G.K.

Ahadu Tours and Travel Agency

Tel +251344406467 Mob +251914257591
Fax +251344406466 Mob +251914373820
Ethiopia Mekelle, in the building of Axum Hotel next to Tourist Information Center

http://www.ethiopia-tour-travel-ahadu.com Mail: naodgk@yahoo.com or info@ethiopia-tour-travel-ahadu.com Post Box: 1692
Five days Program to Danakil Desert
Dallol, Afar, Salt Desert, Volcano ErtaAle, Lake Afrera

Day 1
The adventure tour starts around 10a.m. from Mekele capital of the Tigray Region, we pick you up from
your hotel and collect the group in our office for departure. The pista or earth road brings us to the Afar
Region of Ethiopia over the small town Agulae and Dessa Forest 2000m above sea level, on the way we
take some small stops meeting the first camel caravans and having an amazing view over the mountains.
Lunch break we spend in a restaurant of the town Berhale, from where we drive to the Afar village
Hamadella called base camp located in the desert and only 5 km away from Dallol. Total of 260km
journey.
On arrival in Hamadella we rent a camping site and after a walk through the Afar village and dinner,
prepared by our professional cook, you are going to spend the 1st night on local afar-beds, open air under
the stars or in a wooden cottage.

Day 2
After breakfast in Hamadella we start the journey to volcano ErtaAle, 105km
far from the base camp, on the way we take time for lunch. This part of the
journey is off road and we pass by the salt desert, sand dunes, rivers and
volcano rocks, on the way you meet Afar living a nomadic life in these harsh
area. At the bottom of the volcano we take a break at a small campsite of the
Afar and start walking to the top of the volcano in the evening, when the sun is not so strong anymore. To the lava lake it takes us
around 3-5 hours by foot and we spend the night on the volcano in cottages near the lava lake. Camels carry camping stuff, water
and a snack for the night to the top. You enjoy the lava and the fountains jumping in the night, as well in the morning to explore the
overflown lava of the last years.

Day 3
We walk down to the camp at the bottom of the volcano, have breakfast and drive 60km to Lake
Afrera. There we arrive before lunch time and we enjoy Lake Afrera and see how to harvest the
salt in a more modern way than you will see in Dallol. Lake Afrera is a salt lake with around 100
square kilometers; if you like you can swim in there.
Next to the lake is a hot spring with mineral water, which invites you for taking a bath. On the way to the lake and back we take time
to watch the wildlife in this area, a lot of ostrich, different kind of big birds, antelopes and other wild animals are living there.

Day 4
We start early in the morning to drive back to Hamadella, where we reach in the afternoon. The meals are served on the way in the
shadow of some palms. We do a walk in the Afar town Hamadella to show you how the people live and survive in the conditions of
the desert. You have time to buy souvenirs, take pictures of the Afar and their village and youll see plenty of the camel caravans.
G.K. Ahadu Tours and Travel Agency
Tel +251344406467 Mob +251914257591
Fax +251344406466 Mob +251914373820
Ethiopia Mekelle, in the building of Axum Hotel next to Tourist Information Center

http://www.ethiopia-tour-travel-ahadu.com Mail: naodgk@yahoo.com or info@ethiopia-tour-travel-ahadu.com Post Box: 1692
Day 5
After breakfast and collecting the soldier escort early in the morning we start our journey, with 45km
through Dallol Depression. On our round we visit different places like the colourful salt lakes and thermo
active springs bringing potash, sulphur and other minerals to the surface in Dallol, the wide white salt
desert, a cave in pure natural designed rocks, the Arshale Rocks which have moral meaning to the Afars salt
business, the field where the Afar people are harvesting the salt in the traditional way and where the camel
caravans start their long trek to towns like Mekelle. Further you see a red and black
lake with acid water and the saline lake Assale. After Dallol and lunch we travel back to Mekelle, which
we reach in the evening.

The Agency follows strictly the rules of traveling in this region, means continuously armed policemen will attempt the group for the tour. For the
visitation of Dallol and ErtaAle we have to take soldiers of the government and soldiers of the Afar with us.
Our moral duty is to please you to collect the garbage in sacks of the cook/ tour guide, even when we pay for neatness at all camps the Afars
dont have the environmental consciousness.
Please mind that there are risk of injury at some places, for example in Dallol the acid water of some lakes, please follow the advice of your tour
guide.
For low season visitors: Some contents of this explanation are not valid for the months June-September!
Equipment you need!
Light (walking in the night)
Small backpack for the trek to the top of the volcano
Closed, comfortable shoes (trekking shoes)
Sun protection like sun cream, hat
Jacket for the night on the volcano
Sleeping bag, pillow or blanket (can be provided by the Agency)
Price exclusion
Tips, Fees or tips for taking pictures, Souvenirs from the Afar people, Personal insurance
Price inclusion
Professional English-speaking or German speaking guide, Off-road experienced drivers, 4WD cars, Permission paper and entrance fee for
Afar/Danakil, policemen who attempt the group, Federal Soldier Escort and Afar Soldier Escort for the visitation of ErtaAle and Dallol,
administration fee at the volcano, professional cook, food (3 meals per day snacks/fruits in between), we calculate with 5 liters water per person
and day, camel rent for luggage, rent for camping sites and hats, cooking and camping stuff, matrasses and beds in Hamdella, tents at Lake Afrera
or if wished.