Lac Abbé

Short description of Lac Abbé

Lac Abbé is a shallow salt lake on the Ethiopian frontier where hundreds of limestone chimneys stand out of the flats, some of them fifty metres tall, venting steam at first light. The plain around them is grey and almost bare and has stood in for other planets on film. Flamingos work the shallows through the cool months and Afar herders bring camels down to the hot springs. The track in takes about five hours from the capital, too far to return the same day, so visitors sleep in a simple camp and are woken for the sunrise.

AI edited

Recommended length of stay

Travel seasons at a glance

Best time to visit: December – February

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

All highlights and sights

1. The limestone chimneys at sunrise
2. Steam vents and fumaroles on the flats
3. Flamingos on the shallows
4. A night in an Afar camp
5. Night skies over the plain
6. Camel herds at the hot springs
7. The salt lake shore itself

Ways to get there and away

Airports nearby:

• JIB Djibouti-Ambouli Airport (Djibouti City) · 151 km east(recommended)
• DIR Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport (Dire Dawa) · 172 km south
• JIJ Gerad Wilwal International Airport (Jijiga) · 236 km southeast

Nearest seaports:

• Tadjoura · 133 km northeast
• ferry port near Djibouti City · 150 km east

Nearest railway station:

Nagad (Djibouti City) · 150 km east

Ports: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Map view

Distances

More travel destinations in Djibouti

• Lake Assal
• Djibouti City
• Moucha Island
• Obock
• Tadjoura
• Ali Sabieh
• Dikhil