Lake Turkana Safaris
Lake Turkana is Kenya’s
most remote destination, but one that repays the intrepid traveller
with rich rewards...
At Kenya’s far
Northern frontier lies one of the natural wonders of the world.
Lake Turkana is a massive inland sea, the largest desert lake in
the world (6,405 sq km). This single body of water is over 250
kilometres long- longer than the entire Kenyan coast.
It is widely known as the Jade Sea, because of the remarkable,
almost incandescent, colour of its waters. After a long journey
through the sweltering deserts and lava flows of Northern Kenya, the
sight of this vast body of bright turquoise water comes as an
unearthly, ethereal vision.
The Lake is a source of life for some of Kenya’s most remote tribes.
The Turkana, with ancestral ties to Uganda, live a semi-nomadic
existence around the Lake. The country’s smallest tribe, the El Molo,
live a hunter-gatherer existence on the shores, in villages of
distinctive rounded reed huts.
Turkana has one of the longest living histories on earth, and recent
fossil evidence unearthed at Koobi Fora has led to the Lake being
referred to as ‘The Cradle of Mankind’.
The site lies at the heart of the Sibiloi National Park, a place of
stark beauty and prehistoric petrified forests.
The Lake itself is a natural treasure, with the world’s single
largest crocodile population. In Turkana these reptiles grow to
record size, with some of the largest specimens found on remote
windswept Central Island.
Lake Turkana is Kenya’s most remote destination, but one that repays
the intrepid traveller with rich rewards...
8 DAYS
LAKE TURKANA
SPECIAL -
Lake
Turkana Camping
Safaris
Day 1. Samburu
National Reserve;
Depart Nairobi in the morning heading north via shoulder of mount
Kenya to Samburu Game reserve fro lunch. Afternoon game drive.
Dinner and overnight at Campsite.
Day 2. Samburu;
Full day in Samburu with morning and afternoon game drives. All
meals and overnight at campsite.
Day 3. Marsabit;
After breakfast we head north along the trans Africa highway to
Marsabit an extinct Volcano heavily forested on the upper slopes.
Set up camp and visit the lodge inside the National Park, see
elephants buffalo ,greater Kudu among others as the lodge is perched
on the edge of the water filled crater . Thick forest hampers deeper
penetration and viewing so we don't penetrate further.
Day 4. Kalacha
Visit Marsabit town and another volcanic crater and later come back
into the desert and lava flows. Camp at Kalacha, which is a small
settlement on the edge of the Chalbi desert.
Day 5.
Lake Turkana.
Early morning departure crossing the Chalbi desert. When wet, the
desert can not be crossed and alternative routes to the south and
north are used. Arrive at the campsite outside Loiyangalani enjoying
a cool breeze from the
lake
turkana soon
after lunch. Pitch tents and relax protected from the scorching sun
and heat characteristic of the harsh climate of this remote area.
Day 6.
Lake Turkana.
Relax and bath only to be interrupted by short boat excursion to
visit the surrounding areas. also loiyangalani and the community
settled there. Evening make a visit to the
Turkana
manyattas for traditional dances under a star studded sky at an
extra cost if acceptable by clients. An experience to treasure.
Day 7. Maralal.
We join through south Horr and Baragoi to Maralal, a forested area.
Day 8. Nairobi.
Move southwards via Laikipia and Thomson Falls (Nyahururu) and drive
back to Nairobi arriving in the afternoon.
8 DAYS Lake Turkana Safaris
Day 1: Lake Baringo: Depart Nairobi in the morning stopping at
the top of the world to view the great Rift Valley. Lunch at Nakuru
and arrive at Lake Baringo late afternoon. Watch out for hippo while
you shower. Overnight at the campsite.
Day 2: South Horr: Climb out of the Rift Valley in the morning
chill towards Maralal and the red-ochred Samburu people,who are
still nomadic and proud. Then another spectacular climb up Losiolo
and down past Baragoi to South Horr where we camp next to a small
clear stream.
Day 3: Lake Turkana: Break early in the morning for Lake Turkana.
The rough road gets worse as we descend across ancient lava flows
towards the Jade Sea and the Oasis Loiyangalani lying between the
lake and Mt. Kulal. We arrive at our permanent beach campsite just
outside Loiyangalani soon after lunch and settle in our traditional
Turkana huts with a cool breeze blowing from the lake. Indeed a
perfect place to relax protected from scorching sun and heat
characteristic of the harsh climate of this remote area.
Day 4: Lake Turkana: We spend the day relaxing and bathing only
interrupted by a short boat excursion to visit the surrounding areas
where crocodiles and birds may be spotted. In addition, we visit
Loiyangalani and the community settled there while in the evening we
may visit one of the Turkana Manyattas for traditional dances under
a star studded sky at an extra cost if clients wish. Unforgettable
experience.
Day 5: Maralal: Up the Horr valley and back to Baragoi, camping
further South at Maralal.
Day 6: Samburu: We arrive at Samburu park around lunch time and
settle in our Permanent campsite beautifully set under a canopy of
trees on the edge of Uaso Nyiro River .
Day 7: Samburu; A day game viewing in the park. Elephants
abound: you may see lion, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Grey's zebra
and Oryx.
Day 8: Nairobi: The road back to Nairobi passes over the high
shoulder of Mt. Kenya. Lunch on the way arriving in Nairobi by later
afternoon.
Getting There
The East and West Shores of Turkana are accessed completely
separately, and are physically separated by the vast uncrossable
Suguta Valley south of the Lake. The east shore is reached via
Maralal and Marsabit with the central point of access being the
small oasis town of Loiyangalani. The west shore is accessed via
Kitale and the central point of access is Lodwar. There are
airstrips on both shores for chartered aircraft. This area is used
as a launch site for safaris into the remote Omo region of Soutern
Ethiopia. Turkana should be visited as part of a professionally
organized safari.
Getting Around
There are very few defined roads around the Lake. The lakeshore can
be explored on foot, but plenty of water and a good sense of
direction are both vital. Boats are available for hire in villages
along the shore, and this is the best way to explore the lake. a
local guide is advisable.
Thank you
and enjoy!.
