Super User 19 July 2023

Best Travel Guide To Chalbi Desert In Northern Kenya Frontier

The Chalbi Desert is a real gem; it is located in Marsabit County, east of the famous Lake Turkana (the largest desert lake in Kenya), spreading to the Ethiopian border. Covering an area of 100.000-kilometer square, 110 km long, and 10 to 20 km wide, the Chalbi Desert is one of the hottest and arid places in Kenya.

Location of Chalbi Desert in Kenya;

The Chalbi Desert is located between Mount Marsabit and Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. It contains North Horr. Marsabit, and in the language of the Gabbra people, Chalbi means "bare, salty area".

Interesting Facts about the Chalbi Desert;

The Chalbi Desert is a stretch of coarse sand spiced up with pure rocks and immense clay where there are also ash-gray ridges and broken clusters of tiny huts.
There are pans of salt in the desert, which are picked up by many pastoralists and used as a natural animal's salt link.
The desert is surrounded by volcanic hills that create a magical panorama with only selected animals and vegetation that can withstand hostile climates in the entire Sub-Saharan region.
The southern part of the desert is home to the Rendille while the eastern part, which is towards the Ethiopian border, is home to the Gabbra People.
It’s believed that there was a lake in the Chalbi Desert that dried up a thousand years ago; therefore it was named the Chalbi Desert, which means bare and salty.

Other features of Chalbi Desert;

The preserved fossils of the area have been critical to the understanding of the Quaternary climate in East Africa. These fossils include aquatic animals like the Nile perch. It is also a site of the mineral eugsterite.

Chalbi is a rain-shadow desert. Mean annual rainfall is approximately 150 mm (or up to 350 mm and falls during two rainy seasons but rainfall is erratic and some years the area barely receives any rainfall at all. In 1973, for example, only 7 mm of rainfall was recorded. Meanwhile, the potential evaporation likely is over 2,600 mm. At the edge of the desert, there are numerous springs, which create oases of water and grasses

In years of exceptional rainfall, a temporary lake is formed that can last several months. This happened in 1978, for example, when a temporary lake of 50 cm in depth was formed for long enough for waterfowl to make use of it.

The Chalbi desert sustains high winds. The area has some of the strongest and most sustained wind systems in the world. The area sustains for over 50 days per year wind speeds of over 50 kilometers per hour. Sandstorms are a feature of the region.

Wildlife in the Chalbi Desert;

Even in this barren and desolate location, you may see a shadow emerge in the distance, such as the Somali ostriches, Grevy’s zebras, Oryx, African elephants, reticulated giraffes, and other adapted animals are often observed in the desert. Amazingly, spotted hyenas have been seen too. In the past, black rhinoceros used to live in the area, but they were hunted to extinction. As for the large predator guild, African lions live in the region.

Plant life in the Chalbi Desert;

The high salinity makes the area home to only a few plant species. Most of the Chalbi Desert is barren and has no vegetation. One of those areas where plants do grow is usually near outlets of tributary streams after the seasonal rainfalls. Another region where some plants grow is in the former lakebed. Finally, one can also find plants on the edges of the desert

Getting There;

When going on a desert safari in Kenya one first has to make their way to the Chalbi Desert, which is relatively close to Marsabit. If the journey starts in Nairobi there are lots to see on the road trip. Most notable is a stop at Nanyuki for the equator crossing as well as splendid views of Mt. Kenya. All in all, it is about 8 hours from Nairobi to Marsabit so buckle up for a long trip.

What to expect in the Chalbi desert;

1- Desert Safari

The Chalbi Desert has a lot to offer in picturesque sceneries and tranquil oases. While being there, you can hop on a land cruiser and enjoy a perfect short drive desert safari. The vehicles are excellent for dune racing and surfing.

2- Camel Ride

Exploring the desert on the back of a camel is quite impressive. It is an ideal way to enjoy the desert and to know how ancient civilizations and some of modern desert people transport. It is a unique experience.

3- Culture Tour

A desert Safari in the Chalbi Desert allows visitors to interact with local communities like the Rendille, the Turkana, the Samburu, Gabbra, and a few others. It is a way to explore their culture and to know their traditions and lifestyle.

Other Activities;

Unlike in Dubai, going on a desert safari in Kenya comes with game drives in the Lake Turkana National Park. To sum up such an experience, it is like having the deserts of Dubai and the Masai Mara in Kenya mashed up in one region. The crystal clear streams that run into Lake Turkana are also a sight to behold.

If someone once promised you the moon they probably were alluding to a trip to Turkana. Why? Turkana region is a world-famous spot for observing solar eclipses due to its all-year-round clear skies. This fact seems more familiar to curious international travelers than Kenyans as they are the ones who mostly flock to this region for solar eclipse events.

The climate of Chalbi Desert;

The Chalbi Desert is the hottest and most arid area in Kenya. Average daytime temperatures range from 109 F (43 C) to 115 F (46 C) degrees whereas the temperature drops to around 57-59 F (14 -15 C) degrees at night. The area experiences two dry seasons and two rainy seasons. The long dry season takes place from July to October, and the short dry season is in January and February with parts of March. The long rainy season occurs in April and May through parts of June while the short one happens in November and December.

Best Time to Visit Chalbi Desert;

The best time to visit the Chalbi Desert is during the dry seasons, from July to October, and in January and February. It is when the animals gather around the few remaining water sources and the dry terrain is much more conducive to game drives and safari walks.

Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for this great experience in Kenya.

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