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This 14 day north Kenya experience
will take you to one of the remotest parts of
the Great rift valley, Suguta with its seasonal
lake Logipi, arrive at Lake Turkana the way
old explorers did on foot and then walk with
Rendille tribesmen and their camels into the
Kaisut Desert, before visiting Samburu and Buffalo
Springs Reserve to view the peculiar Northern
game species of reticulated giraffe, oryx, grevy’s
zebra and gerenuk.
This trek will take you to one of the lowest
parts of the rift valley system and one of the
harshest parts in Kenya (in terms of heat and
landscape). Despite this (or because of it)
the Suguta offers some exciting wilderness treks.
Itinerary
Warning:
Long,
hard and very serious trek through a harsh and
inhospitable region, with complex logistics
and a few escape routes, yet immensely rewarding
with stunning scenery.
Unrelenting
heat, severe walking conditions and rugged landscape
make this by far the most serious trek described
in this book. Approach with caution. (Source:
The Lonely Planet Guide Book)
Day
1- Nairobi, Lake Baringo
Depart Nairobi in a specially
prepared 4 x 4 vehicle and drive into the Rift
Valley via Nakuru town to Lake Baringo, where
we set up camp on the lake shore. Lake Baringo
is excellent for birdlife and possible views
of crocodile and hippo which sometimes come
grazing right into the camp area. (Beware, hippos
can be very dangerous so don’t approach
them).
Day
2- Lake Baringo, South Horr
We depart early as we face a long
drive out of the Rift Valley, via Maralal (the
capital town of the Samburu people), situated
high in the hills above the Leroghi Plateau.
We climb up to 8,000ft before dropping down
to Baragoi (a small market town) and arrive
at another small settlement of South Horr where
we set up camp.
Day
3- South Horr, Mt. Ngiro, Suguta valley (walking)
Mt. Ngiro stands to the East
of the Suguta valley and even though it is surrounded
by desert, its upper slopes are covered in forest
(a sharp contrast to the dry, dusty landscape
we will walk through) used by the Samburu people
for grazing during dry seasons. We leave camp
and begin our ascent up Mt. Ngiro. We will camp
on the western side of Ngiro where you get good
views of suguta valley and also Lake Turkana
to the North. As we only carry essentials for
one night, camp will be very basic.
Day
4- Suguta valley (walking)
In the morning we descend to Tuum
at the foot of Mount Ngiro. This is where we
meet our crew and pack animals who will accompany
us on this voyage to the Jade Sea. We continue
on into the Suguta valley (with its dramatic
scenery of desert, salt lakes, volcanic cones
and jagged lava fields) and will camp at a suitable
spot, shaded from the severity of weather conditions.
From here on water is a real problem and although
we can refill at Parkati town, we have to take
care of consumption so little or no washing
is available on this section.
Day
5- Suguta valley, Lake Logipi (walking)
We approach Lake Logipi and Cathedral
rock – an island in the centre of this
seasonal soda lake. This saline lake sometimes
hosts many flamingos - not as pink as their
cousins down south, but the birds are still
a fantastic sight. This is an incredibly harsh
country, but the scenery is extra dramatic.
Again we camp in desert conditions near the
lake.
Day
6- Lake Logipi, Lake Turkana (walking)
From Logipi we depart early and
head north over the Kakorinya ridge to Lake
Turkana, glistening like a jewel in the sun.
Lake Turkana is one of the largest desert lakes
in the world and is often called the ‘Jade
Sea’ because of its remarkable ‘blue-green’
colour. We will camp near the lake shore, possibly
buying fish if there are fishermen about.
Day
7- Lake Turkana, Loiyangalani (some walking)
We walk east through lunar landscape
past the remains of Telikis volcano (extinct)
to Von Honels Bay where we will meet transport
to take us to Loiyangalani. We bid goodbye to
our crew from Tuum.
These volcanic features are named after the
first Europeans to reach the area in 1888, in
a journey sometimes called the last of the great
East African Expeditions.
Arriving in the afternoon, we spend the evening
relaxing at our camp on the lake shore. With
a refreshing drink and plenty of water for that
cool shower.
Day
8- Loiyangalani, Ngurunit
A leisurely departure by road back to south
Horr where we drive east to Ilaut and Ngurunit
town where we camp. Excellent views of the Ndoto
mountains from this small Rendille and Samburu
settlement.
Day
9- Ngurunit, Ndoto Mountain (walking)
We depart on foot with Rendille tribesmen and
camels to carry all our equipment. The route
may vary from time to time but often, we walk
up a spectacular valley between granite cliffs,
over a forested ridge of the Ndotos and descend
into Langata Nanyuki and camp near a stream.
This is where we meet up with the Rendille camels,
having carried our gear through a more accessible
route.
Day
10- Ndoto Mountain, Milgis River (walking)
We depart in convoy with camels and walk to
IL kirin on the Milgis river bed. This is a
large, mostly dry river that carries rain water
from Wamba and Barsaloi regions east of the
Leroghi hills into the desert, where it disappears.
We will make camp near the river bed. Sometimes
the local people excavate deep wells in the
sandy river bed and people trek for kilometres
to water their livestock and collect for their
own consumption. We may catch them singing in
unison as they raise the water – an interesting
sight.
Day
11 (walking)
With our Rendille and camels we again walk
east through thorn-scrub to a pre-arranged rendezvous
point where we all camp together.
Day
12- Samburu & Buffalo Spring
We bid farewell to our Rendille
crew, and drive to the main Marsabit road at
Laisamis and go south to Samburu and Buffalo
Springs reserve at Archers Post. We camp in
the reserve.
Day
13- Samburu, Buffalo Spring National Reserve
Day spent game viewing in this reserve looking
for the special Northern game as well as elephant
and possibly the big cats. Samburu (situated
on the North Side of the Ewaso Ngiro River)
and Buffalo Springs (south side of the same
river) is home to some species specific to the
North of Kenya. These include Gerenuk –
a long necked graceful antelope, oryx –
with its splendid straight horns, the grevy’s
zebra – a larger and finer stripped animal
than the common or Burchells Zebra….and
of course the reticulated giraffe with its finer
white lines.
Day
14
Return to Nairobi via the shoulder of Mt. Kenya
and Nanyuki. Drop off at hotel of your choice.
or at the airport.
Please
Note:
- The gear and crew are transferred by vehicle
from camp to camp each day on some itineraries
(Wild Plains and Tropical Moorlands), unless
otherwise specified. However, if specially
arranged, donkeys or camels can be used depending
on area. Some itineraries require donkeys
or camels in which case the four-wheel-drive
would meet us on the last leg of the trip
(Mystic Nomads and Jade Sea Journey).
- If you are coming from overseas we can arrange
transfers from and to the airport, hotel bookings,
beach holidays, balloon safaris, camping and
lodge safaris, overland safaris and any other
activities you would like to participate in
whilst in Kenya. Please enquire with our Sales
team.
- Clients should arrange to have good weatherproof
clothing, a warm sleeping bag, a water bottle,
good walking shoes and a comfortable pair
of shoes to wear in camp.
- Although these itineraries follow a specific
routine, there may be need to alter certain
days due to the pace of walking or even interference
by weather conditions.
- For Jade Sea Journey only: Due to the harsh
terrain and heat, this itinerary would be
best done during the rainy/”winter”
season (March to May, June, July and October
to November) as it is much cooler, otherwise,
if done any other time of the year, walking
would start before dawn to avoid walking in
the afternoon when temperatures are high.
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