Anyone crossed from Ethiopia to Kenya via Lake Turkana recently?
 

We're in Khartoum at the mo and beginning to think about how to get into Kenya from Ethiopia. Normally we would have gone straight for the Moyale road to Nairobi but we've hooked up with a couple of guys with Land Rovers who have offered to carry spare water and fuel down the Lake Turkana route. We should be crossing borders early to mid-June. Has anyone done this route, if so have you got any comments about how doable it would be two up?

Cheers

Richard

ditto
 

Heh
Also interested in this route, but in opposite direction. Any info welcome. Apologies. Not trying to hijack thread. Email me.
Cheers

allong Lake Turkana
 

Hi,

We did this route south/north about 8 months ago. Of course it is douable but you need a good vehicle/bike, enough fuel and GPS. The road is long, very remote and very stony allong the lake. It is good to do it with minimum 2 vehicles. Would not recommend to do it alone. The route is very rewarding, scenic with many authentic tribes! It is very much ancient Africa! Do not skip the loop allong Jinca and Dimeka (Ethiopia). Very nice with the Hamar tribes.

Navigation is very important. Without GPS with a pre programmed route it will be very difficult to find your way esspecially in Kenia. For the route you can take the single track that is in the Tracks4Africa. This will lead you through Sibiloi NP (Kenia) which is $15 or so pp but does not offer a lot. It is more a finding spot of prehistoric human bones etc. but you will see some Generuk and Orix. There is a way around the park but it is very difficult to find. We could not find it. Once in Maralal (nice camping!) you are back in the civilisation and you can get a nice cold beer! You will need it too!

Anticipate about 5 days.

edit; you have to expect though desert circumstances, hot, dusty, stony, no water allong the way. The border crossing is void from officials. It is no mans lands. The immigration in Omorate (Eth) will not do Carnet's exits, the police in Illeret (K) will do Carnet entry stamp if you ask but they have no clue what it is for and it will not be official. Friends organised all official paperwork afterward in Nairobi and did not have problems.

campings are in Loangalani (+), North Horr (+) and Maralal (++). Be carefull between North Horr and Maralal, do not bush camp in this area! There are armed cattle thiefs active in this area which cause some tension between tribes.

Cheers,

Noel Di Pietro
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

Hello
Im afrais this info is a little out of date, but I imagine things dont change much in that part of the world... Also Im in Dar es Salaam at the moment without access to a map and a shaky memory...

I did the turkana route solo in 2004 without GPS. It is a really worth while trip that rewards long hot rocky roads with a true adventure experience. Finding the path (It really is just a path) from the Ethiop side will not be easy, but ask locals for the way to Illoret, on the Michelin map its Fort Banya, but locals seem to know Illoret (Illeret?). That first part will be the most difficult, I would not try it 2 up myself, but Im sure it could be done, esp if you have a Landy as backup? After that bit I remember roads being pretty obvious. Most rocky with little sand. Loyangalosi (spell??) will be the only place to stop really, there is camp site and water and expensive petrol (understandably)from the priests at the mission there. Take a lot of water theres none nlong the way. If its been raining recently I would strongly suggest not to take this route as locals said it is literally unpassable! When the locals say that they know what they talking about... Further South you pass a Park where you pay $20 entry and will be told not to camp except in their very exp site for faer of lions... I bush camped and saw no big animals, but could ahve been lucky. From there the road gets better ...
If you have questions, ask and Ill rack me brains...

Jim

PS There was a missionary in Illeret called David i think who was helpful and knows the lay of the land. Be prepared for an attempted religious conversion.

PPS At Omorate on Ethiop side is Immigration post but no customs... At Illeret there is only Kenya police no immigration or customs... I hear you can sort out a deal with Kenya Embassy in Addis as arriving without Immig stamp could be tricky...