| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 77 | 50 | 2.30 |
| Feb | 80 | 51 | 2.00 |
| Mar | 80 | 53 | 3.60 |
| Apr | 77 | 56 | 9.50 |
| May | 74 | 53 | 7.50 |
| Jun | 72 | 50 | 1.50 |
| Jul | 71 | 48 | 0.70 |
| Aug | 72 | 48 | 0.90 |
| Sep | 77 | 49 | 1.20 |
| Oct | 78 | 52 | 2.40 |
| Nov | 75 | 54 | 5.90 |
| Dec | 75 | 53 | 4.20 |
The Samburu tribesman stood beneath an acacia tree, watching his goats and waiting for us to walk to his bit of shade. I admired his beaded necklace, and through our translator he traded it for my watch.
The night sky cloaks Laikipa Plateau in intense blackness. The only illumination comes from the lanterns at the foot of our tents. Then the stars start to flicker, and Kenya's nocturnal drama begins to unfold. A hyena whoops, eerily close to camp. Low growls and a series of sharp barks resonate from beyond. We listen intently, but don't react. We're bushed. Today's trek across an acacia-studded plain was the longest yet. (Even the camels, loaded with our equipment, seemed relieved when we stopped to set up camp.) But our efforts paid off: the game viewing was exceptional. All around us, herds of Grevy's zebra foraged for tender vegetation and prides of lions scanned the horizon, looking for the weak and the young, even a black rhino rolled in the ruddy dust. The frontier is abundant with wildlife.
It's also remote. Only a few hundred non-indigenous peoples have set foot here in the last 150 years. Surrounded by black lava sand, we hike to an oasis and wait. Soon members of the Gabbra tribe appear with camels, hundreds of them. The Gabbra walk from the Hurri Hills, caravanning endlessly back and forth to get water. It takes them all day to make one trip. And we are here to experience it.
"I'm compelled to break new territory," proclaims Toby Fenwick-Wilson, explaining why he recently walked 350 miles on a solo quest through the deserts of Northern Kenya. Toby's expertise in the bush and its tribal cultures comes from a strong academic background, combined with 15 years of leading safaris.
Arrive and transfer to the historic Norfolk Hotel for your welcome dinner and overnight.
Fly into the bush at Lewa Downs, the gateway to Laikipia Plateau and perhaps East Africa's finest conservancy. Transfer by vehicle to Borana Lodge, your base for the next three days.
Explore the district's contrasting ecosystems in equally diverse manners. Trek or ride horses, with opportunities to see elephant, black rhino, lion, hyena and leopard. One day you cycle on a mountain bike 10,000 feet down Mount Kenya, over moorland and through primary forest, eventually rolling onto the semi-desert, where you cool off in the river. Another morning you board an open-cockpit two-passenger WACO bi-plane, a replica of a vintage 1920s model, for a nostalgic flight over Kenya's breathtaking landscape.
Head by vehicle to the Nandanguru Plain, where you meet your guide and Kerukki tribesmen and begin trekking through the Northern Frontier tribal lands, with camp moving daily via pack camels and with rifle support. The pace is gentle but steady, with a focus on wildlife viewing and opportunities to interact with local nomads. Meals are served in the mess tent, and you sleep in your simple but comfortable safari tent.
Owned and run by local Maasai, this remote lodge faces the sacred Mount Lolokwe. Trek through the Mokogodo Forest, explore the bush, and swim under the waterfalls.
Board your private aircraft and fly to Desert Rose for mountain hiking, swimming and overnight. In the morning, continue by plane into the Great Rift and Suguta Valleys, one of the world's most savagely beautiful areas, including crocodile-filled Lake Turkana and Lake Logipi, which is pink with flamingoes. Flying north to the black-sand Chalbe, explore Kalache oasis and trading settlement, the Hurri Hills, and the volcano springs at Afkabir. Overnight at a Kalache thatched-roof/tent camp.
Return to Nanyuki by plane for the connecting flight to Nairobi. After dinner on your own, transfer to the airport for flights home.
