Can You Survive A Day In Dallol, Ethiopia?

One of the cruelest places on Earth, Dallol, Ethiopia is a town you would live in only if you have a death wish. Brace yourselves and enter the ‘Gateway to Hell’.

An Extreme Travel Adventure

Touted as one of Earth’s most volcanic regions, Dallol in Danakil Desert of   has long been abandoned. Except a few locals, or ‘Afar’ as they are called, the region is hardly visited by tourists. Wonder why? Well, to begin with, it is the hottest inhabited place on Earth, with the daily high hovering around 46 degree Celsius.

If you think you can beat the sun’s heat, think again. Afar people have to deal with a constant barrage of earthquakes and exposure to the molten core as well. There are lakes of potent acid present just beneath the ground and chances of survival are extremely bleak should you step in it.

Even Man vs. Wild doesn’t seem that scary now, does it?

The Tale Of Ethiopia’s Ghost Town

Dallol in Ethiopia didn’t always evoke this sense of apprehension. In fact, it was a popular mining site for potash, an important component of fertilizer, back in early 1900s. In those days, the salt deposits were visible on the earth’s surface and mining was done using low-technology equipment.

For transportation of Ethiopian salt, the first railway was constructed between the mining site and Eritrean port by the year 1918. However, the weather was too extreme to endure and production was stopped after World War I.

After several unsuccessful attempts by companies to renew operations, the British dismantled the rail system for good. Today, the remains of trucks and rail carriages can be seen strewn across the never-ending white salt flats.

Great Danger, Greater Beauty

Dallol is a mix of danger and beauty, and it’s difficult to say which is more captivating. At one side, there is adventure at its extreme. On the other, the salt-encrusted colorful lakes are a sight to behold. The brown mound, or the volcano, is the only vertical structure. Combined with hot springs and iron oxide crust and geysers, the landscape of Dallol craters is truly mesmerizing.

Survival Tips

If you’re still up for an adventure to Dallol, here are a few tips (you can thank me later):

Travel with a group – Travelling solo to Dallol would be a grave mistake. Also, a trip here will be expensive so it’s better to split the cost with fellow comrades.

Hire armed guards – Afar people are known to be ferocious and laws here might not protect you. Better be safe than sorry!

Equip yourself with non-perishable food and water – There are no places to dine and it can take up to a day to drive from Mekele to Dallol in a jeep.

No hotels – Forget about accommodation in Dallol; lodging will be in sleeping cots.

Be enthusiastic – From volcano to sulphur pools, you will encounter all sorts of challenges. Persevere and live your greatest adventure!