Lake Afrera — also called Lake Afdera or Lake Giulietti — is a hypersaline lake lying roughly 100 m below sea level in the southern Danakil, surrounded by volcanic hills. Its water is saltier than the sea, so you float effortlessly, and hot springs bubble up along its shore.
Salt is harvested here in large evaporation pans, a very different method from the hand-cutting at Lake Asale. For tours on the southern route, Afrera is the natural stop between Semera and Erta Ale, and a welcome swim after — or before — a night on the volcano.
Top things to do at Lake Afrera
Float in the salty water
The buoyancy is remarkable. Keep water out of your eyes and rinse off afterwards — some tours stop at a hot spring with fresher water.
Visit the salt works
Brine is pumped into shallow pans and left to evaporate; the resulting salt is piled in white mounds along the shore.
Watch the sunset
The volcanic hills around the lake turn gold and purple in the evening light.
How to get to Lake Afrera
- On the southern route from Semera towards Erta Ale — several hours by 4x4.
- Some Mekele-based tours also include Afrera on the way to or from the volcano.
- From the lake it is a few more hours across rough lava tracks to the Dodom base camp.
Insider tips
- Bring a swimsuit, a towel and a bottle of fresh water to rinse.
- Do not swim with cuts or grazes — the salt stings.
- Wear sandals on the shore; the ground can be sharp.
Best tours that include Lake Afrera
These licensed expeditions are the practical way to reach Lake Afrera — transport, permits, Afar escorts and meals are all arranged for you:
3-day expedition from €396 2-Night 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour without Flights
The most-reviewed Erta Ale trip on GetYourGuide and the classic three-day loop: the volcano and its crater at night, Lake Afrera (also called Lake Giulietti), the salt flats and the colours of Dallol. Flights are not included, which keeps the price down if you are already in the north or want to book your own.
- Night hike to the Erta Ale crater rim
- Dallol’s sulphur springs and the Asale salt flats
- A float in hypersaline Lake Afrera
3-day camping from €352 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour with Camping
A budget-friendly camping expedition from Mekele that covers the three essentials — Erta Ale, the salt flats and Lake Afrera — with sleeping mats, meals and drinking water provided. Expect basic but well-organised camps and a proper sense of how remote this place is.
- Erta Ale volcano with a night under the stars
- Lake Afrera and the salt flats
- Camping gear, meals and water included
3-day expedition from €396 From Semera: Danakil Depression 3-Day Tour
Semera, the capital of the Afar Region, is the closest airport to Erta Ale, and this well-rated three-day tour uses it to reach the volcano from the south along the shore of Lake Afrera — shorter drives on day one than the classic Mekele route.
- The southern approach via Lake Afrera
- Overnight at the Erta Ale crater
- Salt flats and the Danakil landscapes
