The Turkana Camping Trip is a thrilling road trip through Turkana County’s amazing destinations, like Eliye Springs and Central Island (a real African camping adventure), Lokichar oil fields, Lodwar, Eliye Springs beaches, Kalokol fish market, Central Island national park, Naromtung’a standing stones, Nariokotome, Turkana boy site and monument, Jade Sea, and South Turkana national reserve.

Are you being bogged down or caged on some routine safari circuits? Are you feeling a great and overwhelming yearning for a new adventure circuit? You just need to break away from routine and fly off like a free bird, expanding your horizons. The itching and nagging feeling to stop everything you are doing, get up and go as far away as possible, travel somewhere, someplace that you have never been before—probably to one of the largest permanent desert lakes with the warm white sand beach. The horizon is the limit. We refrain from the repeated falsehoods and stereotyping of Turkana.

Day 1:   Nairobi – Kitale (380km, 9 hours)

At 7:00 am, we meet in Nairobi CBD and embark on our drive in a 4×4 truck heading to the Great Rift Valley via Naivasha, Nakuru, and Eldoret. Own hot lunch and snacks will be bought along the way. Pass Eldoret to Kitale town for dinner and overnight.  Dinner and an overnight stay in tents at Sirwo Resort. 

{Meals plan = Dinner}

Day 2: Kitale – Lokichar (250km, 7 hours)

Breakfast will be served before driving through large maize plantations. The road is relatively moderate. However, there is a steep downhill just after the Makutano/Kapenguria junction to the ridge before starting another steep downhill. The Kamatira is 6.5km long. The scenery of rolling Cherangany hills, cliffs, and Turkwell Gorge is awesome. At some points, we shall cross the rivers and their tributaries that feed the lake. As we approach Marich Pass, at Ortum, you see rich agricultural fields covered by horticulture. This is worth mentioning: Marich Pass means a narrow bridge in the Pokot dialect.

There is a steep valley bordered by two high cliffs on both sides of the Turkwel River at this section. It is the only section of the road that sends shivers and chills. We drive to enter the Turkana Plains, with Kainuk as the first trading centre. As we approach Lokichar, the condition of the road deteriorates, but construction is ongoing. This is where oil exploration has been ongoing. Dine and stay overnight in tents.

{Meals plan =Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner}

Day 3: Lokichar – Eliye (170km, 5 hours)

After breakfast, we traverse the plains to Lodwar town, which is marked by crossing the massive Turkwel River, which looks like a sea. Also, the smooth, tarmacked road is in sight. We proceed another 85km to Eliye Springs. The evening can be spent swimming, strolling along the beach, or reading a book. Dine and stay overnight in the camp.

{Meals plan =Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner}

Day 4: Eliye Springs – Choroo campsite {Central Island}

After breakfast, we embark on cruise motorboats to Central Island about 25km in an hour and a half (1½hr). This is done soon after the tides calm down. We visit Flamingo Lake and Crocodile Lake. We sample the unique volcanic landscape, huge colonies of nesting egrets, storks, and cormorants, as well as a crater lake that is home to tens of thousands of flamingos and other water birds. Dinner and stay overnight at the Choroo camp.

{Meals plan =Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner}

Day 5:  Central Island {Choroo campsite} – Kalokol.

After breakfast, we follow the hiking trail circuit, exploring the park. We are expected back in the camp before the sun gets extremely hot. Walking trails lead you around the island and to the highest elevation, from where you can enjoy stunning views over two of the crater lakes and majestic Lake Turkana. After the excursion, we board the speed boat to Kalokol, a fishermen’s beach. Dinner and overnight at Fimbo’s campsite. A live traditional Turkana dance is performed at the camp.

{Meals plan =Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner}

Day 6 Kalokol – Nariokotome, – Lodwar (240km, 8 hours).

After early breakfast, we drive past Kataboi, Lomekwi, to Nariokotome. This is where the almost complete human skeleton, with 108 bones, was excavated. It is believed to be 1.5 to 1.6 years old.  We will drive to Lodwar for dinner and overnight at a campsite.

{Meals plan =Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7: Lodwar – South Turkana National Reserve (190km, 5 hours).

After breakfast, we drive through the windy, hot, and dry arid area of Lokichar to Turkana South National Reserve. We set our camp and embark on an evening game drive. We have a second chance or angle to sample the scenery. The views en route are splendid. Dinner and overnight stay in camp.

{Meals plan =Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner}

Day 8: South Turkana National Reserve – Kitale (200km, 6 hours).

Soon after breakfast, we exit the park for an en-route game drive. We drive climbing over the Kamatira escarpment to Kapenguria, Chepararia, and Kitale. We have a second chance or angle to sample the scenery. Our camp will be at Sirwo Resort along the Kitale-Cherangani road.

{Meals plan =Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner}

Day 9: Kitale – Iten – Nairobi (420km, 9 hours).

Soon after breakfast, we start our journey back to Nairobi. We drive through Iten, Tambach, Kabarnet and Marigat. This will give us a chance to view the Rift Valley as the road spectacularly meanders down Kerio Valley, recording the steps. Own hot lunch will be taken along the route.  Arrive in Nairobi in the late evening.

{Meals plan =Breakfast}