7Days Chalbi Desert Circuit is the ultimate rugged adventure and is mainly a camping expedition run in 4X4s or overland trucks. It traverse along some of Africa’s harsh habitats, roads; see wildlife endemic to the North of Kenya, beautiful mountain forest surrounded on all sides by hot dusty deserts, – (Chalbi the only true desert in Kenya) eventually arriving at the shores of the beautiful Jade Sea (Lake Turkana).
Apart from the spectacular scenery, the cultural diversity consisting of 14 tribes of northern Kenya that make the most lasting impression; nomadic pastoralists such as the Gabbra, Turkana and Samburu whose adherence to a strictly traditional lifestyle and the dress is practically unique in modern East Africa. The trip has been matched with the desert safari in Dubai by many. It is for those true explorers and travellers who want to get off the tourist beaten track.
Day 1: Nairobi to Sabache
You will be picked up from your hotel and depart for Nanyuki with a stopover at the Equator before you proceed to Isiolo and continue to Sabache camp at the foot of Mt Ololokwe.
Day 2: Sabache to Marsabit
After breakfast, we leave Sabache and head further north along the Trans-African highway to Marsabit, which is an extinct volcano heavily forested on its upper slopes. After setting up camp, we will visit the lodge inside the Marsabit national park. You may see Elephant, Buffalo and the Greater Kudu as the lodge is situated on the edge of a water-filled crater. All meals served followed by overnight at campsite
Day 3: Marsabit to Kalacha
On this day we will visit Marsabit town and another volcanic crater before making our way back into the desert and lava flows and proceed to our campsite at Kalacha which is a small settlement on the edge of the Chalbi desert.
Day 4: Kalacha to Lake Turkana
Early morning we depart crossing the Chalbi Desert if weather permits otherwise we use an alternative route to a campsite near Loiyangalani arriving in time for lunch. All meals served followed by dinner and overnight at campsite.
Day 5: Lake Turkana
After breakfast day spent at leisure relaxing and bathing is only interrupted by a short optional boat excursion to visit the surrounding areas. In addition, we visit Loiyangalani and the community settled there, and in the evening there is an option of visiting one of the El Molo or Turkana Manyattas for traditional dances under a star-studded sky. All meals served followed by dinner and overnight at campsite.
Day 6: Lake Turkana to Maralal
After breakfast, we continue with our journey via South Horr and Baragoi to Maralal, another forested area. You will also see the Samburu people with their red ochre. All meals served followed by overnight at campsite
Day 7: Maralal to Nairobi
After breakfast continue with your safari further south via Laikipia Plains and Nyahururu where you will have a stopover to admire the scenic beauty at the Thomson’s Falls before you continue with your safari either back to Nairobi.
Options are of course many and varied and in many cases, we can be flexible about the itinerary for accommodation facilities and the extension of the safari destinations.
