Lake Turkana Safari and Cultural Festival

The lake Turkana Festival takes place annually in Loiyangalani,a small town
located on the south-eastern coast of Lake Turkana.The name means“a place of
many trees”in the native Samburu tongue and is home to the ElMolo,an almost
extinct community,amongst other communities.Its main industries include
fishing, tourism and gold panning.
The 3 day carnival is a celebration of the rich cultures of the ElMolo,Samburu,
Gabbra,Rendile,Watta,Dasannach and theTurkana all who live around the Jade
Sea.The Lake Turkana Festival is worth attending as you explore this northern
frontier and enjoy the myriad of colorful cultures while discovering the hidden
treasures of Lake Turkana.

Itinerary:

Day 1;

This morning we depart Nairobi and proceed north, driving through lush tea and

coffee estates to Sweetwaters Tented Camp. Sweetwaters land, the Ol Pejeta

Conservancy and its sumptuous ranch were once the private domain of famed

multi-millionaire, Adnan Kashoggi.

We visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a charming haven established by the Jane

Goodall Institute to provide sanctuary to orphaned chimps, and the specially

protected and fenced refuge of black rhino with its stunning forty specimens! In

fact Sweetwaters boasts excellent game viewing with the highest ratio of game to

area of any park or reserve in Kenya.

Moreover, the camp has its own private waterhole and salt lick so we’ll be

guaranteed unprecedented close encounters. Whether its day or night game

drives, camel trekking, lion tracking, al fresco dining or relaxing by pool,

Sweetwaters is bound to delight.

Overnight at Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp

Meal Plan {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2;

Leave Olpajeta Conservancy after breakfast to Samburu, heading north of

Nanyuki town, you’ll continue eventually reaching a dusty outpost known as

Isiolo, the last major stop on the journey into the remote northern frontier

district. From here it’s a fairly short hop to Samburu. Arrival at the camp in time

for lunch and then depart for an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as

the sunsets.

Overnight at Ashnil Tented Camp

Meal Plan {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 3 & 4;

Early morning game drive is followed by breakfast, and time to relax by the camp

pool or the terrace overlooking the river. After lunch there will be another game

drive returning to the camp as the sun sets.

Overnight at Ashnil Tented Camp

Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 5;

Samburu to Loiyangalani (via Laisamis) (approx 8 hrs drive)

Early breakfast enjoying another spectacular sunrise before departing towards

the beautiful Jade Sea where the settlement of Loiyangalani is located. We pass

by the massive flat topped Samburu sacred mountain known as Mount Ololokwe

with its sheer cliffs and turn off towards Laisamis. The drive takes us through

dramatic scenery going through the infamous ‘milgis lugga’ (the huge seasonal

river that winds its way between the Matthews range and the Ndoto mountains),

to the north of the Ndoto mountains and east of Ol donyo mara before arriving at

Lake Turkana via the large windmills of the Lake Turkana wind power project.

The view of Lake Turkana is particularly breathtaking and we stop for you to

enjoy views of the Jade sea with sightings of local fishermen/Turkana huts in the

far distance. Time depends; we visit the festival grounds where the cultural

village and inhabitants have set up.

Overnight at Malabo Camp

Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 6 & 7;

The next 2 days will be spent with the local communities exhibiting their culture

and you will get a chance to interact with them as well as learn about their

culture. The program will include: boat racing, Moran race, wresting; displays of

traditional foods as well as dances by the various tribes.

Apart from that; optional activities (organized and payable direct) include: – the

option of hiring a boat to visit the surrounding area, visit the desert museum,

visit the local lodge for a swim and walk around town. In the evening; you may

venture towards the site for more traditional dances and desert ‘disco’!

Overnight back at the campsite.

Overnight at Malabo Camp resort

Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 8;

Loyangalani to samburu Ashnil camp for overnight because of a long drive from turkana 8hrs drive .

Day 9;

Early morning breakfast before check out and to depart to Nairobi arriving in the late afternoon. You will be met and

transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight.