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Lake Turkana, the Jade Sea, Northern Kenya
Kenya's Wildest Frontier

Northern
Kenya

Beyond Samburu

Where the Classic
Circuit Ends

North of Samburu, Kenya changes entirely. The land turns to volcanic desert and rust-red earth, the crowds fall away, and the plains give way to Lake Turkana — the world's largest permanent desert lake, known as the Jade Sea for the extraordinary turquoise-green colour its algae give the water. This is Kenya at its rawest: remote, sparsely travelled, and led by our team for those who've done the classic circuit and want somewhere wilder still.

Where You'll Go

The North's Most
Remarkable Landscapes

Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve
Doum palms along the Ewaso Nyiro River and the gateway to the north.
Lake Turkana, the Jade Sea
Lake Turkana — The Jade Sea
The world's largest permanent desert lake, ringed by volcanic shoreline.
Lake Turkana shoreline and mountains
The Turkana Shoreline
Basalt plains, ancient fossil beds, and near-total solitude.
Northern Kenya highlands
The Northern Highlands
Rift escarpments and mountain outposts above the desert floor.
Samburu Special Five: oryx, giraffe, gerenuk, zebra, ostrich
Found (Almost) Nowhere Else
The Samburu Special Five
Cross into the north and the wildlife itself changes: the Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, and Somali ostrich are all adapted to this arid landscape and rarely seen south of the equator. For travellers who've already met the Big Five, the Special Five is reason enough to head north.
Samburu warriors in beaded collars and colourful wraps singing together during a village visit
The People of the North
Samburu Songs & Village Visits
The Samburu are cousins of the Maasai, with their own traditions, beadwork and songs. A village visit is a chance to sit with them, listen to the warriors sing, and learn how life in the north is lived — a real welcome rather than a performance.
Photo courtesy of Saruni Basecamp
A Starting Point

Sample Journey

Every Northern Kenya journey is tailor-made — this is a starting point, not a fixed menu.

5 Nights · Samburu & Lake Turkana
The Northern Frontier
Lake Turkana shoreline
Two nights in Samburu tracking the Special Five, then north by road or air to the shores of the Jade Sea — volcanic islands, near-total solitude, and some of the most dramatic landscapes in East Africa.
Inquire for Pricingtailored to group size & dates
All-inclusive options available: private vehicle & guide, accommodation, meals, park & conservancy fees.
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Start Planning

Combine The North
With Your Kenya Safari

The Northern Frontier pairs naturally onto a Maasai Mara or Amboseli safari. Tell us your dates and we'll build one seamless itinerary from savannah to desert lake.

Inquire About Northern Kenya
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