Bahraini Travel Blogger Climbs One of the World's Most Active Volcanoes in Ethiopia

Daily Tribune

a day ago

Would you dare to climb into a live volcano? Bahraini travel blogger Eman Sharif did just that—and she says it changed her forever.
Known as "The Smoking Mountain," Ethiopia's Erta Ale volcano is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes on the planet. But for Eman Sharif, danger was not a deterrent—it was part of the allure.
In an Eman recalled her extraordinary journey. 'I asked the local guides if I could go right to the crater itself—and I sat beside the lava,' she said. 'It was a bold move, but I don't regret it at all.'
Describing the experience in real-time during her trip, she shared how she reached the closest point to the bubbling lava. 'We are now at the edge… I'm sitting right next to the lava,' she said in a video clip, visibly in awe. 'Erta Ale is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. But when I see something that combines risk, challenge, and adventure—I have to go for it.'
The volcano last erupted in 2017, but during her visit, Eman witnessed renewed activity. 'It started boiling in a strange way,' she said. 'The local guides started running and yelling 'Explosion! Explosion!' It was a moment of mixed feelings—part fear, part excitement.'
Despite the chaos, Eman stayed focused on her goal: to witness the natural phenomenon as closely as possible. She and her team climbed into the crater itself to get a better view of the explosions and molten lava.
'It was scary, yes—but also incredibly beautiful,' she said. 'To see the lava erupting from the earth, to feel the heat and hear the rumble... it was a surreal, unforgettable experience.'
Eman's daring adventure quickly went viral, sparking reactions from followers amazed by how close she got to danger. 'People kept asking—wasn't it risky? How could you go that far in?' she said. 'But in the moment, I wasn't thinking of anything else. I just wanted to live that once-in-a-lifetime experience to the fullest.'