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- The limestone chimneys: The signature sight. Hundreds of calcium carbonate towers rise from the flats, some 30 to 50 meters high, and many still vent steam. Walk between them on the crust, keeping to your guide’s path.
- Flamingo shallows: In cooler months, lesser flamingos gather in the lake margins among the chimneys. The mix of pink birds and white stone is the shot most people come for.
- Dusk over the lake: As the sun drops, the chimneys turn orange and the steam shows against the sky. It is quiet, and the best time for photography.
- Night sky at camp: With no town nearby, the stars are dense and the Milky Way is clear on moonless nights. Sleeping mats are set outside under the open sky.
- Afar camel and goat herders: Afar families graze animals around the lake and sometimes pass the camps. A respectful
- The limestone chimneys: The signature sight. Hundreds of calcium carbonate towers rise from the flats, some 30 to 50 meters high, and many still vent steam. Walk between them on the crust, keeping to your guide’s path.
- Flamingo shallows: In cooler months, lesser flamingos gather in the lake margins among the chimneys. The mix of pink birds and white stone is the shot most people come for.
- Dusk over the lake: As the sun drops, the chimneys turn orange and the steam shows against the sky. It is quiet, and the best time for photography.
- Night sky at camp: With no town nearby, the stars are dense and the Milky Way is clear on moonless nights. Sleeping mats are set outside under the open sky.
- Afar camel and goat herders: Afar families graze animals around the lake and sometimes pass the camps. A respectful greeting, with your guide translating, is the best way to meet them.
- Hot springs and steam vents: Near the chimneys, boiling water seeps from the ground. You can feel the heat through your boots, and the sulfur smell is noticeable. Keep well back from the wet crust.
- Planet Planet landscape drive: The route in crosses basalt plains, dry riverbeds and salt-crusted ground that look lunar. The ride itself is a sight, with stops for photographs of the empty horizon.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.