I’m Alex Coleman, and I run this site. I’m an American living in Addis Ababa, and I value my privacy as much as you do. When you’re out in the Danakil, the only thing you should worry about is the heat—not who’s tracking your clicks. This policy explains what happens with your info here, in compliance with US (CCPA), European (GDPR), and Ethiopian data laws.
1. What Data Do We Actually Collect?
I don’t collect data just for the sake of it. Usually, it falls into two buckets:
- Information You Give Me: If you drop me a line via the contact form or sign up for my newsletter, you’re giving me your name and email. That’s it. I use it to answer your questions about Erta Ale or to send you updates.
- Automated Stuff: Like every other site, I use cookies and analytics. This tells me things like “Hey, a bunch of people in London are reading about Dallol today.” It tracks IP addresses, browser types, and which pages you spend time on. It helps me make the site better.
2. Affiliate Links and Third Parties
This is an affiliate site. When you click a link to a tour operator like Aman Ethiopia Tours or a gear recommendation, they might use cookies to track that you came from my site. This is how I keep the lights on in Addis without charging you for this info.
I don’t control these third parties. Once you leave my site to book a tour or buy a headlamp, their privacy rules apply, not mine. Check their policies if you’re curious.
3. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA)
Whether you’re in California or Germany, you have rights over your digital footprint:
- Access & Deletion: You can ask me what data I have on you (which isn’t much) or tell me to delete it all. Just send me an email.
- Opt-Out: You can tell your browser to refuse cookies. The site might load a bit slower, but it’ll still work.
- No Sale of Data: I don’t sell your email or personal info to anyone. Period. I’m a traveler, not a data broker.
4. Ethiopian Data Protection
Operating out of Addis Ababa, I respect the local Data Protection Proclamation. Any personal data processed through my local interactions is handled with the same security standards I’d use back home in the States. If you’re a local Ethiopian user, your data stays protected under the laws of the FDRE.
5. Data Security
I use secure servers and standard encryption. But look, no place on the internet is 100% “lava-proof.” I do my best to keep your email safe from hackers, but use the internet at your own risk.
6. Updates to This Policy
If the laws change—or if I find a better way to run this site—I’ll update this page. The “Last Updated” date at the bottom will tell you what’s new.
Last Updated: January 2026