in response to recent high activitiy with lava lake overflows (Danakil desert, Ethiopia)

A fresh pahoehoe lava makes its way from the overflowing lake across black lava flows that only recently covered the caldera floor (Nov 2016; image: Hans en Jooske)

A large lava bubble explodes at the surface of the full lava lake (Dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)

Boiling hot and overflowing Erta Ale lava lake (dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)

Strong nighttime glow of the active lava lake as seen from the caldera rim (bluish lights to the right are observers at Erta Ale camp site) (Dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)

Closer view of the large volumes of fresh pahoehoe lava flows that cover the caldera floor and are still red hot and liquid beneath their thin crusts (Nov 2016; image: Hans en Jooske)

Strong spattering from the boiling lava lake that is about to overflow (Dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)

Overflowing ´perched´lava lake of Erta Ale in November 2016 (image: Hans en Jooske)

Nighttime impression of lava flow and spattering from the overflowing lava lake (Dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)

The Dallol salt dome amidst dark green acid ponds with yellow ´salt cakes´ (dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)

Dallol´s hydrothermal system creates an ever changeing alien landscape of colourful salt deposits, acid ponds and miniatyre geysirs (dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)

Bizarre miniature geysers or salt springs at Dallol (dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)

Photographing the abundant green acid ponds amidst the white-yellow-orange salt deposits (Dec 2010; image: Tom Pfeiffer)
Erta Ale volcano has been in
spectacular activity during the past weeks, probably the most intense phase in decades: the lava lake has been overflowing almost daily and been covering the caldera floor with fresh lava flows.
For those quick to decide, we offer this Volcano Special tour in order to stay 4 full days / 4 nights on the volcano!
- 4 full days/nights on the summit of Erta Ale active volcano
- Excellent Ethiopian volcanologist as main guide
- Small international group
- Dedicated supply vehicle with experienced cook
- Experience - we organise Danakil adventures since 2007
- Competent and friendly local team and drivers
- Interaction with local people, introduction into local customs
- Optional: 3 extra days to explore Dallol, Assale salt lake and surroundings
Erta Ale Volcano Special
J 1: Arrival in Mekele
Arrival in Mekele, pickup at airport and transfer to hotel, group meeting at welcome dinner.
J 2: Mekele - Erta Ale
Morning start of the 4X4 drive into the Danakil to the base camp of Erta Ale, first on asphalted road but last part off road over old lava flows.
J 3: Montée matinale au volcan Erta Ale - exploration de la caldeira
En début de matinée, montez au sommet d'Erta Ale (environ 3 h, 10 km, 500 m de haut), petit-déjeuner sur la jante et visite du groupe autour de la caldeira. Après le déjeuner, vous pourrez vous détendre et explorer les sommet du volcan.
J 4-6: 3 full days / nights on Erta Ale
We have 3 full extra days and nights on the shield volcano´s summit area to explore its caldera and observe/photograph the ongoing and ever changing volcanic activity.
J 7: Erta Ale - Mekele
Early morning descend from the volcano bact to base camp and jeep drive back to Mekele (or 3 day extension to Dallol).
J 8: Transfer aéroport ou extension
Notre service de l'expétion au Danakil finit aujourd'hui avec le transfer à l'aéroport ou une autre destination proche. Mekele est le point de départ idéal pour d'autres excursions en Ethiopie.
Erta Ale Special + Dallol extension
Remarque:
You can add three more nights of camping in the Danakil dessert to also explore the colourful hydrothermal system of Dallol, Assale salt lake and the camel caravans.
J 1-6: as D1-6 in Erta Ale Special
Days 1 to 6 are the same as those described in the Erta Ale volcano special itinerary.
J 7: Descente de l’Erta Ale, conduire à Hamed Ela
Au début du matin, descendez d'Erta Ale de retour au camp de base, petit-déjeuner, voyage au jeep 4x4 pour retourner à la route principale et continuer notre voyage dans le village Afar de Hamed Ela.
J 8-9: Transfert vers le lac Assale - caravanes de sel
Transfert en jeep à Ahmedela sur une piste sablonneuse. Déjeunez sur le chemin dans un oasis de palmiers.
J 10: Dallol - Mekele
After breakfast we break up our camp in Hamed Ela and make our way back to Mekele.
J 11: Transfer aéroport ou extension
Notre service de l'expétion au Danakil finit aujourd'hui avec le transfer à l'aéroport ou une autre destination proche. Mekele est le point de départ idéal pour d'autres excursions en Ethiopie.
Point de départ:
To allow for maximum flexibility for individual participants travel plans, this volcano special expedition starts and ends in Mekele, which is the capital city of the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The airline company that service this airport (MQX, Alula Aba Nega Airport) is Ethiopian Airlines. One can easily book this domestic flight from and to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia´s capital, as there are 5-6 daily connections. Your international flights to and from Ethiopia are not included as default since we have participants from all over the world. However, please do feel free to contact us if you would like any assistance with finding the best flight connections for you!
Thème: Aventure, Trek et Volcans: Volcans Actifs - Photographie - Aventure
Difficulté: Modérée
Groupe: 3-10
Durée: 8 - 11 days
Départs:
Départs sur commande possibles
Prix (p. p.): $ 3700
Le prix comprend:
- Accommodation in double rooms / tents
- Full board from dinner on the first day until breakfast after last hotel night
- Drinking water, up to 8 liters per person per day
- Professional Ethiopian guide who is an English-speaking geologist
- Private transport in 4WD vehicles
- Experienced 4WD drivers and cook
- Full camping equipment
- Camels, camel drivers and porters to and from Erta Ale´s summit
- Armed Afar guards and guides on Erta Ale
- Tips for local staff (camel drivers, guards, local guides, ...)
Encadrement:
Enku is the main guide on all our Danakil volcano expeditions. After obtaining a Diploma in Travel Organising and completing his BSc in Geology at the University of Addis Ababa, he spend
10 years traveling through Ethiopia whilst working both as
free-lance travel guide and a contracted mining geologist for different oil and gold mining companies.
Since 2006 he
specialised in
geological travel guidance for the
Danakil depression and hence has lots of
experience and competence in organizing
expeditions to Erta Ale and Dallol. He likes to share his vast knowledge on the geology of the Danakil but will also gladly answer any questions you might have regarding Ethiopia´s fauna and flora, culture, history, food or traditions!

Our excellent Ethiopian main guide and geologist Enku!
Erta Ale Volcano Special |
Erta Ale Special + Dallol extension
Erta Ale Volcano Special
J 1: Arrival in Mekele
As you arrive in Mekele you are picked from the airport and transfered to the hotel. If you have time you can have a city tour. The group gets together for the first time in the evening for a welcome dinner and general briefing on the expedition.
J 2: Mekele - Erta Ale
After breakfast we meet your guide at your Hotel about 09:00 am and leave Mekele with our 4X4 jeep expedition. We drive to Erta Ale Volcanic Field through the western escarpment of the Danakil Depression (Great Rift Valley).
Today we have the chance to see the recent lava flow and tectonically affected mountain ranges. Both recent basalt of spreading Axes, recent sediments and Highland rock sequences dominate the road Geology of the area where you are driving through. After all the arrangements with Erta Ale area chief and administrators to get a permission for the visit are done, we continue to Erta Ale volcano along the off road across older pahoehoe lavas. As soon as we arrive at the base camp, we settle down for the night in huts, have a short walk walk around. After tasty dinner we have a short night of sleep.
J 3: Montée matinale au volcan Erta Ale - exploration de la caldeira

Short descend from the crater rim down to the caldera floor (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Seeing Erta Ale´s lava lake for the very first time (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

One of many camels in the small Afar settlement on Erta Ale´s caldera rim (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)
Avant le lever du soleil, nous nous lançons sur la ca. 3 h ascension d'Erta Ela . C'est une randonnée relativement facile - environ 10 km à travers les vieux flux de lave qui couvrent les flancs du volcan bouclier, avec une différence d'élévation totale de ca. 500 m. Plus nous nous rapprochons, plus brillant devient la lueur rouge du lac de lava!Notre caravane de chameaux était déjà mis en avant ainsi que le petit déjeuner sera prêt au moment où nous arrivons sur la jante de la caldeira . Après avoir installé le camp dans les différentes huttes Afar, le groupe se réassemble pour une promenade vers le bas dans la caldeira qui vous emmènera le long des principales caractéristiques et points de vue volcaniques d'Erta Ale . Déjeuner à notre retour, le reste de ce jour et de la nuit, tout le monde est libre de planifier son exploration due sommet du volcano et le temps pour relaxer et dormir.
J 4-6: 3 full days / nights on Erta Ale
We camp on Erta Ale´s caldera rim for 3 more days and nights so we have ample of time to explore the summit area, make photographs at different light conditions during the day and night and observe the changeing activity of the active vents.
J 7: Erta Ale - Mekele
After another short night we start our descend from Erta Ale´s caldera rim at the coolest moment which is early in the morning before sunrise. Breakfast awaits us upon arrival in Erta Ale´s base camp. We then retake the jeep drive back to Mekele where a warm shower awaits us at the hotel. Alternatively, some participants might continue on from Erta Ale base camp to do the 3 days Dallol extension.
J 8: Transfer aéroport ou extension
Notre service de l'expétion au Danakil finit aujourd'hui avec le transfer à l'aéroport ou une autre destination proche. Mekele est le point de départ idéal pour d'autres excursions en Ethiopie.
Erta Ale Special + Dallol extension
Remarque:
You can add three more nights of camping in the Danakil dessert to also explore the colourful hydrothermal system of Dallol, Assale salt lake and the camel caravans.
J 1-6: as D1-6 in Erta Ale Special
Days 1 to 6 are the same as those described in the Erta Ale volcano special itinerary.
J 7: Descente de l’Erta Ale, conduire à Hamed Ela

View from Erta Ale camp onto observers gathered around the active lava lake for sunrise (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

Driving north on the main road along the edge of the Western highlands (Ingrid Smet - November 2015)

The Afar village of Hamed Ela where we set up camp for 2 nights, sleeping on wooden beds underneath the stars (Jay Ramji - February 2016)
Après une dernière nuit en camping sur Erta Ale de la jante de caldeira ( ca 565 m ), nous commençons notre descente dans les heures de refroidissement de la tôt le matin , avant le lever du soleil. Parce que notre caravane de chameaux avez déjà parti pendant la nuit, notre petit déjeuner nous attend au camp de base ( environ 140 m ). Après avoir réorganisé nos bagages sur les jeeps, nous voyageons dans la région de Dallol et Lake Assale en observant un paysage changeant rapidement du dessert de lave par steppe aux hauts plateaux montagneux avant de tourner vers l'est et de revenir dans la depression de Danakil. Selon les conditions météorologiques et routières, nous arrivons au Afar village de Hamed Ela ( ca. -85 m ) au cours de l'après-midi et ou nous installons notre camp pour les deux prochaines nuits. Le reste de l'après-midi / soir peut être utilisé pour se reposer, avoir une demi-douche, explorer Hamed Ela, observer les caravanes de chameaux traversant ...
J 8-9: Transfert vers le lac Assale - caravanes de sel

L'eau des puits dans le désert

Arrivée des caravanes de dromadaires

Fissures sur la surface du lac (sec) de sel
Parfois il faut surmonter quelques difficultés lors de la conduite en 4x4 à travers le désert depuis la partie nord vers l’immense et aride lac de sel près d’Ahmed Ela qui est notre objectif du jour.
En après-midi et dans la soirée nous pouvons observer les interminables caravanes de dromadaires faisant des allers-retours : arrivée à vide, ils restent dans la fascinante ville puis rencontreront ceux qui façonnent et emballent les précieux blocs de sel. Après la tombé delà nuit, nous assistons au rituel de l’attribution des coupeurs de blocs (le Focolo) aux propriétaires des dromadaires (le Arho), pour le jour suivant dans la mine de sel au lac.
J 10: Dallol - Mekele
A last breakfast in Hamed Ela is followed by break up of our camp there before we take the 4x4 jeeps to drive out of the Danakil depression and ascent back onto the highlands where a warm shower awaits us in our hotel in Mekele.
J 11: Transfer aéroport ou extension
Notre service de l'expétion au Danakil finit aujourd'hui avec le transfer à l'aéroport ou une autre destination proche. Mekele est le point de départ idéal pour d'autres excursions en Ethiopie.
Erta Ale Volcano Special |
Erta Ale Special + Dallol extension
Prix départs sur commande: sur demande
Le prix comprend:
- Accommodation in double rooms / tents
- Full board from dinner on the first day until breakfast after last hotel night
- Drinking water, up to 8 liters per person per day
- Professional Ethiopian guide who is an English-speaking geologist
- Private transport in 4WD vehicles
- Experienced 4WD drivers and cook
- Full camping equipment
- Camels, camel drivers and porters to and from Erta Ale´s summit
- Armed Afar guards and guides on Erta Ale
- Tips for local staff (camel drivers, guards, local guides, ...)
Le prix ne comprend pas:
- Flights to and from Mekele airport (MQX)
- Single room/tent supplement
- Light sleeping bag
- Extra and/or alcoholic drinks
- Extra nights in Mekele or Addis Ababa (if required)
- Tips for the main guide, drivers and cook
- Costs of entry VISA
Réductions prix:
Retour de clients (5-8%): Nos voyageurs fidèles reçoivent 5% (ou 8%, à partir du 4eme voyage) de remise sur le prix de base du voyage.
Remise pour la réservation d'un groupe (5%): Si au minimum 4 personnes réservent ensemble sur un voyage de groupe, nous offrons 5% de remise cumulable avec le retour de clients dans une limite de 10% au maximum.
Modules:
3 day Dallol extension (colourful hydrothermal system, Assale salt lake) |
950 USD per person (min. 2 participants) |
Infos complémentaires:
Condition physique:
The walks on this tour are not particularly difficult, but you should have experience with hiking on uneven and rugged terrain. Although we organise our Danakil during the cooler months of the year, temperatures in the Danakil depression usually range between 35-40 deg C (95-105 deg F), but can easily soar up to 45-50 deg C (120-130 deg F) in the hottest hours near Dallol.
The hike to / from Erta Ale´s summit area and caldera rim from base camp and back requires about 10 km trekking over uneven, but relatively easy and gently climbing terrain (about 500 m altitude gain / descend) and is done in the early morning hours prior to sunrise in order to minimize the impact of heat. To approach the edge of the lava lake and other parts of the caldera one needs to walk across the uneven, easy to moderately difficult to walk on platy, ropy or hollow pahoehoe lava flows. Good boots, long pants and gloves are a must. Extra care must be taken when walking over the lava tubes as the thin, glassy crusts of the hardened lava sometimes break so that you suddenly sink up to max halve meter into the hollow cavity below. Walking sticks to "test" the terrain and keep balance are recommended.
Sanitary conditions during most part of this expedition will be very to extremely basic and you should therefore be in excellent overall health. No proper washing facilities are available while in the desert (approx. 7 days). Unfortunately, the local toilet habits in the Afar region and in particular around the salt lakes and atop the volcano is to do your business more or less anywhere; the area around Ahmed Ela (the salt-cutters' town near Dallol) is littered with garbage and human and animal excrement, resulting in a high rate of stomach bugs / traveler´s disease among visitors to the region.
We therefore ask you to consult a medical doctor about going to the Danakil prior to joining the expedition. One should particularly take precautions / medicine against dehydration, diarrhea and stomach infections.
Début et fin du voyage:
To allow for maximum flexibility for individual participants travel plans, this volcano special
expedition starts and ends in Mekele, which is the capital city of the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The airline company that service this airport (MQX, Alula Aba Nega Airport) is Ethiopian Airlines. One can easily book this domestic flight from and to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia´s capital, as there are 5-6 daily connections. Your international flights to and from Ethiopia are not included as default since we have participants from all over the world. However, please do feel free to contact us if you would like any assistance with finding the best flight connections for you!

Frank working at the lava lake of Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
"Hallo Tom,
ich möchte mich hiermit bei Dir für die
exzellente logistische Organisation der Touren nach Äthiopien Januar 2008 (Erta Ale, Dallol)
und Indonesien Juli 2008 (Krakatau und Tengger Kaldera) bedanken.
Dank Deiner netten und kompetenten Partner vor Ort (Solomon, Doni und alle anderen) fühlte ich mich in sehr guten Händen aufgehoben und verköstigt. Somit konnte ich mich auf meine fotografischen Aktivitäten konzentrieren, ohne mir über organisatorische Dinge Sorgen machen zu müssen. Ich bin überzeugt, dass wir noch einige weitere Exkursionen zusammen machen werden und kann Volcano Discovery Touren sehr empfehlen.
Good luck und gut Lava"
Frank Krahmer - Premium Nature Photography
------------------------------------------------------- www:
http://www.frankkrahmer.de 