Lake Assale, also known as Lake Karum, is located in the heart of the Danakil Desert, next to the Danakil Depression. It evaporates under the sun during the dry season and turns into a salt pit, to where camel caravans travel.

Africa

Ethiopia

Lac Assale

Situated in the heart of the Danakil desert at the border of Eritrea, this active volcano is famous for its spectacular lava lake.

Erta’ale

This volcanic furnace located at 136.8 metres above sea level, on the border with Eritrea, is a multicoloured plateau with an unearthly appearance surrounded by salt mountains. You can also visit the salt caravans and salt mine.

Dalol

One of the most famous towns in Ethiopia, known for its incredible rock cut churches.

Lalibela

This village, situated at an altitude of 3000 metres, is around 40km from Arba Minch. It is the highest point in the Dorze kingdom.

Chencha

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I absolutely loved Chencha. I went on market day with a young local man who took me to visit the Dorze weaving community (8 kilometres from Chencha). They are very well-known, and even as a tourist I was never under the impression that I was disturbing local life. Nobody asked me for money which is rare in Ethiopia. On the contrary, I was invited to smoke the large traditional tobacco pipes with the village elders, and I even tried their spices. 
We ended up at Ted Betou High School, which is actually a local bar where on market day everybody meets up to drink tej, a mead served in special flasks. As it happens it was my birthday and as a result I got the traditional welcome chants from all the inhabitants, clapping to the rhythm for the singers who improvised one by one. This encounter was one of the most significant moments of my trip to Ethiopia. 
A little tipsy from the alcohol we went on to the Toro waterfalls following a path leading back down to Dorze. I was expecting a small fall, but in fact these are really powerful waterfalls, 30 metres high, and reached by crossing fields, pine forests and streams. The walk is truly beautiful.

This village, situated at an altitude of 3000 metres, is around 40km from <a href="/ethiopia/">Arba Minch</a>. It is the highest point in the Dorze kingdom.

Chencha Vacations

Chencha: How to get there?

Chencha: When to go?

Chencha: For how long?

Chencha: What to see in the surroundings?