Expedition to Lake Turkana

Kenya is renowned for its wealth of wildlife, the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara, and its white sand beaches. But look beyond these stereotypes, glorious though they are, and one can find a diverse kaleidoscope of ethnicities and tribal groups, far removed from the tourist trail and virtually unchanged for generations. On this expedition we head north from the capital to Samburu Game Reserve. No visit to Kenya would be complete without at least a little wildlife, after all. We spend a day here on game drives looking for lion, elephant and species which are seldom found elsewhere, such as gerenuk and beisa oryx.
 
We then drive into the tribal heartlands that stretch towards the borders with South Sudan and Ethiopia. Taking challenging routes and driving through remote areas, we meet some of Africa’s most traditional groups. We meet the Samburu and Rendille people, pastoralists who compensate for their austere surroundings with stunning body decorations and enormous beaded necklaces.
 
Continuing to the Chalbi Desert we head for the oasis of Kalacha. This is a centre for the Gabbra people, camel herding nomads who eke an existence from this unforgiving land. Pushing further north we drive to the ‘Jade Sea’, the vast waters of Lake Turkana. This is – one of East Africa’s most remote regions and here we meet the Turkana people. Proud warriors who held out against colonial domination until the 1950s, they still retain a fierce independence from central government.
 
This is a trip through some of East Africa’s most isolated regions. You can expect some full days of driving on rough and non-existent roads, and at times it may be challenging. The rewards however are great. To meet proud warriors and nomadic communities following in the steps of their ancestors, with little influence from the modern world, masters of their own lands yet welcoming to visitors. This is Kenya with a twist, and unlike you have seen it before.
Expedition to Lake Turkana

Highlights

  • Remote desert journeys
  • Meet the Turkana people
  • Look for wildlife in Samburu
  • Traditional tribal cultures

Day 1 - Nairobi

Arrive in Nairobi. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight Emory Hotel or similar.


Day 2 - Samburu National Reserve

Drive to Samburu National Reserve where we will have an afternoon game drive. Samburu is home to a number of species rarely seen elsewhere such as the reticulated giraffe and gerenuk, and we spend our time searching for these and other wildlife. Overnight Samburu Simba Lodge or similar. (BLD)

Samburu National Reserve

Samburu Reserve is located on the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River, and is famous as the location where Joy Adamson raised her lioness, Elsa. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife – of the big cats, lion, leopard and cheetah are found here, as well as buffalo and elephant. The last of the ‘big five’, rhino, has been poached out of existence in the reserve. Samburu is well known for providing a habitat for species that are difficult to find in other parks, namely beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grezy’s zebra and Gunether’s dik-dik, and is also home to over 350 bird species.

Day 3 - Samburu – Ngurunit

Drive to Ngurunit, located at the base of the Ndoto Mountains where we explore the lands of the Samburu and Rendille people, two of Kenya’s most striking ethnic groups. We visit their settlements and learn about their way of life in this harsh corner of the country. Overnight Camp Ndotto or similar. (BLD)


Day 4 - Kargi

Continue to the village of Kargi in the heart of the Chalbi desert. Kargi is home to the Rendille group and we spend time here immersing ourselves in their culture. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Rendille People

The Rendille are a Cushitic speaking ethnic group who are often referred to as ‘the holders of the stick of god’. They are nomadic pastoralists who roam with their camels, goats and more recently cattle across a vast swather of northern Kenya. The Rendille live in semi-permanent villages that are moved only a few times each year, and rarely more than a few kilometres.

Day 5 - Chalbi Desert

A long drive to Kenya’s remote northern frontier, eventually arriving at Kalacha, a desert oasis that sustains the Gabbra people and their cattle during the dry season. We spend our time here meeting the Gabbra in the Chalbi Desert. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Gabbra People

The Gabbra follow a traditional age-set system, common amongst the northern nomads, of passing through distinct age groups every seven years. Each age group elects two leaders or ‘hayu’ to act as their representatives at meetings known as ‘dabela’ and convened by the tribal elders. The Gabbra calendar consists of a remarkably accurate 365 days but no leap year. Their religious worship is intended to create ‘nagaya’ (peace) through appeal to Waqa, the god of rain and peace.

Day 6 - Loyangalani

Drive across some of East Africa’s most dramatic scenery to Loyangalani. The frontier town is a melting pot of ethnic groups, and divides neatly into tribal zones; the Samburu, Turkana and Rendille have each made one part of the town their home. Overnight Oasis Hotel or similar. (BLD)


Days 7-8 - Loyangalani

We spend the next two days exploring this fascinating landscape, meeting the Turkana and El Molo people. On Day 7 we sail to Roto Island, a sacred place for the El Molo, and visit the Desert Museum. Day 8 is spent visiting the Marti rock art site and visiting a Turkana fishing village. Overnight Oasis Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Turkana People

The Turkana people are renowned for their fighting prowess and are recently thought to be the oldest tribal society in the world. The Turkana can trace their origins to the Dodoth escarpment in north east Uganda, and their related tribal allies the Karamojong. Legend has it that two to three hundred years ago the tribe started to move east. This powerful and influential people, who number over a quarter of a million, mostly live on the western flank of Lake Turkana.

Day 9 - South Horr

We move away from Lake Turkana and drive towards South Horr, heading to the lands of the Samburu people. We camp in the valley of Samburu’s sacred mountain, Oldonyo Nyiru and explore the surrounding Samburu villages. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Samburu People

The Samburu people are closely related to the better known Masai and share many of the same characteristics; both are pastoralists with a lifestyle centred around finding grazing for their cattle, and both have a distinct social structure based on age groups. They are the most northerly of the Maa speaking groups, and often refer to themselves as Loikop – ‘those who have territory’, a fierce and proud statement of their success in defending themselves against the equally fierce and proud tribes to the north.

Day 10 - Maralal

This morning, we have a long drive towards Maralal, the capital of the Samburu county. Upon arrival, we have a walk around the city to get a sense of local life here. Overnight Samburu Guest House or similar. (BLD)


Day 11 - Churo

Head to the highlands, inhabited by the Pokot community. The Pokot people are mainly pastoralists and are distinguished by their giant beaded necklaces. We explore the village, learning about the daily lives of the villages and seeing some of the unique traditions found here. Overnight camping. (BLD)


Day 12 - Lake Baringo

We leave the village behind and make our way to Lake Baringo, one of the Kenyan Rift Valley lakes. The lake is home to a number of species, including crocodiles and hippos and we enjoy a boat excursion in the hopes of spotting these. Overnight Tumbili Cliff Hotel or similar. (BLD)


Day 13 - Baringo – Nairobi

Return to Nairobi and transfer to the airport for departure. (BD)

 


Please note: You will not arrive back into Nairobi until late afternoon and so should not book any flights until the evening.

Kenya tribal tour - Samburu woman in northern Kenya
Tribal groups in northern Kenya - tribal tours
Tribal groups in northern Kenya - tribal tours
Gabbra man with camels in northern Kenya - Kenya tribal tour

What's included?

  • Airport transfers

    We include arrival and departure transfers regardless of whether you book flights yourself, or we book them for you. If you’re booking them yourself, then please let us know the details so that we can arrange the transfers. Please note that if you book accommodation with us and are arriving earlier than day 1 of the tour / leaving after the final day, airport transfers will be included. If you have booked your own accommodation you will need to make your own way to the hotel / airport.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation as listed in the dossier. The nature of the destinations that we operate may sometimes mean that we need to change hotels, but we’ll always endeavour to keep the same standards. Please be aware that as we operate in many countries where tourism is in its infancy, hotel standards may not be the same as you’re used to elsewhere.

  • Guides

    You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

  • Meals

    As listed within the itinerary / dossier (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner). These will vary from trip to trip – in some areas it makes sense to include all meals while in others there is a good choice of restaurants and we feel people might like to ‘do their own thing’ now and again.

  • Entrance fees

    Entrance fees are listed for those sites that we mention within the itinerary. If there are any other sites that you’d like to see, these would be at your own expense.

What's not included?

  • Visas

    We don’t arrange visas for our travellers, but if an invitation letter is necessary then we will arrange this for you. If you need any advice with visas then just give us a call, or alternatively, a visa agency such as Travcour can assist.

  • International flights

    Many of our travellers arrive from different destinations and so we don’t include international flights in the cost of our tours. If, however, you would like us to book flights for you, then just give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.

  • Travel Insurance

    If you need any assistance with this, then let us know – although we can’t arrange it ourselves we can point you in the direction of a reputable provider that can assist.

Visas

Most travellers will require a visa to enter Kenya, which can no longer be obtained on arrival and must be applied for as an e-visa via the following website:

http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html

You will need to have six months validity left on your passport and have two blank pages.

Visa regulations can change though, so we recommend that you check the situation again two months before travel.

Health and vaccinations

We are not medically qualified and so we recommend that you speak to your doctor or nearest health professional for advice concerning recommended vaccinations. For more advice on vaccinations, you can also visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.

If you have any physical limitations that might impact your ability to participate in the planned tour activities, it’s essential that you make us aware as soon as possible so that we can discuss this with you.

Insurance

It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum you need medical and health cover, which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip.

Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company.

Money

The local currency in Kenya is the Kenyan shilling. The only real place to change money on this trip is Nairobi, and your guide can assist with this.

Travel advice

We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the time of writing the FCO does not advise against travel to the parts of Kenya that we visit on this trip.

This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governments.

Please note that the information contained above is highly susceptible to change, and while we endeavour to keep up to date we recommend that you use this as a guide only. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Updated July 2023

Kenya tribal tour - Samburu woman in northern Kenya
Tribal groups in northern Kenya - tribal tours
Tribal groups in northern Kenya - tribal tours
Gabbra man with camels in northern Kenya - Kenya tribal tour

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Date(s)
Price (PP) Exc. Flights
Single Supplement
Trip Status
Date -
31 January 2025
Price (PP) -
£4,399
Single Supplement -
£375
Trip Status -
Available
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