The Chalbi Desert is a semi-arid region located in the furthest corner of Northern Kenya’s Marsabit County near the Ethiopian border. It is one of Africa’s most remote and least-visited destinations. This ancient lake-bed desert spans 100,000 square kilometres of Kenya’s largest desert. It is a  landscape of shimmering salt flats, volcanic plains and towering sand dunes.
The Desert Experience
The Chalbi Desert offers an utterly unique Kenyan experience compared to others. Visitors who make their way up to Chalbi can explore:
The “Ancient Lake” landscape, whose surface is formed of cracked clay, shimmering heat haze, and occasional mirages, is Lake Turkana, which is the world’s largest permanent desert lake and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a critical stopover for migratory birds and is home to the world’s largest population of Nile crocodiles.
Despite the desert conditions, the region is home to desert-adapted wildlife, including Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostriches, oryx, gerenuk, and the endangered Reticulated giraffe.

Cultural Experiences
The Chalbi Desert is the homeland of some of Kenya’s minority tribes: Gabbra, Turkana, Samburu,  Borana, Rendille and El Molo people- these nomadic and semi-nomadic communities who have mastered life in one of the world’s harshest environments. Cultural visits provide an immersion into their cattle-herding traditions, water management, and intricate social structures.
How to Get There
The Chalbi Desert is approximately 500 kilometres away from Nairobi city; it is  accessible only by 4×4 vehicles because the environmental conditions are harsh and challenging.  It takes a 2-3 day drive from Nairobi to Marsabit. Charter flights to Marsabit airstrip are available, from where the desert is accessed by road.

When to Go
The desert  is accessible all year round, but the dry seasons (January-March and July-October) are the best times to visit. Because of the desert conditions, visitors must be well-prepared with the right gear, ample water, and protection from the sun. The Chalbi Desert offers a raw and unpolished side of Kenya, which makes it the last great wilderness and a true destination for an adventurous soul.