Ethiopia: Harar and the Danakil Depression
Group Tour
To view images fullscreen please turn device
Overview
The contrasts of Ethiopia never cease to amaze. While it may be home to the fertile headwaters of the Blue Nile and the striking Simien Mountains which rise to 4,550m, this adventurous tour focuses instead on the arid north-east of the country which counts amongst its treasures the fascinating medieval walled city of Harar as well as the unforgiving Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on earth!
Along the way our journey will see us encounter the famed ‘ ...
The contrasts of Ethiopia never cease to amaze. While it may be home to the fertile headwaters of the Blue Nile and the striking Simien Mountains which rise to 4,550m, this adventurous tour focuses instead on the arid north-east of the country which counts amongst its treasures the fascinating medieval walled city of Harar as well as the unforgiving Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on earth!
Along the way our journey will see us encounter the famed ‘hyena man’ of National Geographic fame, take a drive through Awash National Park, where Wilfred Thesiger once explored in the 1930s and reach the shores of Lake Afrera which sits 100m below sea level. In addition we’ll undertake a memorable trek to the top of the active volcano Erta Ale before discovering the alien salt landscapes of Dallol.
Finally we will emerge from the Danakil by following the route of the Salt Caravans, climbing the mountains that rise steeply from the Rift Valley into Tigray region and on to highland city of Mekele where our journey ends.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use a combination of a mini bus and 4WD vehicles.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.
On this particular trip we will stay in a combination of hotels, lodges, guesthouses and will also remote camp, where the facilities will be very basic. In Harar depending on availability and final group size we may be split between different guesthouses or stay in a simple hotel. The hotel in Semera is simple and as there is no alternative, should it not be available for whatever reason, we will camp nearby. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour Starts in Dire Dawa
Day 1 Tour Starts in Dire Dawa
The tour starts this afternoon in the eastern city of Dire Dawa, strategically located along the newly revamped railway line linking Addis Ababa to the coast at Djibouti Town. After lunch and a chance to rest we’ll have an introductory briefing before taking a wander through the town including a visit to the historic train station.
Day 2 Dire Dawa - Harar
Day 2 Dire Dawa - Harar
This morning we will drive up to the medieval walled city of Harar (approx. 2 hours). Known locally as Jugal, the old town is enclosed by a 5m-high wall that effectively defined the whole of Harar until the Italian occupation. On our tour we will see mosques, churches, the house of the French poet Rimbaud, the Adere people’s traditional houses, the markets, basket productions and much more. In the evening we will also visit a man who continues an age-old tradition of feeding wild hyenas on the outside of the city wall – a spectacle not to be missed!
Day 3 Harar - Alledeghi WildLife Reserve
Day 3 Harar - Alledeghi WildLife Reserve
Today we will drive to Alledeghi WildLife Reserve and although a full day in the vehicles, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to stop and see the impressive countryside we are driving through. We will visit the famous local qat market in the village of Awedae before heading into the wildlife reserve. This unique area is home to a diverse wildlife, including Grevy’s zebra, spotted hyena, wild ass, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, among many others, as well as an abundance of birdlife.
Day 4 Alledeghi WildLife Reserve
Day 4 Alledeghi WildLife Reserve
We will wake early this morning to drive back to Alledeghi (approx. 40km) and spend a few hours driving through the park to try and spot the animals and birds who make this area their home. Hippos, waterbucks, hyraxes, kudus, crocodiles, tortoises, and a variety of birds can be spotted here. In the afternoon, we will take a guided walk and a chance to spot more animals and learn more about the flora and fauna. There will also be some free time for you today to relax and enjoy the natural hot springs in the lodge grounds.
Day 5 Alledeghi WildLife Reserve - Semera
Day 5 Alledeghi WildLife Reserve - Semera
Heading north today, we’ll follow the Awash River north towards Afar country and the small town of Semera, the gateway to the Danakil. Here we will obtain the necessary permission required to enter the Danakil region tomorrow (350km. approx. 5hrs)
Day 6 Semera – Erta Ale Volcano Basecamp
Day 6 Semera – Erta Ale Volcano Basecamp
This morning we take a short drive to Alalobed to experience the hydrothermal activity of the geysers, steam vents and hot mud pools before making our way further into the barren landscape of the Danakil Desert. All the while we will be slowly losing altitude and by the time we reach Lake Afrera we will be 100m below sea level. At this point we leave the tarmac behind and head out over the sand towards Erta Ale Volcano. After several hours we reach Kuswarad, an Afar village where we pick up our local Afa/Ertaler guides. We then continue through the desert where we reach the basalt rock formed by old lava flows. After getting off our vehicle, we trek to the rim of the volcano at around sunset, to avoid walking during the heat of the day. The trek will take about 45-60 minutes, with the latter part of the walk taking part in the dark. The path is not that steep, but it is important everyone has a torch and sticks together. We camp on the crater rim, a safe distance away from the lava.
Day 7 Erta Ale Volcano - Dallol
Day 7 Erta Ale Volcano - Dallol
This morning will be an early start as we leave camp before the heat of the day. On arriving at our vehicles we will freshen up before driving to Dallol. The driving is all off road, through the desert. We stop at a palm grove for lunch and should have a chance to try some of the local palm wine. In the evening we will arrive at Ahmedela, a small settlement where the salt caravans meet before their long walk to Mekele.
Day 8 Dallol - Mekele
Day 8 Dallol - Mekele
Dallol is like nowhere else; a bizarre landscape of colourful mineral deposits, sulphur pools and geysers, where we’ll have the morning to explore this seemingly alien terrain. We will also visit the bizarre landscape of the salt canyons before making our way towards the town of Mekele, where en route we may get the chance to see the arduous work of salt being extracted by hand and loaded onto the camels. After the first chance in several days for a proper shower we’ll then have our final dinner and the opportunity to reflect on the remarkable adventure we’ve taken.
If by the time of departure the road to Mekele is not open we will return to Semera for our final night.Day 9 Mekele - Tour Ends
Day 9 Mekele - Tour Ends
Those on the suggested group flight will be transferred to the airport for their flight to Addis and beyond.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Samrat Hotel, Dire Dawa
The Samrat Hotel is a comfortable hotel situated in the heart of Dire Dawa Keriza, just ten minutes from the Aba Tena Dejazmach Yilma International airport. The restaurant serves a range of international cuisines and is available 24 hours a day. The café is located by the outdoor swimming pool and serves snacks and pizzas. The hotel's additional features include a banquet hall, fitness centre, night club and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. There are fifty eight rooms in total and guests can choose from Luxury Suites or Standard Rooms - definitely try to go for the suite as the rooms are far more spacious.
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Supporting Education in Ethiopia
The Wild Frontiers Foundation is proud to support Camara Education, an international charity and social enterprise that uses recycled technology to deliver 21st century skills to improve education in disadvantaged communities around the world.
The Wild Frontiers Foundation has funded the installation of computer classrooms - 25 recycled computers, loaded with educational software - in three schools in Ethiopia. Teachers from the schools are also trained in basic digital literacy skills, simple hardware maintenance and how to use the computers to teach various subjects.
With access to this technology, students are learning new skills to improve their education and ultimately gain better future employment.
Promoting Gender Quality
Wild Frontiers is sponsoring the Gonder Girls’ Football Team. The team initiative, set up by partners Link Ethiopia, promotes gender quality, builds confidence, and develops the leadership skills of girls aged 13 to 16. Training twice a week, it also provides opportunities for girls to move beyond the limitations of traditional gender roles in a fun, safe environment and develop a supportive network of friends, while improving their physical fitness.
The programme also runs regular sessions for the 20 girls on puberty, sexual health, family planning, and the right over their bodies, along with providing menstrual hygiene management kits.
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently require a visa for Ethiopia, which can be obtained as an E-Visa.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Or alternatively you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries.
Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your individual requirements.
Omo Valley
Visit one of the most culturally diverse regions in Ethiopia, home to several unique and fascinating tribes. Allow for 12 - 15 days
Historical Northern Circuit
Visit the best of the historical northern circuit of Ethiopia including Mekele, Tigray, Yeha and Axum or spend some time exploring the stunning UNESCO Simien National park and mingle with Gelada baboons. Allow between 3 - 6 days.
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
The Danakil Depression is one of the hottest places on Earth so please come prepared. Our trips to the Danakil run from Nov – Feb as this is the cooler time of year but this can still mean daytime temperatures up to and around 40C. Night time temperatures in the Danakil are in the 20s (C) and rainfall is very rare. Harar and Mekele will be cooler, but the vast majority of this trip is likely to be very hot.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a good state of health, be reasonably fit, with an open mind, not worried about creature comforts and a big sense of adventure should be able to cope with this tour. That said, the camping will be very basic with no facilities and at times especially when at Erta Ale the temperatures may be very hot!
Please be advised that on this trip vegetarians can be catered for but the selection and variety may be limited. Other dietary requirements may be very difficult to provide for, but that said we will do our best.
The Erta Ale Volcano trek is not technically demanding but it will be undertaken partially at night when the temperature is lower but still in the late 20s (C). During non-trekking days in the Danakil, temperatures can exceed 40C so you must be able to cope with extreme heat.
Due to the ever-changing nature of the volcano and the region, the visibility of the lava lake and lava flows may vary. Please contact the office for the current situation and up to date information.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour including all camping nights. The only exception is in Harar where it may be necessary to share a room with someone of the same sex due to the limited infrastructure of some of the guesthouses.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A £200 (or equivalent) deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 7468 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.