Erta Ale and Dallol Danakil Depression

Erta Ale and Dallol Danakil Depression

A tailor-made Afar tour to Erta-ale, Denakil Depression & Awash Tour Itinerary.

  • Tour: Afar Tour
  • Duration: 8 Nights & 9 days
  • Transportation: By Two cars (4X4 land cruiser).
  • Accommodations: In the traditional local afar huts and camping.

 Tour Highlights:-

Danakil Depression: Erta Ale and Dallol Danakil Depression

It’s one of the remotest, lowest and hottest places of the world in the Great Rift Valley system. This adventure takes you to explore Erta Ale and Dallol volcanoes and visit of the endless Camel Caravans. This part of the world, which is called the Danakil Depression, is one of the remotest, lowest and unique land formations of the world in the Great Rift Valley system. Still it is part of the earth which is unstable and pulling each other to the opposite side. In this adventure you will explore Erta Alle, absolutely unique Lava Lake erupting 24 hours and Dalol, the lowest part of Danakil Depression (116 below sea level) extremely hottest and inhospitable place but enjoyable and extraordinary colorful landscape. It is famous for its fascinating fumaroles amazing rock formations, crystal and mineral deposits. The final part of your adventure takes you to Lake Asale, famous salt mining lake and visits to salt workers when cutting, shaping and loading. Besides, salt merchants along with their endless Camel Caravans will be visited.

DAY 1: DRIVE FROM ADDIS ABEBA TO WOLDIA

Leave early morning to the dramatic and curvaceous descent from Dessie to Kombolcha all the way to Woldia.

Truly off the beaten track, the 98-sq-km Guassa Plateau has one of the smallest but best protected Afro-alpine habitats in Ethiopia. In fact, it’s been a locally managed natural resource management area since the 17th century. The most notable wildlife are the three dozen Ethiopian wolf (best seen 6am to 7am and 4pm to 7pm) and the many gelada monkeys. There are also some leopards, spotted hyenas, servals, klipspringers and honey badgers. The locally common Auger buzzard (one of many raptors) and endangered Ankober serin are two of 114 bird species.

Overnight Lal Hotel

DAY 2: FLY FROM ADDIS ABABA TO MEKELLE

Early morning depart to Mekele & start preparation for the Afar trip.

 Overnight Hotel.

DAY 3: MEKELLE – BEREHALA –AMEDELLA

Early in the morning after breakfast drive (at around 7 am) from Mekelle to Barehala ,where you will have two hours rest under the shade and your guide will be facilitated to have the armed Afar scout , the experienced Afar local guide, and the your entrance fee for the Eritael and Dalol.

After compelling all your logistics here keep driving to Amedella  and on the way you will admire and appreciate the cultural value of the Afar societies and their traditional house in these very desert places of the world.

Overnight camping at Amedella.

DAY 4: HAMEDELLA – LAKE ASELLA – DALLOL - HAMEDELLA

Morning drive excursion to the Dallol, the lowest area in the world, unique land formation and natural hot springs with different colures and salt hills. Drive around 20 kms to Lake Asela (Salt Lake) to see the Salt production area where the peoples work on the salt excavation and taking the produced salt with their own camels. You might be surprised when you see producing a salt simply like an earth sail by digging. Here you will have also an opportunity to visit the different colors of the earth in combination and an interesting color of Hot spring, the tradition of Camel caravan and then back to Amedella for your overnight.

 DAY 5: HAMEDELLA – DODEM – ERITALE

Drive to Dodem and admire the volcanic surrounding area and continue to Ertale from where the most extraordinary volcanic eruption. Spending the whole day at Erta-Ale, enjoy the marvelous view of the active volcanic eruption, the dry lava around the Crater Lake and at night the volcanic Eruption becomes more colorful. It is very amassing; you will ever and never see such a kind of event in your life. Around 09:00 start to descend to our camp.

Overnight camping at Ertale.

DAY 6: BACK TO DODEM - SEMERA

Drive to Dodem through the very sandy road of the area and appreciate the geothermal condition of the Afar region and keep driving to Dodem. Drives towards the East to Semera, the capital of the Afar Region, on the way enjoy the beautiful Ethiopian rift valley landscape.

Overnight at Camping.

DAY 7: SEMERA – AWASH NATIONAL PARK

Drive from semera to Awash Town, which is located in the central part of the rift valley system 250 km from Addis Ababa, the best place to familiarize yourself with the weather and the Kereyu people a step into a quieter, calmer and more natural world.

Overnight at Awash falls Lodge.

DAY 8: AWASH NATIONAL PARK

A full day  Bird  watching  and  game viewing  in  the  superb  lowland  of Awash National Park. It provides a great numbers of bird species like the Swallow tailed Kite, Martial and Imperial Eagles, Nubian (or Lappet faced)  Vulture,  Gabar  goshawk, Shikra, W hite faced scoops Owl, pearl spotted owlet, white backed and Egyptian VultuApart  from these birds of prey, the thorny   bushes   of   Awash   and   the ravines  forests  by  Awash  river  falls also accommodating a variety of different species. Secretary Bird, Red winged Bush Lark,  Ashy and Gillett's cist colas, Somali Fiscal, Gre at gray Shrike, Sulpher breasted and Grey headed Bush Shrikes, Cardinal and Bearded wood peckers, about five species of Bustards, Somali Golden, breasted Buntings, Red bill and Ye llow bill  Hornbills,  Acacia  paradise  and steel blue whydahs, Grey wren warbler,  Green  winged  Pytilia,  the two species of sand grouses, different social   weavers,   Red   and   Ye llow Barbet, Rosy patched shrike and a lot of other bird species could be seen i n this wonderful birding site. Awash NP is not only good for birding but also for game viewing. Lesser and Greater kudus, Somme ring's Guzzle, Defersa water buck, Hamadrys Baboon, Black backed Jackal and Lions (if lucky) are some of the mammals we are expecting. Tonight we may have a short-range night drive for the night jars and other activities. Overnight in Awash Falls Lodge

DAY 9: DRIVE BACK TO ADDIS ABABA

In the morning after your breakfast have a short sightseeing tour in the Awash national Park and start driving to Addis Ababa and have stop at Debre Zaite for your recreation and then start driving back to Addis Ababa. Last but not least, farewell traditional dinner in one of the renowned traditional restaurant in town

End of the program

Our special rate for the above program will be based on

  • 6 pax – USD 1662/pax ( two 4x4’s )
  • 10 pax – USD 1427/pax ( three 4x4’s )
  • 15 pax – USD 1442/pax (five 4x4’s )
  • 20 pax – USD 1420/pax ( seven 4x4’s )
  • 30 pax – USD 1388/pax ( ten 4x4’s )
  • 35 pax – USD 1339/pax ( eleven 4x4’s )
  • 40 pax – USD 1317/pax ( twelve 4x4’s )

 

P.S. ADDITIONAL ESCORT VEHICLE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR TRANSPORTATION OF SECURITY & COOK.

Program Cost Inclusions:

  • Accommodation in a twin/double bed sharing basis in standard hotels as listed in the itinerary
  • Meals on full board basis in the program with water, one beer (if available) at lunch and dinner: B,L,D
  • All sightseeing in an air-conditioned vehicle, (4x4) suitable for the Afar region respectively.
  • The services of professional French speaking Lal Tours escort who will accompany the group throughout the trip.
  • All entrance fee listed
  • Professional cook service from Mekele.
  • English-speaking local Afar guide service.
  • Camp gears and foodstuff in the camping (Full board)
  • Armed scout in the camping.
  • Afar scout in the camping.
  • Purified bottled water.
  • Camels for packing staff.
  • Gratitude for the Dodem province administration for facilitating the tour.
  • The service of a local guide
  • Fuel Expense.
  • Scout fees, Village and embarkation fee.
  • Driver allowance.
  • Governmental taxes.

Program Cost Exclusion:

  • International airfare
  • Pre or Post tour services
  • Independent travel arrangements
  • Visa or passport fees, visa fees
  • Medical and trip cancellation
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcohol, telephone expense, excess baggage fees, photo/video expense inside museums (where allowed)
  • Other items not expressly listed as included; anything not listed

Local Conditions:  Although, Ethiopia is a place where its considered 13th months sunshine, visiting the Semien will be at its best during the dry season from November to February. In August to October, the rain, particularly during the latter months can be of constant mist & drizzle. Lalibela during this time should be with a pleasant average temperature of 18C to 22C.

 Hotel/Meal Accommodation:

Visas:Accommodation in this trip has been chosen for its availability, location and in both cases are mid-range hotel; due to festivities. They are comfortable, well run and with en suites with twin or double beds, showers and toilets. Please do remember though that you are in a developing country where service can be a little relaxed. A good sense of humor and an open mind will help you get the most from this trip. J

All visitors must be in possession of a valid passport with at least six months left before expiry. Visas are required for entry into Ethiopia and must be obtained for 25 $ upon arrival.

Since this trip is on half board basis, lunch will be recommended to the best possible places as where is accessible & prepare lunch boxes to where it’s remote like the Semien Mountain, Bale & to some parts of the South Omo valley.

Vaccinations: A Yellow fever vaccination is not required unless coming from an area where Yellow Fever is endemic. We recommend inoculations for Typhoid, Tetanus and Hepatitis A. If you are a regular traveler abroad we would recommend that you are up to date on all childhood inoculations and vaccinations including polio. Malaria is present in Ethiopia but is not prevalent in the areas visited on this trip so prophylaxis is not generally recommended. Please consult a medical practitioner for professional advice.

 Health and Fitness: A good level of fitness is essential for your enjoyment, comfort and safety on this trip. The walking will be at a steady, slow pace and you will only have to worry about a day bag and yourself. It is impossible to predict how you will react to altitude. It is not a given that you will cope with altitude just because you have been at altitude before and have not encountered problems. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a serious condition and so acclimatization is essential. Time spent in Addis (2,400m) and Awassa (1,685m) will help as will the acclimatization walk from Dinsho and Simien Lodge. Symptoms of AMS can be a severe headache, lack of appetite, nausea, extreme lethargy and feelings of dizziness. Rehydration and rest can help but if of mind but valuable cover should the unexpected occur.

Airfare: Lal Tours can assist you with your air arrangements. The tour Operator does not accept the liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline ticket. The air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned.

What to Expect:  Meals will have a variety of western and traditional dishes .Most breakfasts will be taken at the hotels. Vegetarians can be accommodated. It’s essential that persons with any medical issues should inform before departure. Any impairment must be disclosed to Lal Tours prior booking.

Reservations, Deposits &

Final payment:To reserve a space on this program, partially refundable of 50 % from the amount is required per person. Final payments must be made with wire transfer. It must be paid in full at least 30 days prior to departure.

  • No refunds shall be issued after the tour has commenced. No refunds shall be issued for missed meals, sightseeing tours or any unused services.

Insurance: We recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance.

Changes in Itinerary, program and

Costs:We reserve the right to change a staff (including tour guide), accommodations as conditions warrant. Deviations from the scheduled itinerary are at the expense of the individual. All prices quoted are based on prevailing fuel prices and currency exchange rates in effect as of FEB 2014 and are subject to change.

 

Date

23 March 2019

Tags

Adventure Tours