THE MARSABIT LAKE TURKANA CULTURAL FESTIVAL - 7days

THE MARSABIT LAKE TURKANA CULTURAL FESTIVAL

The cultural festival has been running for over 10 years. It is a spectacle for cultural and adventure loving travelers. It brings together adventure travel through Kenya’s un-spoilt terrain and beautiful sceneries to an explosion of cultural diversity in the little town of Loiyangalani. Loiyangalani sits on the South Eastern shores of Lake Turkana, which you have a chance to swim in. It’s a chance to meet, interact, dance and learn the ways of life of the El Molo; Kenya’s smallest tribe, Turkana, Samburu, Rendile, Burji, Gabbra, Sakuye, Konso, Dassanach, Borana, Wayu and Somali

This trip is ideal for those who want to make the most of the journey up North of Kenya with long travel days on the first and last days. Please note that a shorter itinerary for 4 days is also available for groups.

Day 1: NAIROBI – MARSABIT

Depart from Nairobi very early in the morning. We will have a brief stopover and health break in Nanyuki town before proceeding to Isiolo arriving in Isiolo in the mid-morning. Pick up the journey further North to Marsabit, the last 4.5 hours of the journey arriving in the early evening. Enjoy a game drive in Marsabit National Park with a final stop at the Lake Paradise viewpoint. Proceed to Marsabit Lodge for dinner and overnight. The evenings are quite chilly in Marsabit and thus it is advisable to be dressed accordingly. 

Day 2: MARSABIT – CHALBI DESERT – NORTH HORR

After early breakfast depart for Chalbi desert, Kenya’s only true desert. Driving through the desert you are likely to experience dust and sand storms so high they reach the clouds. We pass by Gof Aridho one of the many beautiful craters of Marsabit and the oasis of Kalacha. Arriving in North Horr in the evening. Dinner and overnight here.

Day 3: NORTH HORR – SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK

On this day we set off from North Horr for Sibiloi National Park. where we go through the Petrified Forest Kenya’s fossilized forest dating millions of years back. The stack contrast you’ll see here is by all proportions a grand exercise of your imagination: the huge forest that existed here in wetter days Vs the current barren, bare and wind-swept dry vast land. We spend the night at the KWS Camp at Sibiloi National Park. Here the nights are   as memorable as the day; views, tranquility, the clear starry skies, evening sunsets, the heartwarming reflections of the sunset on the lake waters bring the magic of the lake alive. Dinner and overnight here.

Day 4: KOOBI FORA

After early breakfast we proceed to Koobi Fora, a 1.5 hours’ journey. This is a site of not only national importance but also international significance as it hosts the site where the first Homo Erectus was excavated. Thus rightly called the “Cradle of mankind”. The number of first ancient fossils to be seen here is truly informing. Including Elephant, Giraffe, Crocodile and Tortoise fossils almost 3 times the size of today’s species. We will drive through the Sibiloi National Park. Back to KWS Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: SIBILOI - LOIYANGALANI

Depart for Loiyangalani arriving in the early afternoon in time for lunch. Lunch at Elmolo Lodge and check in into our rooms.  We have a chance in the afternoon to visit the Elmolo Village, spectate the boat races and enjoy swimming in the Lake Turkana or the naturally heated swimming pool at the Lodge.  Loiyangalani is a small but warm town in the south Eastern shores of Lake Turkana formerly known as Lake Rudolf. It is so windy that Africa’s biggest wind power project is hosted not far from this town at Sarima. Within this area alone we have four major tribal communities co existing together i.e. the people and tribe after which the lake is named; The Turkana, The Samburu, Rendile and the Elmolo. Dinner and overnight at Loiyangalani.

Day 6: LOIYANGALANI

We have the full day for the festival activities in Loiyangalani. We leave early in the morning before the sun starts to scorch to go see the ancient rock art, about 4 kms from our lodge. Later we come back for a full breakfast. We then head back to the festival central venue for the cultural exhibitions and performances. Break for lunch and after lunch head to the desert Museum with a huge collection of artefacts from all the communities represented in the county, giving you a deeper insight into their way of life. There are also cultural shows, a Moran Show, Ethiopian Artist performance, local artists’ performances. These activities continue up to the late night on this day. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 7: LOIYANGALANI – NAIOROBI VIA ISIOLO

We check out early in the morning and depart for Nairobi, through Laisamis, Merile, Archers Post, Isiolo, arriving in Isiolo in the early afternoon.  Lunch in Nanyuki enroute. We get to Nairobi just after dusk.

END OF TRIP