Desert safaris are becoming increasingly popular among tourists due to their thrilling potential. However, only a few people know the inspiring experience of visiting the Chalbi Desert in northern Kenya.
Kenya is famous for its wildlife, cultural heritage, and scenic landscapes throughout the country. It is a nation with many hidden gems, and interestingly, the deserts are among the least explored.
For a different experience, discover and explore Kenya’s three main deserts.
Nyiri Desert
Located in Kenya’s south-central region, Nyiri is the country’s largest desert. It lies about 80 km east of Lake Magadi and near the border with Tanzania to the north. Amboseli National Park and the northern part of the lake of the same name fall within the desert’s limits. To its northern edge is Nairobi National Park, and to the south lies Tsavo West National Park.
Parts of the desert are covered with small thorny trees, some of which are poisonous, with signs indicating hunting trails among them. The trees bear green leaves and flowers during the short rainy season, but during the dry season, they appear bare and twisted, entwined with grayish-green vines and horn-shaped euphorbia leaves. This is a characteristic feature of Kenya’s deserts.
There are only a few springs and important riverbeds scattered across the vast area, making water scarce. The plain is dotted with rocky hills, some resting on even older rocks. The desert is home to several baobab trees, some over 2,000 years old, with gray trunks up to three meters in diameter. Wildlife is abundant, and elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions, leopards, lesser kudus, and impalas can always be spotted in the adjacent parks.
Chalbi Desert
Chalbi Desert, in Marsabit County, is among Kenya’s most popular deserts. Marsabit is located in the northern part of the country, including the entire North Horr subcounty, bordering Ethiopia to the south and Lake Turkana to the east.
Although Marsabit and northern Kenya are very hot due to their arid nature, temperatures in Chalbi Desert are even higher, making it the hottest place in the country. Yet, this does not diminish its beauty. It features a stunning landscape of volcanoes and remnants of ancient lava flows. The population is sparse, but locals have come to appreciate its beauty over the years. The Rendille and Gabbra communities are the main inhabitants of this desert.
The volcanic mountains rising above the desert are surrounded by thousands of kilometers of sand dunes, attracting travelers entering and leaving Kenya. On the desert horizon, coarse sand covers pure volcanic rocks formed millions of years ago. Like the Kalahari and Namib deserts in southern Africa, Chalbi has several salt flats. History suggests that millions of years ago, a lake existed here, which dried up to form today’s Chalbi Desert.
The desert oasis of Kalacha quenches the thirst of thousands of animals, though it takes several days of trekking to reach. The best time to visit one of Kenya’s popular deserts is from July to October or in January and February. Visitors can explore it on a desert tour or on camelback.
Mambrui
In the heart of Malindi, a bustling coastal town known for its tourism, lie the lesser-known Mambrui dunes. This area is considered Kenya’s “Holy Grail” for exceptional desert tourism. Mambrui is home to Kola Beach, known as the “Golden Beach,” enhanced by the rare presence of dunes. Mambrui is located in northern Malindi, Kwale County.
It holds significant historical importance in Kenya’s ancient times. It was home to Kenyan and Chinese archaeologists for many years. The area is serene, with baobab trees dotting Mambrui, which stretches down to the Sabaki River—a lifeline for thousands of people in the region.
Source: See Africa Today