Chalbi Desert in Kenya is a small desert located in Northern Kenya neighboring Ethiopia and East of Lake Turkana. The desert covers an area of 100,000 square kilometers. Chalbi desert has been recognized as an important geosite of Kenya. Visitors get an opportunity to witness the ancient lake bed.
Formation of chalbi Desert in kenya
Chalbi desert is a shallow lake that was formed about 11,000 years ago. The basin was historically fed by volcanoes from Marsabit, and its surrounding landscape consists of volcanic material, including lava rocks and black dolerite from Mt. Kulal, which now contribute to its terrain The area is characterized by saline and alkaline sediments, with dunes forming over time.
The desert is currently a wonder land for travelers experiencing desert life and has become one of the best destinations in kenya.
Things to see in chalbi desert in kenya
Fauna
A variety of animals visit the desert to lick on the salty soils and roam around the open desert, besides other animals hunted down some few years ago, visitors to the desert can see animals such as African elephant, oryx, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, and giraffe. In the past, black rhinoceros and lions could be spotted before their extinct.
Flora
Due to high salinity of the desert, there are few plant species that grow during the annual rainfall season and near the streams. Basically, there are few vegetation cover. A few plant species that grow around the desert include acacia tortillis and salvadora persica.
Pastoralists
When visiting the desert, you will meet the nomads that live around this desert with herds of goats, cattle and camels.
Local homesteads
Visit the homesteads of pastoralists, learn their culture, ways on how their construct their huts and enjoy their story telling.
Climate
Chalbi is a rain-shadow desert, Occasionally, rain falls as a heavy downpour, and the water runs off through the hard desert surface and pools at surface depressions. However, it really takes long to rain in the region.
Facts about chalbi desert
- Chalbi Desert is a stretch of coarse sand spiced up with pure rocks and immense clay where there are also ash-gray ridges and broken clusters of tiny huts.
- There are pans of salt in the desert which is picked up by many pastoralists and used as a natural animal’s salt link.
- The desert is surrounded by volcanic hills that create a magical panorama with only selected animals and vegetation that can withstand hostile climates in the entire Sub-Saharan regions.
- The southern part of the desert is home to the Rendille while the eastern part which is towards the Ethiopian border is home to the Gabbra People.
- It’s believed that there was a lake in the Chalbi Desert that has dried up a thousand years ago, therefore it was named the Chalbi Desert which means bare and salty.
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to explore the Chalbi Desert usually depends on your interests and travel preferences. Nature enthusiasts and desert adventurers, the dry season, which starts from December to February and from June to august, offers the perfect conditions.
During these months, you can expect sunny and dry weather, providing excellent opportunities to explore the stark yet captivating desert landscapes and engage in desert exploration.
How to get to there
Travel by road with a 4×4 vehicle from Nairobi to Marsabit via North Horr and Kalacha where you will explore Kenya’s landscapes.