A full day of driving from Mekele is the Afar area, the hottest and lowest point on the Earth's surface. It's a region you cannot go without a guide - armed guides - serious planning and supplies. After three days of constant sweating and no shower, sleeping under the stars and looking straight into an active volcano, it is the coolest and most far-flung experiences I've ever experienced. Highly recommend and Ethiopia in general. The country is seeing such incredible growth in infrastructure - still a long way to go but it's much better than 10 years ago when I was in Addis.