The Chalbi desert in Kenya is a real gem safari that covers an area that is equal to 100,000 square kilometers. The Chalbi desert is one of the hottest and most arid places in northern Kenya. It is located in Marsabit County, east of the famous Lake Turkana.
Chalbi desert is the most amazing tourism safari in Kenya because it is an important geosite of Kenya. Chalbi desert is a stretch of coarse sand spiced up with pure rocks and immense clay, where there are also ash-gray ridges and the broken clusters of the tiny huts.
The southern part of the desert is home to the Rendille, while the eastern part is towards the Ethiopian border, which is home to the Gabbra people. The chalbi desert is aptly named in the native language of the Gabra people as “salty and bare.”
The Chalbi desert is an amazing Kenya safari destination where the tourists can be able to spot the volcanic hills, as these create a magical panorama with only selected animals and vegetation that can withstand the hostile climates in the entire sub-Saharan region. Also, the salt pans that are found in the desert are so grateful to the pastoralists, as these are taken to their animals.
The Chalbi desert is so unique; its northern edge is a gorgeous area of oases with groves of palm trees that attract sand grouse and other bird species like the vulturine guinea fowl and many others, which can be seen by the tourists, of which these oases are used by the Gabra people as the water sources for their camels.
Though it is believed that there was a lake in the Chalbi Desert, which got dried up a thousand years ago, after it was named the Chalbi desert which means “bare and salty.” On a safari to this barren and desolate location, you may be able to spot some of the animal species in a distance like the Oryx, ostriches, and grevy’s zebras, among other animal species.
Climate at Chalbi Desert.
Chalbi desert is the hottest and the most arid area in Kenya; the average daytime temperatures range from 109°F (43°C) to 115°F (46°C), whereas the temperature drops to around 57 to 59°F (14 to 150°C) at night. The Chalba desert experiences two types of 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 some times in March. The long rainy season occurs from April and May through parts of June; the short one happens in November and December.
Activities at the Chalbi desert.
Desert safari.
Chalbi desert is a safari destination, hence providing the most stunning desert safari. while on your land cruiser, you can enjoy a perfect short-drive desert safari, as these vehicles are excellent for sand dune racing and surfing this is because the desert has the most reliable vehicles and offers picturesque scenery and tranquil oases.
Cultural Tour.
Chalbi desert provides the travelers with the most loved safari activity; for any safari to Kenya, it cannot be complete without the cultural safari, as here the tourists interact with the local communities like the Rendille, the Turkana, the Samburu, the Gabbra, the Orma, the Turkana, the El Molo, and the Dasannach, among others, this is where the tourists explore the culture of the people in various ways, like interacting with them in their ways of life, dressing, dancing, and food types, among others, as this gives the tourists great memories on a safari.
Camel derbies and caravans.
The tourists on a Kenya safari to the Chalbi desert do explore on the back of the Camel as this is a great safari experience, as here the guest can enjoy the desert and learn about ancient civilizations and how some of the modern desert people transport this is the most unique and amazing safari experience in the Chalbi desert.
Best time to visit the Chalbi desert.
The best time to visit the Chalbi desert is during the dry season, from the period of October to January and February; it is when the animal species gather around the few remaining water sources and the dry terrain is much more conducive to the camel ride safari, game drives, walking safari and others.
