10 Days Lake Turkana safaris - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )

10 Days Lake Turkana safaris: Africa Natural Tours (For Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar) Tanzania safari company in Moshi

Specialized in:  Wildlife safaris, Mountain climbing, Cultural tourism and Beach holidays in East Africa

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Email: info@africanaturaltours.com Website: www.africanaturaltours.com

10 Days Lake Turkana safaris

Departs Wednesdays

Africa Natural Tours organizes this adventure safari to the cradle of mankind- Lake Turkana (Jade Sea). This is an over 1,800-km expedition in a land cruiser or Land rover through some of Africa’s most rugged roads.

This means only a small group size of 6 to 8 Pax.  You will travel deep into the heart of the Northern Kenya via the Olpajeta Conservancy and Samburu Game Reserve; see beautiful mountain forest surrounded on all sides by hot dusty deserts at Marsabit National Park with volcanic calderas; cross the Chalbi Desert if dry as during the wet season it becomes a large shallow lake; eventually arriving at the shores of the Lake Turkana (Jade Sea). A great diversity of tribes live in this region that include the Samburu, Turkana, Rendille, Gabbra, Daasanach, Hamar Koke, Karo, Nyagatom, Mursi, Surma, and the Molo people.   
You will spend some time camel walking with Samburu local guides at Tuum on the foothills of Mt. Nyiro. High Lights: wildlife, tribes and culture, fantastic scenery and deserts

Day 1 – Mt. Kenya:

We depart Nairobi in the morning and drive to Mt Kenya area. Game drive at the Olpajeta Conservancy after lunch that include Sweetwater’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary to view the wild life and the rescued chimps; Sweetwater is the only sanctuary for rehabilitation in Kenya of these heavily poached primates in Kenya. There are two chimp groups living in an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible. Other attractions include the big five the lion, elephant, black rhino, leopard and the Cape buffalo. Also there are the cheetah, Gravy’s zebra and the Jackson's hartebeest. Overnight at Mountain Rock Hotel Camp.

Day 2 – Samburu:

After breakfast we proceed to Samburu game reserve to arrive there in time for the afternoon game drive inside the park. Plenty of elephants in this open scrub savannah grassland; you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, gravy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, and Oryx. Also may visit a Samburu Manyatta to meet the local tribesmen .Overnight in a campsite

Day 3 – Mars bit:

We continue north along the African highway to Mars bit an extinct volcano thickly forested on its upper slopes. We visit the lodge inside the National Park if not too wet where we may see elephant, buffalo and kudu as the lodge is situated on the edge of a water-filled crater. So long as the park is dry we drive through thick forest to the most scenic Lake Paradise. There are some very steep hills along the way to Lake Paradise which are impassable if wet; also due to fallen log trees. At Marsabit town all the local groups are represented – the Samburu, Boran, Rendille Gabbra and Turkana

Day 4 – Kalacha & Chalbi Desert

We visit Marsabit town and another volcanic caldera before finding our way back into the desert and lava flows. We drive to Kalacha, a small settlement on the edge of the Chalbi Desert. This is nomadic Gabbra territory. If not wet we may venture a little into the Chalbi desert hopefully for a sunset. Tonight we camp at the mission centre

Day 5 - Lake Turkana:

We plan early departure across the Chalbi desert. Chalbi desert is a dry lake that that is very difficult to ‘navigate’ if wet but there are alternative routes around the north and south in use. Chalbi desert is said to be the only true desert in Kenya. We have a scenic drive down the Great Rift Valley escarpment to the Jade Sea (Lake Turkana) at the floor around Loiyangalani settlement after lunch. Loiyangalani is kind of an oasis where almost all the local tribes are represented; the Samburu, Turkana, Rendille, Gabbra and the famous tiny tribe –the Elmoro. At Lake Turkana we enjoy the cool breeze blowing from the lake as we meet the local people and explore a bit of the Jade Sea. Loiyangalani is a good place to relax and cool.

Day 6 - Lake Turkana:

We spend the day in Lake Turkana mostly relaxing and visiting the communities here as well as appreciating nature.  A visit to the nomadic museum at Loiyangalani could help in understanding the history and habits of the peoples of this area. A wonderful experience

Day 7: Tuum camel safari

We depart Loiyangalani and Lake Turkana along the very rugged and rocky road out of the Great Rift Valley; heading south to Tuum – a village situated on the west of Mt. Nyiro overlooking the Suguta Valley. The way to Tuum is very scenic but rough. From Tuum you have the opportunity to walk with camels led by Samburu guides for a couple of hours to the foothills of Mt. Nyiro where you will fly camp overnight together with the Samburu guides and their camels.

Day 8 –Maralal

We have an early morning walk for a couple of hours towards the meeting point with your driver guide and vehicle; then continue on the rough road to Maralal town (the capital of the Samburu people) for Dinner and overnight in a campsite.

Day 9 – Lake Baringo:

Heading down south we visit Lake Baringo where we overnight in a campsite and enjoy the lake atmosphere with birds, crocodiles and hippos. This is Tugen country one of the Kalenjin sub tribes.

Day 10 – Nairobi:

We have early morning boat ride in Lake Baringo (most afternoon Lake Baringo is stormy and turbulent probably due to convectional air currents and evaporation). After Breakfast we drive back to Nairobi arriving late afternoon

 Included in the safari price:
    -Transport by special safari vehicle
    -Services of a professional English speaking driver/guide and safari cook
    -All campsite fees
    -All camping equipment including use of our three-person tents (each tent shared by 2 people), stools, foam mattresses except sleeping bags
    -Three meals a day while on safari whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian prepared by our safari cook
    -Activities as indicated in the specified safari itinerary

 Not included in the price:
    -Game park entrance fees shown separately in US dollars
    -Personal travel insurance
    -Flying Doctors Service emergency evacuation cover available at US$10 per person.
    -Sleeping bags [available for hire in the office]
    -Hotel accommodation in Nairobi (Karen area recommended)
    -All airport/hotel/airport transfers [but can be arranged at extra cost]
    -Entry visa cost
    -All personal expenses and toiletries; e.g. mineral water, toilet paper, laundry, beverages, driver guide tips, etc.
    -Any other extras not stated as included above

 What you need to bring on safari:
    -Sleeping bag [available for hire in our office]
    -Money for personal spending and tipping
    -Only a small case or rucksack, as storage space is limited [maximum 20kgs].
    -A pair of long trousers and jersey for the cool mornings and evenings in addition to plenty of light clothes for hot days (do not forget a hat), swim suit, a pillow, comfortable shoes/sandals and snacks
    -Torch, sunglasses ,suntan lotion, insect repellent/spray but not mosquito coils
    -Mineral water and beverages
    -Camera, memory cards, binoculars, maps, guide-books
    -Toilet paper, towel, soap and toothbrush/paste
    -All personal travel insurance
    -Flying Doctors Service emergency evacuation cover.

For more information visit www.africanaturaltours.com