Danakil, Nov 2023 (Pt. 3): Erta Ale - Afrera - Semera

The Journey Back to the Comfort Zone

After spending several days on the off-road adventure lacking convenience and internet, our group was excited knowing that today marked the conclusion of our Danakil journey and we would return to the town; although towns such as Afrera or Semera are basic and dusty, they’re still the places where modern facilities make their way to.

The morning at Erta Ale passed tranquilly; while everyone was making their way down from the caldera, I had some time enjoying my breakfast and… doing nothing. It’s a simple breakfast, consistent with the previous ones, accompanied by a cup of tea steeped with Addis-branded teabag.

After everyone had gotten ready, our van swiftly crossed the territory of black rocks, of shrubs and wild flowers to return to Afrera. The driver excitedly announced that we had officially finished the off-road leg and we’re again cruising on the well-maintained national route. Data signal was revived and everyone was eagerly updating status to the outside world, without delaying the posting of gorgeous photos captured from Dallol any longer.

The Afrera ‘Sea’

In this occasion we arrived at Afrera around 10am, a not very scorching time that allowed everyone to immerge themselves into the lake’s saline water. The scene bore a resemblance to an authentic beach, with leaning palm trees and crashing waves.

Despite the salinity of Lake Afrera water, it provides enough sustenance for the plants to flourish, which creates an uncommon green patch in the midst of this arid area; needless to say, it’s such a unique greenery.

At Afrera, we bade farewell to our guard and had lunch with our accompanying cook’s family for the last time. The local kids here, upon encountering the strangers from Asia, behaved joyfully and loved to be photographed, they were full of energy like a swarm of bees.

The Last Leg in Afar

Having left Afrera, our van passed by the most magnificent landscapes of the journey, with the road drawing the elegant curves interweaving the mighty mountains and the exotic flora. This kind of grandeur was hard to be depicted on the small photos on the monitor or the phone-recorded videos but only when being viewed with bare eyes, that everything seemed as if surging towards your face from the car’s windshield.

When I looked back, everyone had fallen into sleep for the midday sun and the smooth road trip luring the tired visitors into slumber. Yet, as a front passenger I couldn’t allow myself to miss this treasured chance to admire the nature.

While the van was winding down the pass or gliding though a smooth turn, the visitor couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with awe and bursting emotions, as though immersed in a racing game chasing a surreal track.

And here, in Semera, I said goodbye to the Japanese traveler friends and our guide-cum-driver, to the most probably arduous days of my traveling years. (P.S on my final day in Semera I was suffering from stomachache and sunstroke, making my flight back to Addis Ababa totally unpleasant.)