Our experience
It is still possible to visit the Danakil Depression in the summer, the only things you'll miss out on are the camel caravan and the salt miners.
Taking the advice of Martin a Swedish journalist http://selamtamagazine.com/stories/four-days-danakil, others on Thorn tree and TripAdvisor, we opted to contract with a tour operator on the ground in Mekele rather than through an Addis based companies. By doing so we saved more than 50% of the cost that we would have paid in Addis for the exact same excursion (same logistic and extra tours plus we had a private Tigray church with just our guide and us). We used Ethio Travel and have been pleased (see our separate review of TA).
July 28 Tigray churches are more scattered and less accessible than their counterparts at Lalibela. These are built in the very heart of the cliff. We started out at 7am from Mekele. The churches are far apart but our guide managed to show us two of the best.
Abune Yemata - We climbed Abune Yemata church. it is about 60m high, it is quite easy and the guides are helpful. the biggest problem is nerves. the last part, a ledge with a 200m drop was scary but it should not be a problem.
TIP, if money is not an issue you can stay at Gheralta lodge which is closer to the caves.
July 29 - 30 - drive from Mekele to Ertlalle volcano back to Mekele. Driving time is about 6 hours: 2 hours on paved was road, 2 hours dirt road, 2 hours on rocks. The heat was at its most intense when we arrived at Dodom (the average daytime temperature here is 43oC!) so we retreated to the shade of the stone huts, and waited until dusk.
As the sun set and temperatures cooled, we began the 3 hour walk towards the volcano, ridge ahead and the irresistible draw of the lava lake and the weird red glow cast by it. It's a gentle climb and pretty easy, but a bit slow stumbling over the rocks in the dark.
July 31 - August 1 Mekele to Hamedela-Dallol back to Mekele
Dalol Depression is a truly extraordinary place to visit with superb scenery, a fantastic experience for the adventurous traveler. In summer, the village of Hamedela is almost abandoned, not because of the inhospitable nature of the temperature, but because the salt workers have migrated back highlands to work their farms during rainy season.
It is still possible to visit the Danakil Depression in the summer, the only things you'll miss out on are the camel caravan and the salt miners.
We are on our way, leaving behind Ethiopia many new friends but taking away memories (and lots of photographs) that will last us forever.
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Edited by: adg1