Destination: Kenya
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Desert Frontiers
Untitled Document
THREE WEEKS / ISIOLO TO LOKICHOGGIO
Depending on the kind of route you take, covering the full scope of this extended wilderness trip could clock up well over 2000km and take anything up to a month with stops.
Heading out into the wild is one of the great Kenyan experiences, and some of the tracks here are very unbeaten indeed – this is one itinerary where the journey is so much more than any single destination. The focal point of the trip is Lake Turkana, the vast lake that dominates the northwest corner of the country.
On the eastern side, the gateway to this region is the small town of Isiolo, north of Mt Kenya. There are several good national parks and wildlife reserves in this area, and a side trip out to Wamba, in the Matthews Range, is great for walkers.
Alternatively, you can plough straight in to the desert route and head up the rough road to Marsabit, the dusty tribal centre of this remote area, which boasts a fine national park.
Assuming you’re not tempted to hop over the border to Ethiopia at Moyale, a real wild frontier, take the western loop to Turkana via North Horr, heading for the tiny lakeside settlement of Loyangalani, a base for trips into even more remote parts of the country.
From here the trail leads south again, passing all kinds of scenic zones and the stopover towns of South Horr and Baragoi. It’s worth stopping for a couple of days in Maralal, to replenish supplies and sample the joys of camel trekking.
You could end the trip here, but for the full effect head up to the other side of Turkana, passing through the lush western area around Marich to reach sweltering Lodwar and the lovely lake shore at Eliye Springs. The true hard core can even head up to Lokichoggio and gaze longingly towards the Sudanese border.
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
