Then we drove on asphalt until Erepeti, where a 49-kilometre-long dirt track runs through a rough, hot and dry desert landscape with solidified lava, rock, and sand. For this trip, we joined other tourists to share the costly permit. After arriving at base camp, we rushed for 30 minutes to the crater, but unfortunately, there was only smoke and no lava views. After dinner and an overnight under the stars, we climbed to the top again at 05:00 in the morning, with the same results.
Erta Ale (613 m) is a basaltic shield volcano in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression known for its long-existing lava lake, often called the “smoking mountain” or “gateway to hell”. It is located at the East African Rift system, where the African, Arabian, and Somali tectonic plates meet. It has been continuously active for decades, with one or two active lava lakes at the summit. In July 2025, the volcano shifted from its usual slow, steady lava flows to more explosive eruptions with ash and gas emissions and significant seismic activity. The new activity was marked by the collapse of solidified lava formations, which damaged the access path to the lava lake, and since then, it’s no longer visible.
