ADVENTURE
HELICOPTERS
A dawn or dusk helicopter adventure into the wild and remote Turkana region of Northern Kenya, starting with the northern most part of the Suguta Valley where years of erosion and extreme temperatures have created this exceptionally diverse and spectacular landscape. We fly over lava flows, saline marshes, pockets of palms, and within minutes arrive on white desert sand dunes that roll on for miles and miles, touching down to feel the sand in our toes and take a few photos. The northern most feature of the Suguta Valley is Lake Logipi - a shallow soda lake of no more than 3 meters deep, with an extreme PH of 14. The lake is a feeding hub for thousands of flamingo and other migratory water birds.
A range of volcanic cinder cones, called ‘the Barrier’ that include Teleki’s and Andrew’s volcanoes, separate the Suguta from Lake Turkana - the world’s largest desert lake, fresh water and turquoise in colour - which is why it’s sometimes referred to as the ‘Jade Sea’. It is here on the southern shores, that the iconic collapsed volcano of Nabuyatom lies – a perfect landing spot to take in the views across the lake, and enjoy a cold drink before returning to our destination.
QUAD BIKING
Experience the sights and cultures in an adventurous way.
The sandy river beds provide the ultimate tracks in order for us to explore this ancient land and the culture of the people still hardy enough to inhabit it.
You don’t have to be an experienced biker to enjoy the freedom, exhilaration, and unparalleled access to remote areas that the quad bike allows.
THE JADE SEA
Lake Turkana, formerly known 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.
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!
KOROS WALKS
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.
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, cool enough for the Clematis Vitalba ('old man's beard') to thrive in the alpine 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 is located is predominantly inhabited by the Samburu tribe, however their closest neighbours are the Rendille 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.
Rendille - 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 Rendille 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.
