SAFARI TO THE NORTH OF KENYA
ITINERARY
6th & 7th: The Mathews Mountain Range
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where you will meet a tradewinds representative who will help you through customs and find your luggage. A fixed wing plane will take you to the Kalepo Airstrip. Settle in to camp.
Spend time exploring the arid north with the Samburu tribe, here you will learn about their culture and way of life.
Kalepo Camp, 2 nights.
8th & 9th: Lake Turkana and the Suguta Valley
A helicopter will arrive early in the morning to take you up through the Suguta Valley, over crocodile pools, the hoodoo and painted valleys, to the vast Lake Turkana. Arrive at Koros in time for lunch. Afternoon spent out on the quadbikes.
The following morning fly out to the Chalbi desert, here you await the sand grouse as they come to collect water. There is often the chance to meet the Rendille Tribe as we find them at the springs, watering their livestock. Continue on over Mt Kulal to South Island where you will meet the fishing boat. Spend the afternoon out on the boat, with lunch on South Island.
Koros Camp, 2 nights.
End of Safari in Kenya
Fly down through the Mathews. Stopping in the Ndotos to view the cycad forest. Land at the Nanyuki Airstrip where you will meet your charter flight to Kigali.
THE MATHEWS & THE SAMBURU TRIBE
Located on a dry river with sweeping views of the majestic Mathews Mountains; Kalepo Camp is a private use, family friendly, luxury tented camp which offers exclusive use of 390,000 acres straddling both sides of the Mathews Mountains. It is nestled in the heart of Samburuland, Northern Kenya, where people and wildlife co-exist as they have done for centuries.
Whist at Kalepo the activities are endless; visit an authentic Kijijis (Samburu village), meet with the local blacksmiths, visit the local primary school which is funded by Kalepo Camp. There is also the opportunity to see the 'singing wells' in action.
Kaelpo camp is the perfect location from which to explore the diversity of Kenyas “Big North.”
KALEPO CAMP
Kalepo Camp is an exclusive use, luxury tented camp tailor made to family safaris. It consists of 3 double/twin en-suite tents which can comfortably sleep 6 guests combined. There is also one family unit which consists of adjacent double/twin en-suite tents, this sleeps 4 guests.
The tents are tastefully decorated with all the basic comforts. Over-head fans and beautiful soft high quality linen add to the finishing touches.
The bathrooms are fitted with double basins, running water, flush loos and hot showers. Open to the elements, it allows guests to shower under the stars or watch the birds while you wash your hair.
THE SUGUTA VALLEY
The first stop is the Silale Crater, a vast caldera carpeted by grasses and shrubs, located at the southern tip of the Suguta Valley. Here we stop for a picnic breakfast before flying into the Suguta Valley.
Fly through the Hoodoo and Painted Valleys. Geologists have long been fascinated with this part of the Great Rift Valley. They have studied ancient sediments and fossil remains, and pieced together the history of a lake that rose and fell multiple times over the past 18,000 years.
Next we fly over the extensive and empty Suguta sand dunes, which add to the incredible diversity of the landscape. Spectacular and constantly changing with strong winds, they lend themselves to a perfect helicopter landing pad. Touch down to jump down the sand dunes.
LAKE LOGIPI
Continuing on fly over Lake Logipi a seasonal saline lake, often full of flamingo. The lake lies at the southern end of Lake Turkana. Stretching 6 kilometers wide by 3 kilometers long, and very shallow.
KOROS CAMP
What started as a simple family base, has evolved into a unique 6 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.
After lunch set off on the quad bikes through dried up river beds to a sundowner location. You might even be lucky enough to spot an elephant or other smaller plains game on your journey.
THE CHALBI DESERT & THE KAROLI SPRINGS
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 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.
Karoli Springs are a lifeline for the Rendille people who roam the Kaisut Desert. The water is slightly sailine, and only livestock can drink here. The Rendille are semi-nomadic camel herders that traditionally live in the deserts of northern Kenya. Strikingly colourful with traditional fabrics, beaded jewellery and immaculate head-dresses, the lives of the Rendille revolve around the natural cycle of the seasons, traveling en-masse with their enormous herds of livestock, following the rain in search of new pasture and water.
LAKE TURKANA & THE FISHING BOAT
Flying over Mount Kulal, a serious contrast with a forest in this desert area, we reach Lake Turkana and land at South Island. Here we meet the fishing boat. Lake Turkana is 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.
The lake sustains multiple species of fish, including Nile Perch - much sought after by avid anglers. Return to Koros in the late afternoon.
THE NDOTOS
On the final morning, after breakfast, fly down the iconic landmarks of the Ndotos and Mathews. 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.
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.
Areas of operation: 16 African countries, covering more than 10 million square kilometers: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo, Chad, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.