Lake Assal

Lake Assal, in the volcanic heart of Djibouti, is one of the most extraordinary natural sights in Africa and, at some 155 metres below sea level, the lowest point on the continent. This hypersaline crater lake, set in a stark depression amid black volcanic hills, is among the saltiest bodies of water on earth, saltier even than the Dead Sea. Its brilliant turquoise waters are ringed by a blinding, dazzling shoreline of thick white salt crust and shimmering salt flats, dotted with strange salt formations, all framed by dark lava fields. The surreal contrast of white salt, turquoise water and black rock makes it a spectacular, otherworldly landscape.

What you actually see

• The salt flats - the dazzling white salt shoreline and crust.
• The turquoise lake - the brilliant hypersaline waters.
• The salt formations - the strange crystalline shapes.
• The volcanic setting - the black lava hills around the lake.

When to go

November to March, the cooler season, for the most bearable conditions, as Djibouti is one of the hottest countries on earth and the salt-pan setting is fiercely hot and glaring; sun protection, water and an early start are essential. The lake is reached by a four-wheel-drive journey from the capital, usually on a guided day trip.

Honest expectations

Lake Assal is remote and set in a brutally hot, exposed volcanic landscape reached by four-wheel drive, so a visit means a hot day trip with no facilities and demands sun protection and water; the salt underfoot is sharp and the glare intense. As a genuinely surreal and spectacular natural wonder, though, the lowest point in Africa with its dazzling white salt, turquoise water and black lava, Lake Assal is unforgettable and Djibouti's signature sight.

Nearby

The Gulf of Tadjoura, Lake Abbe and the capital are within reach.