Great Rift Valley Expedition Update: Holgate and Team Enter Danakil Depression

by Amanda on Dec 15th, 2011

Intrepid adventurer Kingsley Holgate’s latest expedition, the Great African Rift Valley Expedition, started in Djibouti in November. Holgate and a team from Cape Union Mart have now left Djibouti and Lake Assal behind and entered the dangerous Danakil Depression, the hottest place on earth.

Keep up to date with the team’s progress on Cape Union Mart’s website or follow the Great African Rift Valley Expedition on Facebook:

Cape Union Mart Dispatch 21 – Things are getting hotter

The Zen of Travel is with us. We find the salt caravan route to Hamed Ela. Our next objective is to cross the actual Danakil Depression – officially the hottest place on earth, but it’s not that easy. This close to Eritrea security is tight and already half a dozen AK47- toting freeloaders are wanting to make a quick buck by securing our safety. We’ll keep you posted.

Cape Union Mart Dispatch 20 – Lost in the Danakil desert – dispatch sent by satellite phone

Flash floods in the distant highlands have made part of the Danakil track impassable and we are having to navigate by the seat of our pants – very difficult when Ross who is navigating has got dysentery and is being fed antibiotics and Rehidrate. With tyres down to 1 bar we grind through choking powder soft dust and then pump them hard again to bounce over ancient solidified lava flows. It is incredibly tough on man and machine. Get lost out here and that will be the last you hear from us. We’ll keep you posted…

Continue reading: Cape Union Mart

To attempt such an adventurous expedition, the right kit is needed. Before the journey began, Holgate could be seen stocking up on K-Way gear. Land Rovers capable of tackling the tough terrain also needed to be specially shipped to Djibouti: