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Afar and Erta 'Ale Fieldtrip Expectation Statement

Please read the general expectation statement for the main conference. The following additional information applies specifically to this field trip.

Organisation

This field trip is being organised by the Ethio-der tour company, who are organising all accommodation, transport and food. Ethio-der is experienced at running trips into the Afar and Danakil depression.

Climate

The Afar Depression – Danakil and Dallol – is one of the hottest places on earth. Whilst we are travelling in one of the cooler seasons, temperatures are still likely to be around 30°C and could reach 45°C (www.yr.no/place/Ethiopia/Afar/Afar_Regional_State/statistics.html). There is often very little natural shade. Protection from the sun and drinking plenty of water are essential for survival in Afar. Bottled water will be provided for the duration of the trip.

It is unlikely that it will rain, but if it does then the rain will be heavy so be prepared.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be basic. There are no western-style hotels in Afar and at some overnight stops we will make a group camp to sleep outside on either provided beds or mattresses on the ground. For many, one of the highlights of fieldwork in Afar is sleeping under the stars, although tents will be provided if required. A travel mosquito net is recommended for the hotels en-route to Afar although mosquitoes are generally not a major problem within Afar itself due to the dry climate.

Food and Drink

Food will be simple Ethiopian style, either in local restaurants or cooked at the camp. There will be minimal choice, but vegetarian options will always be available. Soft drinks and a plentiful supply of bottled water will be provided free of charge.

Transport

There will be some long drives associated with this fieldtrip. These will be in 4x4 vehicles and will involve some off-road driving. Vehicles will be of good quality and include seatbelts for all passengers. Each vehicle comes with a dedicated, experienced driver.

We recommend comfortable attire for travelling in warm conditions as we cannot guarantee that air conditioning will be available in all the vehicles.

Physical Fitness

The trek up Erta 'Ale is on a rough (and in places poorly defined) track and local guides will escort the field party. The track crosses lava flows that originated from the summit. Some of these may be hollow tubes and care should be taken to avoid obviously cracked pahoehoe lava surfaces. The trek is 9 kilometres long, takes 3-4 hours, is tricky underfoot and involves an elevation gain of 500 metres. Because of the potentially high temperatures, the hike requires a good level of fitness and general health. If you are concerned, please contact the conference organisers.

Healthcare and illness

The field trip goes to some very remote areas where you will be a long way from professional medical care. The field trip will include trained first aiders, but on some days you could be as much as 48 hours from the nearest hospital or clinic. Outside Addis Ababa, hospitals and clinics are generally of a poor standard.

You must notify the conference organisers if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Malaria is present in the rift valley. Please prepare appropriately with anti-malarial medication, insect repellent, and a personal mosquito net.

You must bring a pack containing any medications that you may require. A list of recommended items for a first aid kit is given below.

You should consult with your doctor about any vaccinations that may be recommended for travel in Ethiopia.

Health and Safety

You will be given a full health and safety briefing before departure from Addis Ababa. You must attend this briefing.

Insurance

Before departure from Addis Ababa we will require details of your travel insurance, including policy number and emergency contact number. You will not be permitted to travel on this field trip without adequate cover.

You should be aware that the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently advises against all travel within the Danakil desert area bounded by the Dessie-Adigrat road; the Dessie-Djibouti road (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/ethiopia).

Specifically they say:

The Danakil desert: We advise against all travel to the Danakil desert bounded by the Dessie-Adigrat road, the Dessie-Djibouti road and the Ethiopian-Eritrean border. Police in the Afar Regional State confirmed that on Sunday, 08 May 2011 a truck that belonging to the Regional government hit a landmine at Kurri (aka: Korri) district, Zone 1 of the Afar Region. No causalities reported except damage on the truck. A number of landmines exploded in the Danakil in April 2009, including on the road between Afdera and Logia. A tourist vehicle travelling to Erta 'Ale (the active volcano) hit a landmine on 15 April 2009, killing two Ethiopians and injuring a foreign tourist.

On 1 March 2007, a group of western tourists and their tour guides were abducted by an armed group near Lake Asele in the Danakil Depression region in North Eastern Ethiopia. Five of those abducted were released on 13 March. The others were released on 23 April 2007. On 20 February 2008 the Ethiopian government reported that the police had foiled the attempted kidnap of a group of foreign tourists travelling in the region.

Scientists within the Afar Rift Consortium, and tour groups organised by Ethio-der, travel regularly within this entire region. To mitigate against the potential risk, we consult directly with the Afar Regional Government as to the latest information on local security. We always travel with armed police guards. If there are any reasons for elevated concern then we will take a precautionary approach and will not enter the region.

You must ensure that this does not invalidate your insurance cover.

Packing and Kit List

Please pack everything into one small-medium size case/backpack plus one daypack. Bags containing items you do not wish to take to the field can be left securely in Addis Ababa.

Recommended kit list for this trip includes:

List of medication / personal first aid equipment recommended.
Some of these are only available by prescription in the UK.

Electrical Equipment and Communication

There will be limited opportunity to charge electrical items such as mobile phones or cameras once we depart from Addis Ababa. We recommend ensuring all your items are fully charged with spare batteries if needed.

Mobile phone coverage is fairly good near the major roads, but there will be several days when the group will be out of mobile phone coverage. The group will have a satellite phone for use in emergencies on these occasions.

Assessment of Risk

The University is not aware of your own particular circumstances. It is for you to assess your suitability and level of acceptable risk bearing in mind your own particular circumstances. The University encourages dialogue on whether this activity is appropriate for you. Please do not hesitate to contact the University through the conference e-mail address if you wish to obtain more information or discuss further any issues, in particular those surrounding health and safety.

The University's draft risk assessment for this activity is available here.