Mekelle, the capital city of Tigrai region is found perched on the escarpment that overlooks the north-eastern Ethiopia, the Afar lowland, endowed with rare landscapes and people. The city, with many hotels and restaurants, is an ideal place from which to explore the vicinity which includes Dallol, one of the lowest parts of the planet, Reged, famous for its salt mines, Arte-Ale, a site of an active volcano and lake Asa-ele, a tynical salt. With these queer sites, the environment ranks to quench the roaring desire of adventure seekers.

The Mekelle-Adigrat road branches about east at 35 km off to run over a valley portioned into many plots of farmlands and heavily cultivated plateaum, which 55 km after, twists to a forest covered cliff. The bumpy road, via the town of Berahile, forges a head to came to Hamedilla whene the marvelous sites begin to sense. Travellers can visit the rock-hewn churches of Mikael Imba, Debre Selam Mikaeal Barka enroute Dallol.

The woodland called Dessa, shelters birds like the Black-headed siskin (endemic to Ethiopia), Yellow-billed hornbill, Red-fronted wabler and purple. Grenadier. Eagles soar over the trees. The track, upon which the Tigrai peasants (locally called Arehoto) have been traveling along for a generation to bring up salt, passes through this jungle.

Tourists who are to proceed their ways to Dallo are advised to pause at around the hem of the escarpment so that to watch birds of different species and to observe salt loaded animals climbing the mountain and unpacked ones dashing down to Reged, where salt has been dug out four centuries. Shihaigudi, situated on the footside of the precipice, with welcoming vistas becomes the first Afar settlement to greet wayfarers.

The Afars, half dressed, are slim and sun-burnt facing people. Men fasten only a piece of clothes and drape shawls. Young men tie "Gile", a silver handled long dagger, also used as a weapon. In addition to long garment like skirts, ladies cover their heads with stained scarfs. Girls who adorn themselves with bead embroidered thongs go out bare-breasted. All wear sandals of many layers of leather sewn together with string-like materials of the same nature.

The Afars, whose economic mainstay is based on traditional cattle breeding, feed mainly on milk, bread and porridge. They bake dough on earth-woven plate to have their bread (locally called gamo). They also eat a mixture of ghee and red pepper.

However, the journey to and fro Dallol is full of hardship, the enchanting features following the route, reward and effort. The course across this endless stretch of desert involves the sights of volcanic peaks, sand dunes, bare plains, clustered nomadic villages and outdoor markets. The travel allows one to interact with inhabitants. The incident may also offer a chance to ride a camel. There could also be, an opportunity to tie a Gile as the natives do. The voyage, further shared with hundred of camels, mules and donkeys, offers an expensive that never efface from memory.

Godamdle, another settlement that comes next, is entrusted to picnic alike the preceding one. The village provides tourists with local meals, bread, tea and soft drinks. The third stopover is Berahile, the chief town of the locality. It 120 km far off Mekelle. The town with tapwater health center and police station offers better services. Here, tourists are advised to meet the local administrator.

The 57 km Berahile-Hamedilla road runs over a river bed strewn with boulders. Hamedila, like many other Afar settlements, is made up of shaped huts. The Afars rent out their extra plastic-roofed houses to the Tigrai-folks who most work on the salt mines. Travelers can also rent the spares. To stay at such a tukul is adventure so few can do it.

Few of the highlands have shops, tea rooms and restaurants. All dwellers at night are busy and make lots of quick movements. The post also with health center and police station aids as a prompt ground to visit the strange tourist sites.

Reged which includes a salt heap, is stone's though away from Hamidilla. At dawn, laborers rush to this place with spade-like tools. As they arrive there, team up themselves into several groups. A clique takes up four or five men. Each assemble then simultaneously dig the ground and pass the salt blocks to the Afars who dice them to manageable sizes. The merchants who have arrived, already, then purchase the salt bars and load on to their camels, mules and donkeys soon to begin their ways back.

Dallol, Which is a step away from the flat salt ground, is by far the most stimulating site ever seen. The marvel, about 120 km (4-5 hrs drive) far off Mekelle, is 3000 ha wide and 123 meters below sea level. Made up of potash, sulfur and other valuable minerals, pours water that smokes. The color of the ground sprinkles and the smoke jointly discharges a vibrant image, a rare incident ever to encounter.

Arte-Ale an often steaming active volcano can be approached from Hamedilla. It is nearly 100 km drive and 3 hrs walk.

All the way to Dallol and farther afield, is escorted with various astonishing sceneries. An act of venturing to Dallol and beyond surprises, which altogether enables one to gather a lot of unlikely experiences, thus arouses a sense of sole hero.