TEMPERATURE AT ETHIOPIA DALLOL DEPRESSION TOURS TO VOLCANO CRATER

Challenge the heat of desert temperatures during these amazing Dallol Depression tours to see the Erte Ale volcano crater, the salt winning, camel caravans and the hot sulphur springs

Temperatures at the Ethiopia Dallol Depression Tours to the Volcano Crater

The Dallol Desert - or Dalol or Danakil Depression is desert region in the Northern part of the Afar Triangle where 3 tectonic plates press against each other, causing the land to sink. In order to enter the lowlands, one must get a permission in Berahile, at about 120km from the Tigray capital, Mek'ele.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Most of our hundreds of pictures are favored in Google! Why? Because no other website has so many beautiful high resolution pictures, taken by ourselves. Our pictures not only show you the beauty of Ethiopia, but they also show that we go everywhere, photographing wildlife, plants, people and culture. They show our professionalism, our keen eye for detail and our passion for the culture and nature of Ethiopia. So why consider booking our our Ethiopia Culture & National Parks modules? Because we don't mislead you like many tour operators do. When the Blue Nile falls are dry.... we tell you. When fog clouds the lava lake of Erte Ale? We let you know. Just drop us a mail and we will check it out for you.

Our tours take you to ALL famous cultural places of Ethiopia, and on top of that, you get to see up to 12 large nature reserves accompanied by a conservation forester. There is nothing similar on the market.

As Ethiopia can be combined with other East African countries, we organize tours in modules. Destinations Overview: Historical Circuit; Danakil Depression; Eastern Route; Simien Mountains; Bale Mountains; Southern Parks Safari; Gambella; Addis Ababa. BUT WAIT: if you buy your international ticket with Ethiopia Airlines, they will sell the internal flights at a price that you can't even ride the bus for. But you MUST plan it all in one package and making changes may be very costly. So let us help you plan your entire trip and book your local flights for an incredibly low price after you booked your international flight with Ethiopian Airlines!

With the and Ethiopia Dallol depression temperature averaging at above 34^o, the Dallol Desert is the hottest place on earth and and has the harshest climate of Ethiopia. The Awash River that comes for the South East, but never reaches the ocean as it evaporates in the Afar Triangle. The lowest point of the desert is Lake Assale and the second lowest area is Lake Afrera. Lake Asale or Assale used to be connected to the Red Sea, and after it was cut off the water evaporated, leaving enormous salt deposits. For millennia the salt deposits of Lake Assale provided wealth to the Ethiopian empire, as the Afar mined salt and shipped the salt on their camels caravans over great distances to Asia. Lake Afrera is an alkaline water which is commercially used for salt extraction from salt pans along the of the lake.

Most the Afar people are semi-nomadic pastoralists while some engage themselves in salt mining and transportation.

The Dallol sulphur hot springs are located at an abandoned salt mine site along the shore of Lake Assale.

The Dallol Depression is geologically extremely active and is scattered with many active volcanoes, of which the Dallol Erta Ale Volcano crater is the most famous, while the entire Afar Triangle is covered with lava beds almost everywhere.

The Afar Triangle has also become know for the archaeological finding place of then oldest homonid fossil at a place called Hadar and which was dubbed Lucy after the Beatles song.

To get an impression of the climate:

The heat during the Dallol depression tour are challenging but most rewording:

Dallol Expedition

Our Ethiopia safaris include this Ethiopia Desert Route module. Be aware that the Dallol Depression has no comfortable accommodations and only has one road traversing it, which does not reach some of the most interesting places like the sulfur springs, the Afar salt mining site and the Erta Ale Volcano. Tourists are accommodated in tents and primitive structures, while food and water is brought along. 

Ethiopia's lowest place, Lake Assale, 115 m below sea level.

Salt Formations

Salt cliffs and other salt formations at Lake Assale.

The sulphur hot springs at the former Dallol salt mine, are continuously changing location, which leads to dead geyser-heads in the landscape.

A Hot lake at in the Dallol desert with saucer shaped formations and coloured crystal development in the water.

The Sulfur hot springs at the former Dallol mining camp with colors varying from ochre, lemon yellow, snow white to lime green.

Afar Salt Mining

The cutting of salt tiles at the Afar mining site.

Camels and donkeys waiting to get loaded for the salt transport to Berahile.

Afar Tribe

The Afar are herders living in very harsh climate conditions, with hardly any rainfall, extreme temperatures and strong winds loaded with sand and dust. Their homes are made from woven mats to keep out the dust and sand.  

Afar women and children.

Wading in Lake Afrera.

Wildlife of the Dallol Desert

Wildlife in the Dallol Depression is extremely rare and threatened, but some species still hang on to their survival. You will not see a great variety of species, even among the birds, sightings are rare. However, some very exiting species still are around and if you see them, it will be a very rewarding encounter.

After visiting Lake Assale and the Erta Ale Volcano, it is possible to continue to Lake Afrera and from there to the Lucy site at Hadar, but most people return to Tigray capital Mek'ele to continue from there to Lalibela.

Ethiopia modernizes and changes more rapidly than any other country in Africa. Many features may not be there anymore in the near future. If you want to see it the way it was for thousands of years, see it now before it has changed forever! Compose your own once-in-a-lifetime Ethiopia-Africa-Adventure from our affordable modules:

Famous Ethiopia Historical Circuit

Simien Mountains trek or car visit

Danakil Depression and Erte Ale Volcano Expedition

Awash Babile Harar Safari Tour

Ethiopia Central and Southern Parks & Tribes Safari Tour

Bale Mountains National Park and Sof Omar Caves Tour

Gambella National Park Safari

Addis Ababa City Tour & Airport Transfer

All Ethiopia modules and prices together

We designed our itineraries in such a way that you can compose a 1 to 4 weeks journey from different modules that can show you the entire country or just the parts that interest you, all depending on your personal preferences, available time and budget. Email us on your interests and we can discuss a custom program with you by phone (we have phone lines from the USA and Europe) or skype. So, weather you have a great ethnic affinity, are a birdwatcher or want to go on safari, contact us and we work out a customized program that focuses on YOUR interests.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is home of Ethiopian Airlines, featuring Africa's youngest fleet of the latest intercontinental jet airplanes - including 2 Dreamliners - as well as short-distance Bombardier turboprops for affordable and reliable in-country flights servicing all major cities of Ethiopia. The best airline of Africa, will fly you non-stop from the USA and Europe to Addis Ababa. Take our 1-week Ethiopia Cultural Monuments Tour and then continue for your Kenya or Tanzania safari - or any other East African capital - thus completing your journey. IF YOU BUY YOUR INTERNATIONAL TICKET FROM ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES, YOU WILL GET MOST INTERNAL FLIGHTS FOR $40 - $70 PER LEG! BUT CHANGING AFTERWARDS IS EXPENSIVE, SO WORK OUT A SCHEDULE WITH US TO GET A FABULOUS DEAL FOR FLYING THROUGH THE COUNTRY IN STEAD OF SPENDING ENDLESS TIME ON THE ROAD!!!

TEMPERATURE AT ETHIOPIA DALLOL DEPRESSION TOURS TO VOLCANO CRATER