Adventure in Turkana - What to do in Turkana

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

THE JADE SEA

Lake Turkana, formerly know as Lake Rudolph, has earned the name "The Jade Sea" due to its' incredible ever changing hues of blues and greens. It spans a vast length of 290KMS and is primarily fed by the Omo River flowing in from Ethiopia. It is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake. By volume, it is the world's fourth largest salt lake after the Caspian Sea. The Lake Turkana area is regarded by many anthropologists as the cradle of humankind due to the abundance of hominid fossils discovered in the area. A visit to the lake is a must and is approximately 50KMS from the camp.

TOUR THE CHALBI DESERT

The Chalbi (meaning bare & salty in the Gabra dialect) is easily accessed from Koros Camp and is well worth a visit. Please do note, however, that it is only accessible during the dry season (by road). During the rainy season, the desert morphs into a massive lake!

The Chalbi Desert easily accessed from Koros Camp - what to do in Turkana

KALACHA DESERT OASIS

Situated in the Chalbi Desert is Kalacha oasis - a permanent oasis fed by a natural artesian well. The Kalacha oasis is an assured watering point for the Gabbra people of this area. Several days walk from the suitable grazing areas, camels, cattle, donkeys and goats gather here in mass. The oasis is beautifully surrounded by doum palms and acacia trees, which offer a haven from the hot and intense sun.

GUIDED WALKS

The entire team of staff at Koros hail from the Samburu tribe. Most of them grew up in the area where, as children, they would roam the hills tending to their livestock. Whether it be a leisurely stroll down the many luggas (dry river beds) or a more adventurous hike up one of the surrounding hills, a visit to Koros would not be complete without including a walk or two. Our guides are incredibly experienced and eager to share their knowledge with guests.

What to do in Turkana - visit Sirima whilst staying at Koros Camp, Kenya

ROCK ART

The local area known as Sirima, before descending down to the shores of Lake Turkana, is shrouded in history dating back to the World War II era (1935-1945). Why not take a day trip and picnic lunch to see some of the ancient rock art.

MOUNT KULAL

Mount Kulal is an eroded-down extinct volcano located slightly east of Lake Turkana. Take a drive up the mountain where you will ascend from 800 meters to 2,300 meters above sea level. Temperatures drop dramatically as one approaches the top, cold enough for the Clematis Vitalba ('old man's beard') to thrive in the rain forest. The drive from Koros takes you approximately 2 hours one way. On a clear day, vistas down onto the lake are breathtaking!

LOCAL CULTURE

The area in which Koros Camp Rustic Luxury Camp is located is predominantly inhabited by the Samburu tribe, however their closest neighbours are the Rendile and the Turkana to the North East and the North West, respectively.

Samburu - The Samburu, just like their cousins the Maasai, are a semi-nomadic people. Only the Samburu are still very traditional and have not yet parted with old customs as compared to the Maasai. Cattle, as well as goats, sheep & camels play a vital role in the Samburu way of life & culture.

Rendile - This is a cushitic tribe that inhabits the climatically harsh region between the Marsabit hills and Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya. Their immediate neighbours are the Gabbra, Borana, Samburu and Turkana. The Rendile are semi-nomadic pastoralists whose most valued animal is the Camel.

Turkana - As with all pastoralist tribes in Kenya, livestock, especially cattle, are the core of Turkana culture. The Turkana people live a nomadic lifestyle, always moving from one place to another depending on availability of pasture and water for their animals.

What to do in Turkana - Koros Camp - Guided walks