Non-Schedule Tours
14 DAY KENYA CULTURAL EXPEDITION

Tour Package Overview

At a Glance

Day 1: Nairobi – Maralal
Day 2: Maralal
Day 3: Maralal – South Horr
Day 4: South Horr - Loyangalani
Day 5: Loyangalani
Day 6: Loyangalani – North Horr
Day 7: North Horr - Kalacha
Day 8: Kalacha - Forolle
Day 9: Forolle
Day 10: Forolle – Huri Hills
Day 11: Huri Hills – Marsabit National reserve
Day 12: Marsabit National reserve – Samburu National Reserve
Day 12: Samburu
Day 12: Samburu - Nairobi


Tour Package Itinerary

Days 1-2 Maralal:

We depart Nairobi and head to Mararal where we will spend two days getting our first local interaction with the Samburu people. On the way we stop to see the Rift Valley view point, Mt.Longonot and ThomsonFalls.This frontier town is the beginning of the Great Northern wilderness and the staging post for many great adventures. It’s a thriving centre for the local Samburu people, and the streets are always busy with camels, passing warriors and traders. Mararal town is also famous as the location of the International Camel Derby, held in July/August each year.

Day 3 South Horr:

Leaving Samburu we head northwards to South Horr for another cultural experience. South Horr lies to the east of the SugutaValley, a huge sector of the Rift Valley between LakeBaringo and Lake Turkana which is only a few hundred meters above sea level. This makes it one of the lowest parts of the Rift Valley and also one of the hottest parts of Kenya, with deserts, volcanic cones, salt lakes, and uneven lava fields.

Days 4-5 Loyangalani:

Today we drive to the seemingly desolate South Eastern shores of Lake Turkana, a 290 Km long and 32 Km wide Lake that is romanticized and idealized by many as the most beautiful destination in all of Kenya. There are natural hot springs, unusual lava formations, and doum palms that provide shade and building materials for the Turkana tribe and the El Molo tribesmen who are said to be the smallest tribe in Africa. For these two nights you’ll be staying either in tents or in a simple, semi-permanent beach village comprising huts in the style traditionally used by the Turkana people and you can take boat trips to sample Turkana’s excellent fishing or visit South Island, and drive to an El Molo village.

Days 6-7 North Horr/Kalacha:

After breakfast, we cross the Chalbi desert (In the dry season) to North Horr but if it has rained we use another route avoiding the desert. The following day we head to Kalacha, situated on the edge of an oasis in the ChalbiDesert between Maikona and North Horr. Kalacha is the main stomping ground for the people of the Gabbra tribe who live alongside the lesser-known Kosso, a dedicated tribe of blacksmiths. Custom dictates that the Gabbra are forbidden from forging their own weapons, so they must rely on the Kosso to supply them. The Chalbi is a Gabbra word meaning Salt, named after the white salt patches that cover the dry sand here. Kalacha is an oasis, with water flowing from beneath the parched, cracked ground and serving as a watering hole for local communities. It’s also a place of incredibly fierce winds that are known to lift people right off the ground. The Kalacha Cultural Food and Music Festival is held here annually around Easter.

Days 8-10 Forolle/ Huri Hills:

The next two nights are spent with the Gabra people in their remote villages. We first visit Forolle village for two nights on the Kenya/Ethiopia border before visiting the Village of Hurri Hills on the top of the hills. The cultural experiences, song and dance we encounter during these three nights are a memorable highlight on this tour.

Day 11 Marsabit National Park:

Today we head for a game drive in MarsabitNational Park including a stop at ‘LakeParadise’ which is essentially an oasis in this park. Marsabit exists because of its high elevation in the midst of the desert plains. It is an anomaly, a lush, thick-vegetation Mountain with a climate resembling that of a rainforest. The nearby Buzzing town of Marsabit draws all kinds of traders and tribes people from as far as Ethiopia, and it’s an eye-opener for anyone looking to get a taste of a colorful mix of local cultures.

Days 12- 13 Samburu National Reserve:

You wake up to an early morning game drive before departing for Marsabit town and the drive to Samburu via the singing wells of the Boran tribe which is quite a colorful ceremony as they fetch water in a long queue cum chain singing in their mother tongue; they also bring their livestock to water at the same time. Later we visit a Samburu village before entering Samburu National Reserve which is inhabited by a wide variety of animals, more so the rare species such as the long- necked gerenuk, gravy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and Beisa Oryx. Other animals include the leopard, the mighty lion, Elephants, crocodiles can be seen swimming in the Ewaso Nyiro River along with the hippo. Here we have an evening game drive, a full day game drive with a swimming break in the afternoon at the nearby lodge and morning game drive on the way out. You may also choose to have a Samburu cultural lecture by the campfire tonight.

Day 14 Nairobi:

Today the road trip back to civilization inevitably takes you along the slopes of Mt.Kenya and the Central highlands. On the way we see the ever changing landscapes and stop by the equator line where we will see a demonstration of the Northern and Southern hemisphere. If the skies are clear we also see the snow capped peak of Mt.Kenya. The trip comes to an end on arrival in the buzzing Capital city of Kenya, Nairobi.

What you get and what you do not get in your safari expedition

Tour Inclusions

  • Twin /Single accommodation as specified on the Itinerary
  • Greeting and assistance at airport
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Scheduled domestic flights as specified in the itinerary
  • Scheduled road transportation as specified in the itinerary
  • Scheduled game activities as specified itinerary
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • Emergency medical evacuation insurance
  • Tour Exclusions

  • Gratuities and all items of a personal nature
  • Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
  • Champagne, cognacs, cellar wines, cigars and cigarettes
  • Laundry
  • Sightseeing and excursions other than those specified in the itinerary
  • All International flights and Taxes
  • Visa fees (if required)
  • Travel & Personal accident insurance cover
  • Night drives, guided walking trails, a Maasai community visit, sundowners overlooking the Mara and hot air ballooning are available at an additional cost.
  • Kindly take note of the following

    How it works:

    This is a group participatory trip whereby you are more than just a passenger. You’re part of the crew, pitching in to set up camp, shop for food, cook and generally help out. We operate a rota system, dividing the group into smaller units, so that these duties are shared equally amongst the group. These jobs will include things like loading the back locker, sweeping the truck, food stores etc. Even though we have a cook on board the truck who will organize and supervise the cooking, you will still be required to help prepare meals. The more you put into your tour the greater the experience you will get from your trip. It is all about participation and mucking in with your fellow passengers! Participation is a key factor on a tour of this nature and everyone is expected to pull their weight and get involved with the daily duties. The most successful trips are those where people become involved. Naturally, amongst any group of people you will find a multitude of personalities, just remember that this is YOUR trip of a lifetime and don’t let other people’s quirks and habits bother you too much – take home your happy memories of Africa. On the flipside you may find your tent partner will become a lifelong friend, which is one of the joys of the internet & social networking sites! A typical camp breakfast might be toast with spreads, cereal and something hot such as eggs or pancakes as well as tea and coffee. Lunch is almost always a sandwich heaped high with healthy salad and assorted fillings, with fruit to follow. Dinner might be a BBQ, risotto, pasta dish and there is always the chance to try some local cooking. Generally our passengers find the more they put into a trip, the more they benefit for it. All passengers are required to obey all laws of the countries through which we pass. This particularly applies to the smuggling of contraband and possession of narcotic drugs, firearms, antiquities and ivory. Any passenger found contravening such laws or customs may be required to leave the trip immediately with no refund of the trip price.

    NOTE: - The longer Jambo African Adventures trips are combinations of shorter tours. Passengers on our longer tours might therefore change crew and vehicles at either Nairobi, Lake Naivasha or Victoria Falls. These and other destinations are also pickup and drop-off points for passengers so new faces and personalities will join the tours.

    Overland travel and security

    One of the real advantages of overland travel is that the vehicle provides a very real level of security when traveling. There is no doubt that a properly equipped overland vehicle, with safes, fully lockable doors and windows is an obvious advantage when traveling in much of the world. We recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt whilst traveling for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items (although most of these can be locked in the safe whilst you are on the trip) and advise passengers to leave any valuable jewellery, watches etc at home. Generally speaking, you will not be traveling on local public transport and will have the added security of traveling in a group with experienced crew on hand to offer advice. Please note: Any personal effects that are left on the truck, even if they are stored in the safe, are left at your own risk and Jambo African Adventures cannot be held responsible for any damage or theft that may occur. The safety of our passengers, leaders and operators is a major priority of Jambo African Adventures.

    Issues on the trip

    While we always endeavor to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local partner straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.



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