Of Chows and Dhows

Back in May, I got the chance to escape the chilly Nairobi for a much-needed girls’ trip back to one of my favourite places in the country, Turkana County. The trip was impromptu but those are the best kind in my opinion and of course, I could not pass the opportunity. I packed my bags and headed out with the girls for five days of fun and relaxation. Here is everything you need to know about travelling to Turkana County.

Travel with me to Turkana on this visual tour.

Nairobi – Eldoret

To get to Lodwar, Turkana from Nairobi you can either fly or travel by road. We opted to travel to Eldoret by matatu, spend the night and carry on with the journey on the following day. The fare from Nairobi to Eldoret was Kshs 1,100 and we used NorthWays Shuttle, which you can find at Afya Centre in Nairobi CBD. The matatu left the CBD at 7 am and the next stop was at Nakuru for a short break.

From then on we proceeded straight to Eldoret town. The journey was smooth and the road was in good condition. We spent the rest of the afternoon chilling at Poa Place Resort, which I recommend visiting while in town. The place has a restaurant, amusement park, zoo, and spa among other facilities. Our home for the night was a cosy Airbnb in the suburbs.

Eldoret – Lodwar

The next morning we kicked off the journey at 5:30 am and stopped at Kapenguria town for breakfast.

No road trip is complete without stopping for photos- and these essentials.

Driving into Lodwar was very nostalgic. Everything looked different yet the same, mainly because road works are ongoing.

Lodwar – Eliye Springs

We did not spend much time in Lodwar as we were headed straight to my favourite spot in Turkana, Eliye Springs. The place is still as beautiful as I recall. We had lunch by the beach which was a treat.

We stayed at Napak Camp and this time around, we slept in traditional bomas and not in tents. Rates start from Kshs.2,500 pppn.

The three days at Eliye went by so fast. A majority of the time was spent hanging by the beach and swimming of course. It’s completely safe to swim at the beach, there are no crocodiles by the beach. However, the lake is home to Nile crocodiles.

This time around, we got to visit the “Pyramids of Wadach”, which are a series of natural rock formations.

Right after, we went to this beautiful spot for sundowners.

Nature showed off with a spectacular sunset and the sky was filled with pastel hues as we headed to Napeget Sand Dunes. The place is quite literally a “hidden gem” and running on the dune reminded me of catching a glorious sunset atop a sand dune in North Horr. When visiting Napeget, beware of the locals who live around the area, they will insist that you are intruding on their land and will charge you Kshs 2,000 – 5,000 ($ 20-$ 50) to see the dunes.

The one thing that has changed about Eliye Springs is the rising levels of Lake Turkana due to global warming. It is a sad situation because it may lead to the displacement of people residing in the area and beach hotels and businesses are already feeling the heat, some have already closed down shop.

Eliye Springs – Lodwar

After three chill days, we headed back to Lodwar in preparation for the next destination, Lokichogio.

While in Lodwar, we stayed at Ateker Hotel, which was everything and more. I highly recommend staying there while in town. The rooms at Ateker Hotel are massive and there is a WiFi connection in all rooms. Rates start from Kshs.4,500 per person per night for bed and breakfast. For booking and more information call 0708607172.

Lodwar – Lokichogio

The next day, we drove to Lokichogio, which is about three hours and thirty minutes from Lodwar. The road to Loki is very scenic and is in excellent condition.

We go to Lokichogio in the evening and did not get a chance to explore the town. I reckon that that gives us an excuse to go back. We stayed at Kate Camp and rates start from Kshs.2,500 pppn for bed and breakfast.

Lokichogio – Kakuma – Lodwar

On our way back to Lodwar, we stopped at an Ethiopian restaurant in Kakuma for some lunch.

On our last day, we passed by my friend’s place and went souvenir shopping at the crafts market in Lodwar town. They sell beautiful handwoven crafts such as baskets and coasters. I highly recommend passing by there.

Lodwar – Nairobi

We headed straight to the airport right after to catch our flight back to Nairobi. We used Skyward Express and the flight is usually about an hour and fifteen minutes.

The trip back to Turkana land was much needed and I enjoyed the slow pace. The second time was truly a charm and I cannot wait to go back and explore more of the place. I wrote about the things to do in Turkana here as well as some more tips to help you plan your trip.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments down below.

Stay safe and travel safely 🙂

Until next time, bye!