Road trip towards the Jade Sea; deserts and adventure

An 8 Day trip that takes you into some of the remotest parts of Kenya. Starting at Lake Turkana, known as the ‘Jade Sea’ so called for its green waters to the Chalbi Desert, which you cross and meet the local Gabbra people who live in the small Kalacha settlement and will be happy to share guided tours of their village. We move from here to an astonishingly cool and green hilly oasis high above the desert plains head up towards the Lake Paradise and Little lake
where you will discover how an indigenous forest and a desert come together to create the most compelling landscape on earth. Then onto Samburu game Reserve where we sleep under a canopy of trees and take in a couple of game drives whilst there meeting the vibrant Samburu people who live in the area.

An 8 Day trip that takes you into some of the remotest parts of Kenya. Starting at Lake Turkana, known as the ‘Jade Sea’ so called for its green waters to the Chalbi Desert, which you cross and meet the local Gabbra people who live in the small Kalacha settlement and will be happy to share guided tours of their village. We move from here to an astonishingly cool and green hilly oasis high above the desert plains head up towards the Lake Paradise and Little lake
where you will discover how an indigenous forest and a desert come together to create the most compelling landscape on earth. Then onto Samburu game Reserve where we sleep under a canopy of trees and take in a couple of game drives whilst there meeting the vibrant Samburu people who live in the area.

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Maralal town

Stop At: Nyahururu Falls, 29VC+M45, Nyahururu, Kenya
Thomson’s Falls is a 74 metres scenic waterfall on the Ewaso Ng’iro river, a few Kilometres from Lake Ol Bolossat, which drains from the Aberdare Mountain Range. Enjoy taking pictures of the falls whilst stretching your legs; a break from the long drive.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Mugie Ranch, Rumuruti Kenya
Approaching Maralal; you driver alongside the Mugie ranch looking out for elephants, giraffes and Zebra on a mini game drive!
Duration: 10 minutes

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Maralal lodge camp grounds; pitch up tent for the night OR upgrade to the cosy en-suite rooms (extra cost).

Day 2: Maralal to Loiyangalani

Stop At: Great Rift Valley, Kenya
We make a brief stop at Malasso viewpoint on Losiolo Escarpment; to enjoy the stunning scenery. Here the edge of the flat grassland, the land drops and you are at the brow of one of the most dramatic views of the Great Rift Valley. Etched with gorges, peaks and plains, a barren sun-bleached patch in the horizon is the valley of Suguta and beyond that is the very faint blue of Lake Turkana.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Lake Turkana, Chalbi Desert Kenya
Arriving at the Jade Sea is a magical experience; where you come across the endless vision of jade colors appearing from the rocky landscape you have just traveled across
Duration: 10 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Palmshade campsite – Pitch up tents beneath the doum palms; option to upgrade to rooms (optional cost).

Day 3: Lake Turkana

Stop At: Desert Museum, Loiyangalani Kenya
Tribal artifacts and history of the lake turkana region. Amazing view of the lake to enjoy sundowner experience
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Lake Turkana, Chalbi Desert Kenya
enjoy a swim at the nearby oasis lodge, hire a boat to explore the lake in search of crocodiles, visit to el Molo/Turkana villages and exploring Loyangalani town on foot, visit south island by powerful boat (weather dependent)
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Palmshade campsite – Pitch up tents beneath the doum palms; option to upgrade to rooms (optional cost).

Day 4: Lake Turkana to Kalacha

Stop At: Chalbi Desert, Marsabit Kenya
Cross the barren and sand-cracked mud plain of chalbi desert passing through the small settlement of North Horr. Kalacha is a small settlement on the edge of the Chalbi Desert inhabited by the Gabbra people (pastoralists particularly attached to their camels).
At Kalacha you may visit the Africa Inland mission church with beautiful orthodox murals painted by Ethiopian artists.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the Chalbi desert rondavel or catholic mission basic rooms

Day 5: Kalacha to Marsabit

Stop At: Marsabit National Park, 2 Gates; Ahmed with an exit at Karare, and Abdul to the park headquarters Main entrance at Ahmed Gate, GPS: 2.319191, 37.982908, Marsabit 60500 Kenya
Visit the large and windy craters known as “gof redos” for pictures. Drive up to Lake Paradise and Little Lake (seasonal). Here, an indigenous forest and a desert come together to create the most compelling landscape on earth.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight wild camping at a private campsite just outside of town.

Day 6: Marsabit to Samburu

Stop At: Samburu National Reserve, Nairobi Kenya
Game drive in search of animals endemic to the North; Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk antelope, Somali ostriches, lions and Oryx.

Duration: 10 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight wild camping at a private campsite.

Day 7: Samburu

Stop At: Buffalo Springs Reserve, Buffalo Springs Game Reserve Kenya
Enjoy a cool dip at the natural swimming pool located near Samburu game reserve.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Samburu National Reserve, Nairobi Kenya
Game drive in search of elephants crossing the Ewaso Ngiro River, visit the nearby lodge for a swim or cool drink.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight wild camping at a private campsite.

Day 8: Samburu to Nairobi

Stop At: Mount Kenya National Park Kenya
Look out for views of Mount Kenya peaks; Lenana, Batian and Nelion particularly magnificent on clear days en route.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Equator Marker, Nyeri – Nanyuki Road, Nanyuki Town, Nanyuki Municipality 10400 Kenya
The equator point is a great place to take a picture as you cross back into the southern hemisphere. Stretch your legs, buy a souvenir and enjoy a soda.
Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.