NORTHERN KENYA BY HELICOPTER
ITINERARY
Day 1 - 2: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Arrive into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where you will meet your pilot and the helicopter to take you to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Lewa is known for its endangered animals, home to the grevy zebera and the black and white rhino.
Spend time out on game drives, guided walks or tracking rhino.
One morning set off with a picnic brekfast to fly around the peaks of Mount Kenya. Land at one of the lakes for fly fishing and a picnic.
Sirikoi Cottage, 2 nights.
Day 3 - 6 : The North of Kenya
Set off through the Suguta Valley to the wilds of the north. Landing at the Siali Crater to meet the Pokot tribe. Fly over crocodile pools, through the hoodoo and painted valleys, before touching down on the sand dunes. Arrive at Koros in time for lunch. Settle into camp before heading out on the quadbikes to a sundowner location.
Fly to the Chalbi desert, landing at an Oasis - here you await the Sand Grouse collecting water. On to Kargi to visit the Gabra people, and a stop at the Karoli Springs where the Rendille people water their livestock. Fly over Mount Kulal and stop for lunch at South Island where you will meet the fishing boat. Sleep under the stars at the Koros fly camp.
The following morning fly up the eastern shore of the lake to the Turkana Basin Institute, a renowned archaeological site, here discover the many fascinating fossils. Next we land on Central island and at Sibiloi National Park to walk among the petrified forest. Return to Koros Camp for the night.
Final day in the north. Explore Lake Logipi and the Nabuyatom Crater. There are a number of rock art sites to discover.
Sundowners around the fire with the Samburu Tribe.
Koros Camp, 4 nights.
Day 7 - 9: Segera Conservancy
Fly down through the Mathews and Ndotos mountain range into the Segera conservancy. The helicopter will depart. Spend the final days out on safari and enjoying the relaxation of the retreat.
Segera Retreat, 3 nights.
A charter plane will collect you from the Segera Airstrip to fly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home.
End of Safari
DAY 1 - 2
LAIKIPIA
There is no landscape in Kenya, outside of National Parks, more crucial for the future of elephants than Laikipia. 7,000 elephants are protected by private and communal landowners and a network of inspiring conservation organizations.
MOUNT KENYA
Iconic in shape and size, Mount Kenya is situated in the heart of Kenya, on the equator - its highest point ‘Batian’ reaches 5,199 meters. The snowy peaks can be seen on clear days from as far as Mt Kilimanjaro some 300 kilometers away. As you spend time at Sirikoi, Mount Kenya will become a daily view, which makes it even more exciting to explore.
We will fly around the peaks of the mountain and land at Lake Alice or Lake Michaelson for a picnic breakfast. Almost inaccessible and well off the beaten track, they offer an exciting morning of fly fishing.
SIRIKOI COTTAGE
Sirikoi is situated on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. To the north and east of Sirikoi lie snow-capped mountains, dense forests and sprawling deserts, while to the south looms Mount Kenya. Whichever way you face, it is towards adventure.
The cottage opens out on to its own verandah where you can sit by the fire in the evenings as you watch the sun go down. You will have the use of an exclusive vehicle and your own guide throughout your stay at Sirikoi.
DAY 3
SUGUTA VALLEY
The Suguta Valley offers some of Kenya's most breathtaking aerial vistas. The journey begins leaving Sirikoi Lodge and flying to the Siali Crater where you meet the Pokot Tribe. Next you fly over crocodile pools, watch as they dart into the reeds. Continue on through the Hoodoo and Painted Valleys before encountering the expansive and deserted Suguta Sand dunes, their spectacular, ever-shifting forms providing an ideal helicopter landing site.
THE POKOT TRIBE
KOROS CAMP
What started as a simple family base, has evolved into a unique six bed camp for the ultimate private retreat. In a remote and unspoilt spot, Koros Camp is nestled away amongst acacia trees and semi arid scrubland at the northern end of the South Horr valley. An ideal base to explore the shores of Lake Turkana, the Chalbi Desert and the wilds of the north.
Each thatched cottage has an en suite bathroom, with flush loos and luxury bucket showers. The open aired mess tent has ample seating area for everyone to gather round under the fans for lunch and dinner.
At the far end of the camp, a plunge pool invites guests to cool off in the heat of the day. This is your base for the next four nights.
Set off on the quad bikes through dried up river beds to a sun-downer location. You might even be lucky enough to spot an elephant or other smaller plains game on your journey.
DAY 4
CHALBI DESERT
After breakfast set off into the Chalbi desert. Chalbi means bare and salty, believed to be a dried up lake. The hottest and most arid place in Kenya. This desert stretches 100,000 kilometers squared to the Ethiopian boarder.
On the northern edge of the desert lies an area of oases with groves of palm trees that attract sand grouse and other birds looking for food and water. We land here to watch these birds fly in. Next we move to the Karoli Springs. There is a chance to meet the Rendille tribe at the springs as they water their livestock.
KAROLI SPRINGS
LAKE TURKANA & NABUYATOM CRATER
Flying over Mount Kulal, a serious contrast with a forest in this desert area, we reach Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world. One of the most remote and hostile places on Earth, with black volcanic rocks and soaring daytime temperatures, yet so scenically spectacular.
Touch down on the edge of the Nabuyatom Crater. The collapsed volcano of Nabuyatom lies at the southern end of Lake Turkana. It is surrounded by jade waters and is the most iconic feature on the lake’s shore.
FISHING ON LAKE TURKANA
At South Island we meet the fishing boat. Spend the day out on the boat as you try to catch the allusive Nile Perch - much sought after by avid anglers. Lunch on south island before flying to the Koros fly camp for a night under the stars.
DAY 5
CENTRAL ISLAND AND SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK
Set off in the helicopters up the eastern side of the lake to Sibiloi National park and central island.
Central Island is a wild volcanic feature in the middle of Lake Turkana. Both a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the five kilometers squared island has three crater lakes with some 14,000 Nile crocodiles, and seasonal flocks of flamingo.
Sibiloi is known as the 'cradle of mankind' because of the striking fossils found here. It is also the largest site for petrified wood, with the remains of great cedar wood forests which covered the lakes shores seven million years ago.
TURKANA BASIN INSTITUTE
The Turkana Basin region is a source of unprecedented fossil and archaeological evidence for all major stages of human development. This is the place where our story is written. Every human being alive today shares DNA inherited from a common ancestral population that we currently believe lived in or within a few hundred miles of the Turkana Basin, about 60-70,000 years ago.
DAY 6
LAKE LOGIPI
Lake Logipi a seasonal saline lake, often full of flamingo. The lake lies at the southern end of Lake Turkana. Stretching six kilometers wide by three kilometers long, and is very shallow. In 2020 after some extreme rainfall Lake Turkana spilled into Lake Logipi, otherwise the lakes are completely separated.
SAMBURU TRIBE
Gather around the fire with the Samburu Tribe as fifty warriors and fifty ladies showcase a spectacular traditional dance. Spend some time speaking with the Samburu as you learn about their traditions and lifestyle. For those that are interested are welcomed to visit their manyatta homes.
DAY 7 - 9
THE MATHEWS & NDOTOS
The Ndoto and Mathews are iconic landmarks, yet their remote location has kept them secret and inaccessible to most. The range, separated by the Milgis river lugga, has montane forests, dramatic cliff faces, grassy glades and captivating views.
Known as a ‘sky island’, the 150 kilometer long Mathews Range rises from the dry desolate country, exposing lush forested hills and craggy peaks. Untouched, a pristine ancient cycad forest grows here in abundance.
SEGERA RETREAT
Segera Retreat is a splash of green in a golden savannah. With a legacy of true Kenyan ranch life set against the filmic grasslands that landscape the foothills of Mount Kenya, Segera has been rejuvenated into a fertile home for conservation, community, culture and commerce. Behind a living cactus boma, the lush gardens flicker with sunbirds and inspire with sculptures, pools and elegant thatched villas.
Segera emits creative energy and the kind of hospitality you find with favourite friends. It is a beacon for interesting minds, mavericks, art lovers and those looking for fantastic wildlife experiences, wellness, incredible dining experiences and new ways to engage with Kenya's evolving culture. Segera's exclusively private 50 000 acres are home to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and buffalo as well as endangered species such as reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Lelwel's Hartebeest and African wild dog. You'll seek out these species along with classic plains game and up to 150 bird species on daily game drives in open-sided safari vehicles with talented guides.
END OF SAFARI
Tropic Air is based in Kenya, and offers a broad range of professional air services using helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
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