This is an expedition, not a lodge holiday. Accommodation is simple: a lakeshore lodge or a well-run fly camp. The point is what you see from it. Central Island rises out of the lake with three crater lakes inside it. On the eastern shore, Sibiloi National Park holds the Koobi Fora fossil sites, where decades of fieldwork shaped what we know about early human ancestors. To the east, the Chalbi is a dry lakebed of salt and mirage.
You also meet the people who live here, on their terms. Visits to communities such as the El Molo near Loiyangalani are arranged through local guides, with fees going to the community.
The aircraft is most of the cost, which is why this trip needs at least four guests. With six, the cost per person falls. If you are fewer than four, ask us about joining a fixed departure.
Day by day
- Day 1
Charter from Wilson Airport north over the Rift Valley, with a low pass over the Suguta Valley where conditions allow. Land at Loiyangalani; evening on the lakeshore.
- Day 2
Boat to Central Island to walk the crater rims. Afternoon with a local guide in Loiyangalani.
- Day 3
Fly to Sibiloi. Koobi Fora fossil sites and the small museum with a park guide.
- Day 4
Across the Chalbi to Kalacha and its oasis. Night under some of the clearest skies in Kenya.
- Day 5
Morning flight back to Nairobi, with a stop where the route and fuel plan allow.
What the trip price covers
- Private charter aircraft and pilot for the whole trip
- Lodge or fly-camp accommodation with meals
- Park and community fees, as quoted
- Local guides and boat to Central Island
International flights, visas and the Kenya eTA, travel insurance, tips and drinks are not included unless your quote says so.
Worth knowing
- Daytime heat is high and the wind can be strong. We send a packing list and plan activities for mornings and late afternoons.
- Charter flying depends on weather. Your operator and pilot decide on any route changes, and we tell you in advance what happens if a leg is delayed.
Who checks the operator
We do, before we recommend them. This trip is run, contracted and invoiced by a tour operator licensed by Kenya’s Tourism Regulatory Authority. Your planning fee pays for the plan and the checks; we take nothing from the operator.
- Tourism Regulatory Authority licence, checked against the regulator’s own records
- NTSA tourist service licence for the vehicles you ride in
- Public liability insurance in date, with a copy on file
- Guide qualifications and, for walking and riding, the camp’s safety procedures
- Recent client references we can contact
- For halal trips, each camp’s confirmation in writing