Lake Assal

Short description of Lake Assal

Lake Assal lies a hundred and fifty five metres below the sea in a rift basin ringed by black lava, and it is the lowest point on the African continent. The water is far saltier than the ocean and the shore is a crust of white crystal that people walk out onto. Camel caravans still load salt here for the trade into Ethiopia. The road in from the capital crosses the Ghoubbet inlet and passes the young cone of Ardoukoba, which erupted within living memory. Most visitors come out for the day and turn back at dusk.

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 salt crust and the crystal shore
2. Salt caravans loading for Ethiopia
3. The rift viewpoint above the basin
4. The Ardoukoba volcano(Day trip)
5. The Ghoubbet inlet and Devil's Island(Day trip)
6. The lava fields of the Asal rift
7. Hot springs on the southwest shore

Ways to get there and away

Airports nearby:

• JIB Djibouti-Ambouli Airport (Djibouti City) · 83 km east(recommended)
• DIR Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport (Dire Dawa) · 234 km south

Nearest seaports:

• Tadjoura · 53 km east
• ferry port near Djibouti City · 80 km east

Nearest railway station:

Nagad (Djibouti City) · 81 km east

Ports: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Map view

Distances

More travel destinations in Djibouti

• Lac Abbé
• Djibouti City
• Moucha Island
• Obock
• Tadjoura
• Ali Sabieh
• Dikhil