Day 1 – Arrival in Nairobi | Welcome and Photography Briefing
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where you will be met by your Wild Compass Africa team and transferred to your hotel.
The remainder of the day is kept light following your international journey. Depending on your arrival time, there may be an opportunity for a short city photography session or a relaxed walk around the hotel area.
In the evening, meet your expedition leader and photography team for a detailed briefing. We will go through the route, driving conditions, photography approach, cultural considerations and safety procedures, as well as prepare equipment for the days ahead.
Photography focus: Nairobi city scenes, evening light, travel details and preparation.
Overnight: Nairobi hotel
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 – Nairobi to Lake Baringo | Rift Valley Landscapes and Pokot Country
After breakfast, depart Nairobi and begin the journey northwest into the Great Rift Valley.
The landscape changes gradually from Nairobi’s urban surroundings to open farmland, escarpments and dry acacia country. We continue towards Lake Baringo, making photographic stops where the light and landscape invite them.
In the afternoon, visit a Pokot community with a local guide. Time is allowed to move beyond formal portraits and observe everyday life — livestock, household activities, traditional clothing, children at play and the relationship between the community and its surrounding landscape. We return to the lodge around sunset, with time to photograph the changing colours across the lake and surrounding hills.
Photography focus: Rift Valley landscapes, environmental portraits, livestock, traditional dress and sunset over Lake Baringo.
Overnight: Lodge near Lake Baringo
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3 – Lake Baringo | Njemps Fishing and Lake Wildlife
An early start takes us onto Lake Baringo while the water is still calm and the first light begins to appear.
Join Njemps fishermen as they head onto the lake in traditional boats. This is an opportunity for action photography as fishermen work their nets and bring in the morning catch, with African Fish Eagles and other waterbirds often active around the boats.
After breakfast, continue with a visit to an island community where we spend time photographing village life and the fishing culture of the Njemps people.
Later in the day, take a private boat excursion along the lake’s shoreline. Look for Nile crocodiles, hippos, African Fish Eagles, kingfishers and other waterbirds while using the changing afternoon light for wildlife and landscape photography.
Photography focus: Fishing action, boats, birds, crocodiles, hippos, environmental portraits and lake reflections.
Overnight: Lake Baringo lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4 – Lake Baringo to Maralal and the Ndoto Mountains | Into Northern Kenya
Leave Lake Baringo after breakfast and continue north through increasingly remote country.
The journey takes us towards Maralal and onward into the Ndoto Mountains. Along the way, the vegetation becomes drier and the settlements more dispersed as we enter northern Kenya’s pastoral landscape.
There will be opportunities for roadside photography, landscapes and encounters with pastoral communities. We continue towards camp, arriving with enough time to settle in and make an evening photographic outing if conditions allow.
The surrounding granite formations and open plains provide an entirely different landscape from the Rift Valley.
Photography focus: Northern Kenya landscapes, pastoral life, roadside encounters and mountain light.
Overnight: Tented camp, Ndoto Mountains
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5 – Ndoto Mountains | Rendille People and Pastoral Life
Rise before sunrise for photography around camp and the surrounding mountains.
After breakfast, spend time with the Rendille people, learning about their pastoral way of life and photographing people within their natural environment rather than limiting the experience to posed portraits.
Depending on local activities, we may visit homesteads, observe livestock management and spend time with families. There will also be opportunities to photograph traditional beadwork, clothing, household structures and other details of Rendille culture.
The heat of the middle of the day is reserved for rest and image review. Later in the afternoon, return to the field as the light softens.
Photography focus: Rendille portraits, elders, families, pastoral life, beadwork, homesteads and mountain landscapes.
Overnight: Ndoto Mountains camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6 – Ndoto Mountains to Lake Turkana | From Mountains to Desert
Today marks a major change in the landscape as we leave the Ndoto Mountains and travel towards Lake Turkana.
The route passes through increasingly arid country, with rocky plains, volcanic formations and isolated settlements. This is one of the most remote sections of the expedition, and the journey itself becomes an important part of the experience.
Arrive in Loiyangalani in the afternoon and settle into your accommodation.
Depending on arrival time and local conditions, we may make a short photographic excursion around the lake or nearby communities before sunset.
Photography focus: Desert landscapes, volcanic terrain, pastoral settlements and the first views of Lake Turkana.
Overnight: Loiyangalani lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7 – Lake Turkana | Turkana Culture, Fishing and Landscapes
Spend a full day around Lake Turkana.
Begin with early morning photography when the light is soft across the lake and surrounding desert. We then visit Turkana communities to learn about their pastoral lifestyle, household traditions, clothing and livestock.
The day may also include time with local fishermen, depending on the community and activities taking place during our visit.
The midday period is reserved for rest before returning to the field in the afternoon. As the sun drops, the lake and surrounding volcanic landscape take on a different character, creating excellent opportunities for wide environmental compositions and silhouettes.
Photography focus: Turkana portraits, fishing, livestock, village life, traditional adornments and Lake Turkana landscapes.
Overnight: Loiyangalani lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8 – Loiyangalani to Sibiloi National Park | Into the Remote Shoreline
Depart early and follow the remote eastern shore of Lake Turkana towards Sibiloi National Park. This is a long and adventurous travel day, with the landscape changing between desert plains, rocky shoreline and isolated settlements.
Enter Sibiloi National Park and explore the area around the Koobi Fora region, known for its fossil discoveries and distinctive desert landscapes. Wildlife sightings can include Grevy’s zebra, oryx, gazelles, giraffes and other species adapted to this harsh environment. Continue north towards Ileret.
Photography focus: Desert wildlife, fossil landscapes, shoreline scenes, geological formations and long-distance landscape compositions.
Overnight: Guesthouse, Ileret
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9 – Ileret | Dassanech Communities and Remote Northern Kenya
Spend the day around Ileret with opportunities to meet Dassanech communities living close to the Ethiopia border.
The focus is on people and daily life — livestock, family activities, traditional dress, beadwork, household routines and the relationship between communities and the surrounding desert environment.
Where appropriate and with local permission, time may also be spent with members of the Diyes community, documenting aspects of their fishing and hunting traditions.
This is intentionally an unhurried day, allowing time for conversations and observation rather than moving quickly between locations.
Photography focus: Environmental portraiture, traditional adornment, pastoral life, fishing, household activities and desert surroundings.
Overnight: Guesthouse, Ileret
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10 – Ileret to Chalbi Desert | Across Northern Kenya
After an early breakfast, begin the journey south towards the Chalbi Desert.
The route crosses some of Kenya’s most isolated landscapes, with vast open plains, volcanic rock, dry riverbeds and stretches of seemingly endless desert.
We make photographic stops along the way when conditions allow, particularly during the softer morning and late-afternoon light. Arrive in the North Horr area and settle into your guesthouse.
Photography focus: Desert scale, pastoral movement, camels, remote settlements and changing textures of the Chalbi landscape.
Overnight: Guesthouse, North Horr
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11 – Chalbi Desert | Gabra Communities and the Singing Wells
Rise early to photograph the desert before the heat of the day.
Spend time with the Gabra people and learn about their pastoral lifestyle, particularly their dependence on camels and traditional water sources.
Where conditions and local activities permit, visit a traditional singing well. The movement of people and livestock around the water point can provide powerful opportunities for action and documentary photography.
Return to camp during the hottest part of the day before heading out again in the late afternoon.
Photography focus: Gabra portraits, camel caravans, livestock, water collection, traditional clothing and desert light.
Overnight: North Horr guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12 – Chalbi Desert to Marsabit | Borana Country
Continue south across the Chalbi Desert towards Marsabit.
The landscape gradually changes from open desert to greener, more heavily vegetated country around Marsabit National Park and the mountain.
Arrive in Marsabit in the afternoon and spend time with local Borana communities where possible. The contrast between the desert environments of the previous days and the forested volcanic landscape around Marsabit provides a completely different photographic setting. If timing allows, finish the day with an evening photographic session.
Photography focus: Borana portraits, traditional dress, livestock, rural life and the changing landscape around Marsabit.
Overnight: Marsabit lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 13 – Marsabit to Burji Country and Mount Ololokwe | Changing Cultures and Landscapes
Continue south towards Burji country.
Spend part of the day with Burji communities, photographing agricultural life, traditional clothing, music, dance and village activities where available.
Later, continue towards Mount Ololokwe, one of the most recognisable landmarks of Samburu country.
Arrive in time to settle into camp and prepare for an evening photographic session. The mountain’s distinctive profile becomes particularly striking as the sun drops behind the surrounding landscape.
Photography focus: Burji culture, agriculture, portraits, traditional adornments and Mount Ololokwe at sunset.
Overnight: Tented camp near Mount Ololokwe
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 14 – Samburu Country | People, Wildlife and Pastoral Life
Spend a full day in Samburu country.
The morning begins with an early photographic session, taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and soft light.
We then spend time with Samburu communities, focusing on family life, pastoral traditions, beadwork, clothing and the role of livestock within the community.
Where appropriate, the day can also include a wildlife drive in the surrounding area. Samburu’s dry landscape supports species such as Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, elephants and other wildlife associated with northern Kenya.
After a midday break, return to the field during the late afternoon for portraits, livestock scenes and golden-hour landscapes.
Photography focus: Samburu people, wildlife, beadwork, livestock, environmental portraits and sunset landscapes.
Overnight: Samburu tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 15 – Samburu to Nairobi | Final Morning and Departure
Enjoy a final early-morning photographic session around camp and the surrounding landscape.
After breakfast, begin the drive south towards Nairobi. The journey provides a final opportunity to photograph the changing landscapes as northern Kenya gradually gives way to the more developed areas around the capital.
Arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon or early evening.
Depending on your onward flight schedule, a day room or additional hotel night can be arranged, as well as an airport transfer.
Photography focus: Final wildlife and landscape images, morning light and farewell portraits.
Tour ends in Nairobi.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch