I'm pleased to announce that another blank spot on the review map on this site is being erased. Although this WHS has its reviews, they come from people who have not visited it. Still, they were useful - thanks in particular to Solivagant for the tips.

Seeing the place where Lucy's remains were discovered takes quite an effort. The permit is still necessary, but obtaining it in Semera, according to my guide, is not difficult. Getting to the excavation site is a bit more complicated. To get there, in the village of Eli Wiha, turn towards the Awash River. A local guide is absolutely necessary (they assign him with a policeman at the police checkpoint in Eli Wiha). After exactly 44 kilometers, we reach a place that is about 200 meters from the 'road' paved by 4WD cars. People live in the area, but it is extremely inhospitable. Even in January - the coldest month - it was over 30 degrees and almost no shade. Moreover, the area is not the safest, the Afars living there are a very militant nation, almost every adult man here carries a submachine gun.

The place itself is not spectacular. Contrary to what Solivagant wrote, it is not fenced in any way. There is only commemorative plaque and a billboard with WH logo. Dozens of fossilized animal bones are falling around. I don't know their exact age, but judging by their size, they certainly do not belong to the animals currently living here. Other than that, there aren't many signs of life here, although we passed a few gazelles and ostriches along the way. We also met a group of archaeologists from the USA who conduct research in the area. Even today it's not easy, I can't imagine how difficult it was 50 years ago.

To sum up – this place is only for connoisseurs. It is visited very rarely, and it is certainly NOT ‘quite “normal” to visit it as part of a 4x4 expedition into the Danakil’. Our local guide indicated that he had not been here in over a year. It is probably visited in a year by less than a hundred people from outside Ethiopia, who are not archaeologists working here. Logistically, however, it is not very difficult - you can get here from Semara in about 3.5 hours.

For those interested, I provide the exact coordinates 11.1347986N, 40.5996373E.