you and confirm current conditions for your dates.
Speak With a Designer
Your Ethiopia should not feel like someone else’s itinerary
Ask about road conditions, the season or what a day here is really like. You will get a straight answer from the team that runs the route.
Or call us directly on +251 956 61 6969