• Erta Ale Lava Lake in Ethiopia
• Nyiragongo Lava Lake in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Kilauea Lava Lake in Haiwaii
• Mount Erebus Lava Lake in Antarctica
• Villarrica Lava Lake in Chile

As its name suggests, Erta Ale Lava Lake is located at the summit of Erta Ale Volcano (<--click on the link to get to information on Erta Ale facts, location and safety information of Ethiopia) in the Danakil Depression (also known as Afar Depression) in Ethiopia.

By looking at the pictures, Erta Ale Lava Lake may somewhat remind you of Darvaza Door to Hell. While the two are in no way related, there is no surprise local Afar people refer to it as the Gateway to Hell. The main difference would be that Erta Ale Lava Lake is an entirely natural phenomenon, whereas Darvaza only exists because of intervention by humans (digging and then setting it on fire).

Looking Down the Pit of Erta Ale Lava Lake as Hot Lava Boils Away, Photo by Avatar/ΣΙΓΜΑ, Flickr

Scientists estimate that Erta Ale Lava Lake has been active since 1906 which make is hands down the longest active lava lake in the world. When visiting Erta Ale Lava Lake at night, you may be able to see the glowing light shining out towards the sky from the pit which offers breathtaking opportunities for photography. Some adventure travel agencies offer tours to Erta Ale which include camping at the summit of the volcano, right by the lava lake itself. That must truly be an unforgettable experience and surely one worth every penny (albeit those tours are not cheap by any means). The tricky part is the overall safety of Afar region which happens to be close to the border with Somalia (no good), plus the presence of Afar warrior tribes with proven track record of hostility towards foreigners.

Taking Pictures At the Edge of Erta Ale Lava Lake, Photo by Avatar/ΣΙΓΜΑ, Flickr

Erta Ale Lava Lake Video

Check out the video of Erta Ale Lava Lake filmed during an expedition to this rugged region. The video contains nice footage of bubbling hot lava as it occasionally overflows from its crater pit bed and erupts in a wavy motion.

If potential safety issues are of no concern to you and you are willing to take your chances nevertheless, you will be rewarded with an experience from one of the least accessible places on Earth. There are no roads leading to Erta Ale and the temperatures continuously rank as some of the hottest on Earth. The region is also world’s driest and lowest, with parts of it placed more than 100 meters below sea level. Welcome to Erta Ale Lava Lake in Ethiopia. Not many tourists make it here.

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• Erta Ale Volcano in Ethiopia
• The Door to Hell – Burning Gas Crater in Darvaza, Turkmenistan
• Lanzarote Holidays – Complete Guide

Aerial image of Erta Ale Volcano in Ethiopia, Photo by Filippo Jean, Wikipedia

Erta Ale Volcano Map

Erta Ale Volcano is the most prominent feature of the Erta Ale Range located in the north-eastern Ethiopia in the region called Afar. Erta Ale Range is part of Danakil Depression which spreads across the Horn of Africa, partially covering Ethiopia as well as Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia. Danakil Depression is known for being a stretch of land below sea level. The lowest point of Africa is located in Danakil Depression (155 meters below sea level). Check out the exact location of Erta Ale Volcano on an interactive, navigable map below:

Erta Ale Volcano Facts

Erta Ale is a Shield Volcano, which means its hill is formed almost entirely out of lava that was poured out of volcano’s crater. Unlike Stratovolcanoes, Shield Volcanoes are less common, are more shallow (Stratovolcanoes are steeper) and spread over a larger area. Vast and flat profile of Shields gave them the name – they look much like shields of ancient warriors.

Erta Ale is the most active volcano in Ethiopia. The height of Erta Ale is 613 metres (2,011 ft) and since it is located within a depression that’s below sea level, Erta Ale is one of world’s lowest volcanoes. What Erta Ale lacks in height, it makes up for in width – Erta Ale is 50 km wide! To keep up with impressive measurements, the crater of Erta Ale is 0.7 x 1.6 km large. There is another, larger albeit inactive pit located south-east of Erta Ale’s summit which measures 1.8 x 3.1 km (as you can see from the photo above).

In local Afar langue, the name Erta Ale means “smoking mountain” but not surprisingly, the southern pit is locally known as the “gateway to hell”. The single most impressive part of the Erta Ale Volcano is Erta Ale lava lake which is notable for being the longest existing lava lake in the world. There is more info about the lava lake on its dedicated page: Erta Ale Lava Lake.

Crater of Erta Ala Volcano with Active Laval Lake Inside, Photo by filippo_jean, Flickr

Erta Ale Volcano Eruptions

Erta Ale is very much an active volcano with latest eruption being as recent as 2009. Seven major eruptions occurred in last 125 years with most recent being the one from September 25, 2005.

Erta Ale in Ethiopia – Safety Issues

While Ethiopia is considerably safer when compared to many other African countries, it is not to say that its overall safe. Given that it shares border with hostile Somalia with Somalis operating in some regions of Ethiopia, daring to travel to the country bears certain risks. According to many reports from the college of scientists, ongoing research on Erta Ale has not been without issues. One of the reasons is that the Afar Depression is one of the hottest regions in the world and another is the hostility of local Afar people as well as unpredictable, but possible presence of Somali separatist groups known for their guerrilla attacks and kidnappings of foreigners. Afar region has long been known for activity of armed insurgent groups.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has an ongoing travel warning for all Canadians traveling to Ethiopia. While “Exercise high degree of caution” warning applies to some regions of Ethiopia, there is an “Avoid all travel” warning (same warning applies to war torn region, such as Afghanistan or Iraq) in place for Border with Eritrea, Danakil Desert and Somali region. It’s the Danakil Desert region which includes Erta Ale range. According to the warning, the area is heavily mined with fatal incidents occurring each year, plus there are ongoing armed assaults with some attacks targeting tourists and convoys. Furthermore, Afar region towards the border with Eritrea (north of Afar) has been subjected to military tension due to border disputes. Kidnapping and banditry occur often in the region.

US Department of State website simply mentions that “travel to the northern Afar region is discouraged” and that “armed insurgent groups operate Afar region of Ethiopia”.

That makes for an interesting tourist destination as there are high guarantees none of your friends, regardless of how well travelled they are would have been there. The risk associated are considerable so one would have to think carefully whether it’s worth it and how to prepare for such trip so as to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Erta Ale Volcano Video

Check out this video from the Danakil Desert featuring Erta Ale volcano including lots of footage of the Erta Ale lava lake. Impressive aerial photography of the volcano is towards the end of the video:

While Erta Ale seems like an extremely attractive travel destination, I’m a bit deterred by potential dangers of the region. The activity of armed insurgents and notorious hostility of local Afar people spoil most of what’s so great about the region. Perhaps one of these days when I man up I may head down there. I’d like to hear from everyone who visited Ethiopia to share their stories and set the record regarding the dangers of the regions surrounding Erta Ale straight. In the meantime, anyone wishing to visit Africa but not willing to compromise their safety no matter how attractive a location, you can always rely on the safety of Botswana. I’m putting Ethiopia on hold for the time being.

Related Vacation Ideas

• Erta Ale Lava Lake
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• Botswana Safari Holidays

Botswana Safari Holidays Offer Eye Popping Excitement with Large Animal Encounters, Photo: dominik.kreutz, Flickr

I’ve never known anyone who wouldn’t return home from Botswana Safari Holiday entirely speechless. The wildlife and landscapes of this African country have been inspiring and delightful since the dawn of tourism. Having close encounters with wild beasts and seeing nature’s finest in their natural habitat is thrilling beyond words. Watching programs on The Discovery Channel or on National Geographic’s discs is one thing. Seeing it with your own eyes and being there when it happens takes it to a whole new level. Don’t get me wrong, African nature discovery programs are mind-blowing to watch on the tube, but getting there and living it with all five senses is unparalleled.

Botswana Safaris in Popular Literature

Botswana Safaris were the subject of Mark and Delia Owens 1992 best-seller ‘Cry of the Kalahari’. The book describes Botswana Safari in great detail and a lot of passion. It is easy to fall in love with Botswana and write about Safari tours with passion, because few African countries offer better Safari vacations that Botswana. But the greatest selling point is the fact that Botswana is not as over run with tourists as most other African countries.

If you opt for Safari in Botswana, you are unlikely to compete with other vehicles plowing through the same area. This has its advantages for some people and disadvantages for other. If you prefer meeting other explorers from different parts of the world, you may like taking a Safari tour in Kenya better. The grasslands there are full of tourists who can often point you to where large herds of animals were seen. In Botswana you are often left to your own devices. Which makes it more adventurous and you are not “forced to share” what you see.

If you’re looking for ultimate in adventure, I recommend Botswana Safari Holidays, you’re gonna love it.

Botswana Hotels

Tourism is one of the main ingredients of Botswana’s economy and the government has been looking at improving services provided. Chains of quality hotels are now available so your hospitality experience is as pleasurable as the safari tour itself. Botswana hotels are often introduced into the natural surroundings in a way so as to match the breathtaking spirit of the wildlife and the scenery.

Let’s explore some of the best Botswana Safari Locations

Botswana Safari Tour, Photo by dornfeld, Flickr

Botswana Safari in Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is the largest inland delta in the world. It’s well watered, thanks to delta’s waterways that pass through the Kalahari Desert without flowing into the sea irrigating the area and creating a mosaic of palm islands. These islands are rich in vegetation, often overgrown with lush grass. Beautiful mammal species can be encountered throughout the Okavango Delta, including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, and more. Ample varieties of bird species are plentiful on the banks of the Okavango Delta offering spectacular photo opportunities.

Botswana Safari in Moremi Reserve

The Moremi Reserve bears the name of chief Moremi of the BaTawana tribe and is located in the heart of the Okavango Delta (see above). The Moremi Reserve is regarded as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves on entire African continent. You can see wide range of wild animals, like elephant, zebra, giraffe, or buffalo there, but the park is also rich in presence of many predatory animals, such as leopard, cheetah, lion, etc.

Botswana Safari in Xakanaxa Lagoon

The Xakanaxa Lagoon is right in the heart of Moremi and is known for large herds of antelope, along with wild dogs and leopards. It is possible to lodge directly on the lagoon which pushes the entire adventure to a whole new dimension. Several private camps are set-up along the edge of Xakanaxa, so you can choose according to your luxury expectations and budget. ‘Chiefs Safari Camp’ and ‘Camp Moremi’ are situated and integrated with the landscape so well, that you can stay within the safety of the camp while still observing wild game that’s literally within your reach.

Botswana Safari in The Desert

If you can make it to Botswana during animal migration season – which is between March and May, you can hire a 4×4 and take it into the desert for some real safari. There is no where to camp in the desert, so you would be sleeping underneath the stars. The ramifications for those who dare are awesome. You need to be aware of what you’re doing and do not underestimate the desert. Sufficient supplies and a guide should be a must, unless you’ve lived in Botswana long enough to know the ins and outs. Besides, guides know where in the desert to go in order to get the most out of your adventure.

Hyena, jackals, antelope, lion and many other animals, including countless species of birds and reptiles live in the desert. There is something to see any time of the year.

Elephant Crossing the Road in Moremi Wildlife Reserve, Botswana, Photo: Ian Sewell, Wikipedia

Cheap Safari Holiday in Botswana

While there are many travel agencies that specialize in adventure travel, these type of holidays are not the cheapest. Think $4500 or more. If your pockets are deep and you can afford it, this might be the best option for you. However if you’re a little bit price conscious or just don’t like spending money if there are less expensive ways to get the same or more. For a cheap Botswana Safari holiday, I would recommend booking nothing but the fight to Botswana from one of the cheap flight outlets in your area and rent your 4×4 when you get there. It will be more adventurous than having everything prearranged and the outcomes are typically far better as you’re not stuck with the schedule. It’s not difficult to stay at a camp in Botswana as arrangements can be made on the spot in person. If you do it this way, you’ll get your Botswana Safari trip for the cheap, saving about 50% of otherwise high costing adventure.

And yeah, do Botswana Safari if you can. The impressions it’ll leave on you will last a life time.

Related Vacation Ideas

• Erta Ale Volcano in Ethiopia