An 8-day Lake Turkana trip starting in Nairobi, going to Lake Turkana via Thompson falls and continuing to the Chalbi Desert, then Kalacha and Samburu National Reserve, Nanyuki, and back to Nairobi.

Day 1: Nairobi – Maralal
Marco Polo Safaris Representative will pick up from your Nairobi Hotel as early as 6:30am after early breakfast then We depart heading to Maralal via Nyahururu (stop at Thompson falls briefly for lunch. After lunch proceed up north where we step in on the muram road which becomes bumpy as we proceed on north. The drive normally takes not less then 8-9 hours to get to Maralal but the sceneries speaks all about the beauty of Kenya. You will be able to spot some of the wildlife along the way since we will be traversing through the private launches which are still owned by some of the early white settlers who became Kenyans Residents. On arrival we will check in Sunbird Hotel which is just within Maralal town for refreshments. Maralal town has become a busy town and in the evening you can have a drink in the open sky in one of the restaurants before you retreat to your room. Maralal is the unofficial capital of the Samburu people and has a distinctly frontier feel about it. It is also home of the Maralal International Camel Derby that happens once a year between July and October and attracts riders and spectators from all over the world. (Dinner and overnight in Sunbird Hotel based on full board)

Day 2: Maralal – Lake Turkana
After breakfast, we start the long but worthy experience meeting red-ochred Samburu people along the way,who are still nomadic and proud. Then another spectacular climb up Losiolo and down past Baragoi to South Horr where we will have lunch along the stream. After lunch take another drive now full of energy and excitement as you feel the real hot climate of Northern Kenya. The rough road gets rough but well maintained now after the discovery of oil, an activity which is empowering the locals 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 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. Lake Turkana is the largest desert lake in the world and extends for 288 kilometers up to the Ethiopian / Kenyan border surrounded by volcanic rock and desert. Dinner and overnight in Loiyangalani Bandas based on full board (Breakfast, Picnic lunch & Dinner)

Day 3: Lake Turkana
The day is spent relaxing and you may visit the local or hire a boat to visit the surrounding area (at an extra cost). In addition, we may visit Loiyangalani and the community settled there while in the evening visiting one of the Turkana Manyattas [optional] for traditional dances at an extra cost if clients wish. We can even visit the El Molo tribe which is the smallest tribe in Kenya and have a good time with them. Turkana, formerly L. Rudolf is now named after one of the tribes who live on its shores and it is in this area that Richard Leakey uncovered the three million year old fossils of ‘Homo Erect-us.’ This pre historic site is now known as the “Cradle of Mankind”. The Lake is also known as the “Jade Sea” because of its remarkable blue – green color. This is a result of algae particles, which shift with changes of the wind and light, so that the water surface shifts from blue to grey to fabulous jade. The lake is home to the largest population of Nile crocodiles in the world. If the weather permits we take a short sunset boat ride to the surrounding areas. Dinner and overnight in the Bandas camp.

Day 4: Lake Turkana – Kalacha
After an early breakfast, we cross the Chalbi desert (if dry) via North horr towards Kalacha. If it has rained, we shall use another route avoiding the desert. Kalacha is a small settlement on the edge of the Chalbi Desert inhabited by the Gabbra people (pluralists particularly attached to their camels). We enjoy an evening sunset, swim at the campsite or watch a Gabbra performance in the evening (optional cost) (windy night). (Breakfast, Picnic lunch & Dinner)

Day 5: Kalacha – Marsabit
After breakfast early morning as we head south towards Marsabit (meaning place of cold); an astonishingly cool, green and hilly oasis rising high above the dry heat of the surrounding desert lands. En route we stop to enjoy views of the massive Gof Redo crater and desert landscape. The area is home to the local Rendille and Samburu people abundant in their bright red outfits, beads and earrings. Visit National park and as long as the roads are dry we drive up to Lake Paradise and Little Lake. Here, an indigenous forest and a desert come together to create the most compelling landscape on earth. Elephants and greater kudu abound. The dense forest in the park is also home to a variety of birds. (Breakfast, Picnic lunch & Dinner)

Day 6: Marsabit – Samburu
Depart early morning along the trans-African highway towards Samburu with lunch en route. Afternoon game drive at Samburu National Reserve. Accommodation is in our semi-permanent campsite, beautifully set under a canopy of trees or we may pitch tents o¬n the edge of Ewaso Nyiro River (meaning Brown in Samburu) if they are occupied. Cold showers are available which are amazingly refreshing in the hot, dusty climate. (Breakfast, Picnic lunch & Dinner in Umoja Camp

Day 7: Samburu National Reserve
The day is spent viewing the game in the park. Samburu is part of a lava plain that includes a diverse landscape of thorn scrub, red dirt, dried river beds, broken volcanic rock, steep hills, and rocky outcroppings, some large enough to be called mesas. The region is home to the uncommon Grevy’s zebra with huge fury ears, gerenuk antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with distinct blue legs and the shy Oryx. Elephants and crocodiles are guaranteed sightings, excellent bird watching with numerous varieties of weaverbirds and the martial eagle. Leopard sighting is also a special feature here though we have to search for it especially in the morning when hunting for its meals, you either spot it early in the morning or in the afternoon because most of the day, it spends its time under the rocks or trees to shed itself from the hot sun. Dinner and overnight in the Umoja Camp

Day 8: Samburu National Reserve – Nanyuki – Nairobi
Early Morning game drive as early as 0600am, then return to the camp for the main breakfast, thereafter check out the Camp and proceed back to Nairobi with a stop over for lunch in Nanyuki. After lunch leave for Nairobi arriving late afternoon with a drop off in your hotel.

What you need to bring while on Safari

• Sleeping bag [available for hire for US$30 per bag]
• Money for personal spending and tipping
• Only a small case or rucksack, as storage space is limited [maximum 20kgs]
• A pair of long trousers and jersey for the cool mornings and evenings in addition to plenty of light clothes for hot days (do not forget a hat), swim suit, a pillow, comfortable shoes, sandals
• Torch, sunglasses, suntan lotion, insect repellent/spray but not mosquito coils
• Mineral bottled water and beverages
• Camera, batteries, memory cards, binoculars, maps, guide-books
• Toilet paper, towel, wet wipes, soap and toothbrush/paste

Route: