After breakfast we are picked up by our driver guide and after a short briefing we drive north of the capital city towards the Samburu Game Reserve. We pass through small scale and large scale farmland in the highlands, go past the majestic Mount Kenya before descending to the arid and semi-arid northern frontier region. We arrive for a late lunch at the Samburu Simba Lodge. After lunch, we venture out for our first game drive which will proceed until sunset when we return for dinner and overnight at the Samburu Lodge.

Driving: 310 km

Activities: game drives

Accommodation: Samburu  Simba Lodge

Meals: B L D

We have breakfast before a full day at the Samburu National Reserve. In between the morning and evening game drives we may opt to visit a Samburu Village where we get an idea of the daily life of the local community. Samburu is rich in wildlife with the unique and rare and endemic five,  Grevy zebras, reticulated giraffes, Beysa Oryx, Gerenuks and Somali ostriches are definitely sure to be spotted mingling with, elephants and buffaloes. Also lions and leopards are likely to be seen.  Lunch, dinner, and overnight will again be the lodge.

Driving:

Activities: game drives

Accommodation: Samburu Simba Lodge

Meals: B L D

We head further 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 Gabra and Borana people e in their bright colored outfits, beads and earrings make it a vibrant place. We arrive for lunch at the Sun and Sand Hotel at the outskirts of the town.  The afternoon we spend on a game drive which takes us to Lake Paradise, arguably the most scenic spot in the Marsabit National Park. Here, an indigenous forest and a desert come together to create the most compelling landscape on earth. Elephants, buffaloes and greater Kudus are abounding. The dense forest in the park is also home to a variety of birds.  In the late afternoon we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight

Driving: 234 km

Activities: game drives

Accommodation: Marsabit Lodge

Meals: B L D

Today we depart the Lodge after an early breakfast. This was our last day in relative comfort zone. We drive through the scenic landscape of the arid north with views of picturesque hills before we reach the extreme dry and arid north. We arrive and camp at Kalacha, a small Gabbra settlement on the edge of the Chalbi Desert in an oasis in the middle of the desert.  Gabbra women entertain us with traditional dances in evening as the sun sets and the camels come home. Dinner and Overnight stay is at a simple guest house managed by a women group.

Driving: 133km

Activities: Cultural Encounters

Accommodation: Kalacha Women Group Camp

Meals:  B L D

Today we have a long and treacherous drive ahead of us. The first part to Northhorr we pass through a barren land with sand dunes caused by the strong wind around a few shrubs. Sand storms are a common feature. We stop at the Northhorr the last larger settlement in the north of Kenya and take a stroll through the town looking for a cup of spiced tea. The final stretch takes us again down south to the southern shores of lake Turkana. In the late afternoon we arrive for dinner and overnight at the Palmshade Guesthouse in Loiyangalani.

Driving: 150 km

Activities: Cultural Encounters

Accommodation: Palm shade Guest House

Meals:  B L D

Today, we visit the Desert Museum, opened in 2008 which has the fantastic colours of Lake Turkana as a background. In the Museum we get information about heritage of the tribes that live near the Lake, namely Rendille, Turkana, Samburu, Pokot, Watta, Gabbra, Dassanach and the nearly extinct Molo tribe with only over 500 members. Later on we visit the Elmolo village right at the shores and get a glimpse of the lifestyle. A short boat ride takes us to their shrine on a nearby island.  The Elmolo are fisherman and hunt the crocodile.  After lunch we take an excursion to look at the rock paintings in the area.  As the sun sets we visit a Turkana village where we are entertained by a traditional dance before we return to the guesthouse for Dinner and Overnight.

Driving: local

Activities: Cultural Encounters

Accommodation: Palmshade Guest House

Meals: B L D

After breakfast again we shift location and drive 170 km with lunch boxes to the northern shores of Lake Turkana to the Siblioi National park. We drive along the lake shores and have to be careful crossing several luggas ( dry river beds). The area is characterized by semi-desert habitat and open plains flanked by volcanic formations including Mount Sibiloi, where the remains of a petrified forest can be seen. This park was gazetted in 1973 and is recognized as a world heritage site because of its rare flora and fauna and the numerous fossil sites. The wildlife includes rare dry country large mammals such as grevy zebra, gerenuk and oryx. The shores are an important refugee for crocodiles and soft shelled turtles. The night will be spent at the Alia Bay self-catering bandas or our usual fly camp.

Driving: 250 km

Activities:

Accommodation: Alia Bay Guest House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we explore the flat topped Sibiloi Mountains which dominate the skyline at Alia Bay. On the flanks of the 12-million-year old mountain, lies the fossilized logs of a forest buried by volcanic eruption.  Today’s excursion takes us further on to Kobi Fora where we visit the museum and after lunch stop at the skeletons of an ancient elephant, a giant tortoise and an ancient fish eating crocodile. The Leaky Family, christened the area “Cradle of Mankind “.  In the late afternoon we return to Alia Bay and take a stroll along the lake shores in the evening.

Driving: 100km

Activities: game drives, fossil and museum visit

Accommodation: Alia Bay Guest House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning we leave by boat to the western side of the lake and settle at Eliye Springs Resort for lunch. The boat ride can be a bit rough and maybe delayed to due to the occasional strong winds.  The 60km crossing takes about 3 to 4 hours.  Located on the Western unspoiled white sandy shores of lake , fringed with Duoma plams, the area reassembles a coastal beach resort at the Indian ocean.

Driving: boat transfer ( 60 km – 3 to 4 hours)

Activities: swimming

Accommodation: Eliye Springs Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we can opt to relax in this serene environment and let our body and soul rejuvenate. When it is getting to hot we can dive into the cool waters of the lake.

If we prefer to be more active, we have the option to visit the Central Island National Park (entry fees and boat transfer payable direct at the Resort) located 15 km away from the coast. Of volcanic origin, this island has three enormous craters inside: the pink flamingo crater, the crocodile crater, and the tilapia fish crater. We can explore the island on foot, and reach the highest points to enjoy the unique and breathtaking view of the craters and their green-jade color. Dinner and overnight will be at the Resort.

Driving

Activities: swimming, relaxing – optional boat excursion

Accommodation: Eliye Springs Resort

Meals:  B L D

We have an early breakfast, get our lunchboxes and explore the western shores of Lake Turkana by car. The first stop is Kalokol, the fishing center at lake Turkana. After a short stop we continue northwards to Nariokotome where the 1.5 Mill fossil old fossil of an almost complete skeleton of the early home erectus was discovered giving way to the assumption that mankind evolved from Africa. We may be able to visit the lush gardens of the catholic mission in the area before we return to Lodwar for dinner and overnight at the Cradle Lodge.

Driving: 210km

Activities: Sight-seeing, cultural encounters

Accommodation: The Cradle

Meals:  B L D

Today our great adventure comes to an end. After breakfast we have some time to relax at the lodge and may use the opportunity to dive into the swimming pool as we wait for the transfer to the airstrip for our flight to Nairobi.

Driving; Flight to Nairobi

Activities:

Accommodation: The Cradle

Meals:  B D