2026 Afar Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in September)

Yellow sulfur. Green mineral pools. Orange salt formations. Red and brown iron-rich ground. And absolutely no AI. This is Dallol, deep inside Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression — one of the most extreme geological landscapes on the planet. What makes it look so unreal? 🌋 Volcanic heat warms groundwater beneath the surface. 💧 That hot water rises through the ground carrying dissolved salts and minerals. 🧪 When the fluids reach the surface, chemical reactions and mineral deposits create the extraordinary colors — from pale green and blue to intense yellow, orange and red. (National Geographic) The landscape is basically nature’s chemistry experiment on a gigantic scale. And there’s an even crazier detail: 📍 Dallol sits about 91 metres below sea level. (Wikimedia Commons) This isn’t a normal tourist attraction either. The Danakil Depression is extremely hot and remote, with difficult terrain, very basic facilities and limited medical support. Current travel advice also warns about security risks in the region and says visitors to the Danakil area should use a recognised tour company and check the latest restrictions before travelling. (GOV.UK) So this is definitely not a “rent a car and explore alone” destination. But that’s exactly what makes it fascinating. For centuries, the surrounding Afar region has also been associated with salt extraction, with salt blocks traditionally transported across the desert by camel caravans. (National Geographic) 🌍 One place. Four colours. Volcanic heat. Salt. Minerals. And a landscape that looks completely alien. If you saw this photo without knowing the location… Would you guess Ethiopia? 👀 📌 Save this for your “places on Earth that don’t look real” list. #naturalwonders #thingstodo #travel

Erta Ale is seriously one for your bucket list! This live volcano in Ethiopia is pure natural drama—think glowing lava, rumbling earth, and a landscape that looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. 🌋✨ Heads up, though: the lava rock is still suuuper fragile. You’ve gotta follow your guide closely for safety—no wandering off for that perfect selfie! Your safety is top priority, so stick to the group and listen up during the briefing. Ertale Volcano is located in the remote Danakil Depression, about 38.6 km south of Lake Afrera, Afar Region, Ethiopia. Most tours set out from Semera, the regional capital, and the adventure usually kicks off at night to beat the crazy daytime temps. The recommended tour operator will arrange guided access—don’t try this one alone! This part of Ethiopia is remote and SUPER HOT. While there’s no official opening time (the volcano is always bubbling!), tours usually operate in the evening or overnight. Remember: no restaurants, shops, or hotels at the crater—so pack well and bring your wildest sense of adventure! You have to sleep in the open air without shelter. So pray that it doesn’t rain at night, else you have to sleep in the kitchen. This view at Ertale is 🤯. Your inner explorer will thank you!

Had a bit of a departure from my usual holiday spots and ended up in the Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia. It’s quite a shift from Wellington, to say the least. We used Jinka as our base, which is a pretty dusty, busy little town. From there, we headed out to a few of the nearby villages. For me, the Ari village was a real highlight. Being a designer, I'm always fascinated by how things are made. I watched a local woman shape a perfectly round clay plate entirely by hand. No pottery wheel, no tools, just shaping a lump of red mud in a matter of minutes. The level of spatial awareness and raw skill was just incredible to watch. We also visited the Mursi village, about 50km out. Seeing the lip plates in person is quite something. The villagers were selling some basic hand-carved wood and beadwork, which felt very tourist-focused but understandable. On the drive, we ran into some Banna boys performing on high stilts by the roadside. It’s a bit of a spectacle, but it left me with rather mixed feelings. All the kids follow you around asking for 'gifts', 'pencils', or 'chocolate'. I didn't have much on me to give them, which felt a bit awkward and left me feeling a bit down afterwards. An eye-opening trip, if a bit heavy at times. Glad I experienced it.

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