Erta Ale volcano

To visit Erta Ale volcano is an exciting experience to get in touch with a pulsing and alive earth. It’s found in the hearth of Danakil depression, a region that offers one of the most amazing open-air lessons of geology you can find: active lava volcano, diverse geothermal hotspots, tectonic phenomena, combined with the aridity of the area. It is spectacular. This land is inhabited by nomadic people, accustomed to living in such extreme conditions. To reach the caldera of the volcano a 2 hour walk is needed.

ART0%
HISTORY60%
LANDSCAPE100%
WILDLIFE60%
PEOPLE AND CULTURE80%
PHYSICAL CHALLENGE90%

ACCOMODATION STANDARD: There are some medium range hotels in the closest town of Semera and Mekelle, but at least one night with basic camping facilities must be scheduled to visit the volcano.

WEATHER: The Danakil depression is one of the hottest spots in the earth, nevertheless the temperatures between October and March are not too different from a hot and dry European summer: minimum in the night may reach till 15ª, in the daytime up to 40ª. To travel in April and September will be more challenging, from May to August is not advisable to travel.

ERTA ALE VOLCANO DANAKIL DESERTThe road to Erta Ale passes through strips of sandy desert.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO AFAR PEOPLE DANAKIL DESERTPeople from Afar tribe. Nomadic herders, they are the only ones used to the asperity of this region.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO ROAD DANAKIL DESERTThe stony path to Erta Ale base camp challenges cars
ERTA ALE VOLCANO TREK DANAKIL DESERTTourists are accompained bypolice and camels load the camping stuff to the edge of the caldera.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO TREE DANAKIL DESERTAround the volcano only scarce vegetation is found.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO LAVA DANAKIL DESERTVolcanic landscape on the way to Erta Ale.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO LAVA DANAKIL DESERTThe lava on the way to the volcano takes fascinating shapes.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO HUTS DANAKIL DESERTThe huts to spend the night are placed just beside the caldera.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO CALDERA DANAKIL DESERTErta Ale secondary caldera.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO LAVA DANAKIL DESERTThe amazing show of the lava is amazing during the night.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO LAVA DANAKIL DESERTThe level of the lava and its visibility is variable and may change consistently from day to day.
ERTA ALE VOLCANO AERIAL VIEW DANAKIL DESERTUnusual aerial view of Erta Ale volcano, it is possible to organise a charter flight to comfortably survey this challenging region from above.

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