8 Days
Lake Turkana Lodge Safari, Lake Turkana Lodge Adventure
Lake Turkana Lodge Safari ;Covering Samburu, Marsabit, Kalacha,
Chalbi Desert/Maralal Nairobi. Kenya culture safari to the El Molo/Turkana
tribes, Samburu culture tribes
Northern Kenya is lightly populated, untamed and often barren.
Setting foot in these parts is like leaving the 21st century; it is
an explorer’s heaven, and the variety of tribes that live here are
some of the most captivating people in the world. They include the
Samburu, Turkana, Rendille, Boran, Gabbra and El – Molo.
This rugged 1,800-km expedition is run in land cruiser. You will
traverse along some of Africa’s worst roads; see beautiful mountain
forest surrounded on all sides by hot dusty deserts, eventually
arriving at Oasis Lodge (Lake Turkana).
Day 1: Nairobi – Samburu National reserve
Depart for at 0730 Samburu passing through hush farmlands, cross the
Equator where you can stop for pictures. Proceed to Samburu to a
rugged semi desert region. It is noted for game not found to the
more lush parks to the south e.g. unusual reticulated giraffe,
Grevy’s zebra, Oryx and many more. Lunch at a lodge followed by
afternoon game drives. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Lodge
Day 2: Samburu Game reserve
Full day in Samburu with morning and afternoon game drive. Meals and
overnight at Samburu Lodge
The highlights of Samburu game reserve is the spectacular scenic
beauty, rivers and forests. It is an area where the local people
have a rich and colorful heritage. The reserves have numerous
permanent springs and a wealth of wildlife which includes leopard,
hippo, elephant, lion, reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra and
crocodile in the Ewaso Nyiro River. Over 365 species of birds have
been identified in the sanctuaries
Day 3: Samburu- Marsabit National Park
we head north again along the Trans-African highway to Marsabit
(meaning place of cold), an astonishingly cool, green and hilly
oasis rising high above the dry heat of the surrounding desert
lands. The local Rendille and Samburu people in their bright red
outfits, beads and earrings make it a vibrant place.
Lunch at Marsabit Lodge inside the National park and as long as the
roads are dry we drive 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.
Dinner and overnight stay at Marsabit Lodge
Day 4: Marsabit- Kalacha (Chalbi desert)
We depart the Lodge after an early breakfast through the scenic
landscape of the arid north with views of picturesque hills. We
arrive and camp at Kalacha, a small Gabbra settlement on the edge of
the Chalbi Desert. Dinner and Overnight stay at Kalacha Camp
The Gabbra are an Eastern Cushite people related to the Somali-Rendille
in their historical origins in the southern Ethiopian highlands
about AD 1000. The men wear traditional shorts and a blanket-cloak
and the women wear a wrap-around and head cloth. They are
pastoralists, particularly attached to their camels.
Day 5: Kalacha – Loyangalani (Turkana)
We depart early crossing the Chalbi Desert to Lake Turkana which is
the largest desert lake in the world and extends for 288 kilometres
up to the Ethiopian / Kenyan border. It is surrounded by volcanic
rock and desert. We arrive at Oasis Lodge where we spend the night
Day 6 : Loyangalani (Turkana)
The day is spent relaxing and you may visit the local lodge to swim
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.
An unforgettable experience under a star studded sky so close you
can almost touch it.
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 Erectus.’ 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 colour. 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
Day 7 : Turkana – Maralal
We depart the lodge early in the morning and proceed to Maralal .We
journey via the Horr Valley situated between Mount Nyiro and Ol
Doinye Mara viewing the breath taking scenery as we continue to
climb on torturous, rocky hills to Maralal. Near Maralal is one of
the most breath taking scenes in all of Kenya – the Losiolo
escarpment, an endless stretch as land drops down to the Suguta
valley.
Day 8 : Maralal – Nairobi
Heading south again via Laikipia Plains and Nyahururu we may stop at
the Thomson falls named after Joseph Thomson who walked from Mombasa
to Lake Victoria in the early 1880s. Shaped by the waters of the
Ewaso Narok River, the falls plunge over 72m into a rift, spraying
the dark forest below. After lunch we drive back into Nairobi by
mid-afternoon. Where the safari ends
Cost per person sharing
2 People US$ 2980
4 people US$ 2680
Price includes:
Ř Transport in a custom made 4x4 Land cruisers – each person is
guaranteed a window seat.
Ř Accommodation in lodges on full board basis
Ř Return airport transfers
Ř Game drives/ Park entrance fees
Ř Services of a driver/guide
Ř Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
Ř 1 litre Mineral water per person per day
Price Excludes
Ř Hotel accommodations in Nairobi before and after the safari can be
arranged on request.
Ř Personal travel insurance
Ř Cultural visits to Samburu/Turkana Villages
Ř Boat ride in Lake Turkana
Ř Tipping
Ř Drinks
Ř Personal effects
Ř Extras not mentioned above |
