$3,623 to $3,679 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Nairobi to Trout Tree & Ngare Ndare – North of the Equator
Nairobi to Trout Tree & Ngare Ndare – North of the Equator
Morning: Depart Nairobi at 8:00 am sharp, driving north through farming towns and rising hills. The air grows fresher, the traffic thins. By late morning, you descend toward the cool highlands of Naro Moru, where the Trout Tree Restaurant awaits—hidden in the canopy of ancient figs and cedars.
Afternoon: An early lunch suspended among the leaves, with trout fresh from the river below and the sound of water rushing over rocks. Afterward, continue north to Ngare Ndare Forest—a beautiful, untouched art of nature. Walk the canopy bridge high above the trees, then swim in the crystal pools of the forest’s heart.
Evening: From here, most of your experience will be north of the equator. Drive into the wild as the sun begins to lower, reaching Lion’s Cave Camp for your first camping experience. Set up tents beneath rocky overhangs, share a simple meal, and fall asleep to the distant call of a hyena.
- Main Destination:
- Ngare Ndare Forest
- Accommodation:
- Lion's Cave Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Ngurunit – Natural Rock Pools, Water Slides & Hill Trails
Ngurunit – Natural Rock Pools, Water Slides & Hill Trails
Morning: Leave early, driving deeper into the northern frontier. By mid-morning, you arrive at Ngurunit—a village cradled by harsh hills and soft springs. The natural rock pools and water slides await, carved by centuries of seasonal floods.
Afternoon: Explore trail routes winding up the surrounding hills. The views stretch across arid plains and hidden valleys. Return to the pools for a second swim, sliding down smooth rock chutes into cool, clear water—pure joy in the desert.
Evening: Night falls quickly. Camp again at Ngurunit, with the sound of trickling water and the rough shapes of hills against a star-filled sky. A simple dinner, then sleep.
- Main Destination:
- Ngurunit (Village)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Ndoto Mountains – Spectacular Views & Loiyangalani Sunset
Ndoto Mountains – Spectacular Views & Loiyangalani Sunset
Morning: Start very early—before the sun. The hike into the Ndoto Mountains is steep but glorious. By sunrise, you stand among ancient peaks, looking out over a sea of rock and dust and distant volcanic craters. The views are spectacular, worthy of the effort.
Afternoon: Return to camp for lunch, then drive toward Loiyangalani. The landscape flattens, then shimmers with heat. Arrive at Malabo Resort on the shores of Lake Turkana—the only desert lake in the world.
Late Afternoon: Visit the Loiyangalani Desert Museum. Here you learn the cultural history of the people who shaped this region—and perhaps the history of all humanity: the El Molo, Turkana, Rendille, and Samburu.
Evening: A sunset like no other. Watch the sun sink directly into Lake Turkana, turning the water to molten copper and the sky to fire. Overnight at Malabo Resort.
- Main Destination:
- Loiyangalani (Lake Turkana)
- Accommodation:
- Malabo Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
North Horr – Horr Gudha Oasis & Deep Desert Dunes
North Horr – Horr Gudha Oasis & Deep Desert Dunes
Morning: At 8:30 am, proceed toward North Horr. The Chalbi Desert stretches endlessly. Stop at the Horr Gudha Oasis—a sudden explosion of green and water, where palms grow from nowhere and birds gather in secret.
Afternoon: Continue to North Horr, then divert deep into the wilderness. The road disappears. You reach the great sand dunes—soft, sculpted, and golden. Set up camp directly in the desert, with not a single light for a hundred kilometers.
Evening: Sunset is magical—waves of orange and purple rolling across the dunes. Night brings a silence so complete you can hear your own heartbeat. Then the stars emerge, thick as dust. Camp in the desert.
- Main Destination:
- Chalbi Desert (Area)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Kalacha – Gabbra Culture, Camel Trekking & Spring-Fed Pool
Kalacha – Gabbra Culture, Camel Trekking & Spring-Fed Pool
Morning: Your entire day is given to Kalacha. First, cultural interaction: spend time with the local Gabbra community, learning their nomadic way of life—how they read the stars, find water, and welcome strangers with open hands.
Afternoon: A short camel trek across the dunes, the traditional way to move through this land. Then rest in the shade of palm trees. Swim in the spring-fed pool—a cool, green miracle surrounded by nothing but sand and heat.
Evening: As night falls, the desert reveals its final gift. Due to extremely low light pollution, the sky in Kalacha is exceptional—a river of stars, satellites slowly crossing, and the Milky Way so bright it casts a shadow. Overnight at Kalacha Camp.
- Main Destination:
- Kalacha (Village)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Marsabit – Ahmed the Elephant legend and Lake Paradise
Marsabit – Ahmed the Elephant legend and Lake Paradise
Morning: From Kalacha, head to Marsabit. Enter through the Ahmed Gate into Marsabit National Park. This legendary elephant—Ahmed—once walked these trails. You follow in his footsteps, climbing into a green volcanic forest suspended above the desert.
Afternoon: Several stops: first, Lake Paradise, a crater lake mirrored perfectly in the afternoon light. Then viewpoints for elephants, buffalo, and rare birds. Exit through the Karare Gate and drive to a scenic hideout at the Sand And Rock Resort, perched on the edge of the Marsabit National Park.
Evening: Your night is spent at the Sand And Rock Resort.
- Main Destination:
- Marsabit National Park
- Accommodation:
- Sand Rock Resort
Wildlife in Marsabit NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary & Samburu Village
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary & Samburu Village
Morning: Drive to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary—the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa. Watch orphan elephants feed, play, and heal. The keepers are Samburu warriors who once hunted; now they protect.
Afternoon: Visit a nearby Samburu village. Meet the people whose culture is shaped to protect both wildlife and environment. Learn their songs, their beadwork, their deep respect for the land. Late in the day, drive back to Lion’s Cave Camp at Archer’s Post.
Evening: Tonight, no camping. You rest in the cottages of Lion’s Cave Camp—proper beds, warm showers, and the silhouette of Mount Ololokwe watching from a distance.
- Main Destination:
- Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (Elephant Sanctuary)
- Accommodation:
- Lion's Cave Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Mount Ololokwe Hike & Shaba Game Drive
Mount Ololokwe Hike & Shaba Game Drive
Morning: An early hike of Mount Ololokwe—a sacred table mountain for the Samburu. The trail climbs steadily; by the time you reach the top, the entire northern frontier spreads beneath you, endless and ancient. A place of prayer and vision.
Afternoon: Return for lunch, then an afternoon game drive in Shaba National Reserve. The landscape is volcanic, raw, and beautiful—cheetahs rest on rocky kopjes, reticulated giraffes move like dancers across the plains.
Evening: Back to the cottages at Lion’s Cave Camp. Dinner under the mountain. Another night of comfort before the final wilderness.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Ololokwe
- Accommodation:
- Lion's Cave Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Samburu & Buffalo Springs – Big Cats, Ewaso Nyiro & Spring-Fed Swim
Samburu & Buffalo Springs – Big Cats, Ewaso Nyiro & Spring-Fed Swim
Morning: Explore Samburu National Reserve for the big cats—lions, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard along the Ewaso Nyiro River. The light is soft, the wildlife abundant.
Afternoon: Drive all the way and cross over to the twin reserve, Buffalo Springs. Look for elephants and the endemic wildlife of the north: Grevy’s zebra with their narrow stripes, and the gerenuk antelope standing tall on its hind legs to browse.
Evening: One of the great surprises of the north—swimming in a pool within the park, fed by an adjacent spring, surrounded by arid bushland and afternoon heat. Then drive to Sarova Shaba Lodge for your final night on safari. Dinner, drinks, and the sound of the river below.
- Main Destination:
- Samburu National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
Wildlife in Samburu NR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Shaba Nature Walk with Samburu Warriors – Return to Nairobi
Shaba Nature Walk with Samburu Warriors – Return to Nairobi
Early Morning: One last gift. A nature walk in Shaba National Reserve with Samburu warriors. They move silently, reading tracks, naming plants, showing you the secret language of the wild. A close to your long adventure that feels like a blessing.
Late Morning: Return for a late breakfast—eggs, toast, fresh fruit, and strong Kenyan coffee. At 10:00 am, you should be off to Nairobi. The drive south is long, but the mind is full of images: desert lakes, sacred mountains, elephant orphans, and stars.
Evening: A farewell dinner at Kasarani Safari Park. Over good food and cold drinks, you relive the journey—the dunes, the rock pools, the warriors, the silence. Then a final transfer to your hotel or JKIA, carrying the north with you.
- Main Destination:
- Shaba National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
Wildlife in Shaba NR
- Meals & Drinks:
