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Introduction
| Visit the
Dallol one of the hottest areas on earth
home to the Afar tribe of Ethiopia.
Witness the age old activity of salt
cutting, then accompany the camels on
part of their three day trek, back up to
Mekele to the Salt Market. View the live
volcano of Ataele by night, an
unforgettable experience. Getting to
the Dallol is not the problem, but
returning with a sense of humour could
be, unless you use a reliable company
like Solomon Berhe Tours.
Transport is expensive in Ethiopia,
and you definitely need a four-wheel
drive for safety and comfort, with a
second vehicle for back up.On a recent
visit we only got stuck twice but met
others digging out for the seventh time...
At $180+ a day for vehicle hire,
it is good to find friends to share the
costs. You will also need space for the
two Afar policemen and the tourist office
guide ,whom the regional authority insist
on accompanying you. This is despite
having your own excellent guide, driver
and appropriate pass papers. This isn't a
hardship because a larger group creates a
better atmosphere and a greater cultural
experience.
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 A view of the Dallol depression
 Salt mining
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 Dallol depression
 A third perspective of the Dallol depression
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Our advice,
if you have the time, is to do a circular
trip and not take the more direct way
along the salt route from Mekele. Travel
via Awash, Asaita and the salt lake at
Afrera, visiting one or two live
volcanoes. Camping overnight near the
rim, allows you to witness the
spectacular sight of a live volcano by
night. It is worth it to see the bubbling
lava. Once in the depression, you may
trek with the camels for some time, on
their way up to Mekele or pass by the
Camel train in the car arriving there
within a day.You may opt to visit one or
two of the famous Gare Alta churches of
Tigray on your way back.
If you have a head for heights you may
climb up to the highest churches to
appreciate the view from the top of the
mountains. The choice is yours.
The Dallol will exceed all your
expectations: fantastic scenery, sulphur
springs,colourful mineral deposits and
the salt lake area itself. However,
nothing will match the wake up call of
the 400 camels passing your tent in the
early morning on the way to the salt
cutting.
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| October - early January is the coolest
time when you are likely to see the most
camels. Please contact us via our e-mail
sol2rs@yahoo.com for further information
about costs and available dates. |
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart Heathrow, fly overnight.
Day 2 Arrive Addis
Ababa. Overnight Hotel in Addis Ababa.
Optional City Tour.
Day 3 Drive to Awash
National Park. Overnight in Awash Park
camping or Genet hotel in Awash .
Day 4 Drive to Asaita,
Lunch at Mile en route. Arrive a tbasic
hotel by about 4p.m.Nice journey through
the landscape of The Rift Valley. A
chance to see Wildlife and Birdlife on
the way.
Day 5 Continue on to
Afrera. Camping overnight, desert area of
the Afar Region.
Day 6 Cross via a
relatively unexplored route to a campsite
from which we trek or ride camels to the
Volcano. Set up main campsite with
vehicle support.
Day 7 Early start
towards the site of the Volcano with all
necessary food and water. Camping
Overnight.
Day 8 Time to explore
the area around the Volcano at group's
discretion.
Day 9 Return to main
Campsite and vehicles. |

Volcanic Crater

Landscape on the way to Ataele
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Day 10
Drive to Ahamedela Camp. This is
a 3 to4 hours hard walk away from the
salt mining area.
Day 11 Very early
morning start to walk to the site of the
cutting of the blocks of salt to be
transported by camel to Mekele. Return to
Ahamedela Camp the same day. Interesting,
but long hot day.
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Walking with the
camels
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Salt mining
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Day
12 Early morning drive to the
Dallol Depression, the lowest point on
Earth. Return to Ahamedela Camp and
continuedriving on up to Berahile. Camp
Overnight at Berahile.
Day 13 Drive to Mekele
to arrive at lunchtime. Overnight in
comfortable Hotel.
Day 14 Fly to Addis
Ababa. Overnight Hotel.
Day 15 Fly Home.
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Costs vary
according to the number of people in the
group and the time of year and options
chosen. |
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