After a visit to the Dallol Pools, we start our long drive. The road climbed steeply out of the low-lying depression toward Mekele, which is situated at an elevation of around 2,100 meters. The road shifted from sandy tracks to more mountainous terrain, and the scenery changed from the surreal, colourful, and hot landscapes of the Danakil—including salt flats and volcanic formations—to a cooler, rocky landscape dotted with farms and traditional and modern-style villages.
