Chalbi desert a former lake that dried up about 10,000 years ago is located in Kenya’s North, in the middle of the county of Marsabit.
Chalbi Desert, Extreme Climate, Oasis and Pictures?
The equator on the east of Great Rift valley passes through Nanyuki town, which marks the beginning of a swathe of Climatic Extremes. Starting with the immediate snow capped Mount Kenya, to the Lowlands of Samburu along the tarmacked A2 highway. All the way to Lake Turkana, Kenya’s largest lake and world’s largest permanent desert lake.
On the East of Lake Turkana is Chalbi Desert, Extreme heat strangles the towns of North Horr through the Desert where the elements reign absolute. To the periphery where you can find the Oasis at Kalacha that’s the lifeline support for local communities and their herds.
Geology and Climate
In a book, Sabkha Ecosystems: Volume III: Africa and Southern Europe – edited by Münir Öztürk, Benno Böer, Hans-Jörg Barth, Siegmar-W. Breckle, Miguel Clüsener-Godt, M. Ajmal Khan.
Chalbi desert is composed of saline and alkaline sediments and stabilised sand dunes; a resulting formation of the old bed of Lake Chalbi.
During the Pleistocene (1.8mya to 10,000 years BP) this lake drained the volcanoes of marsabit. It has since dried up to form the extensive Chalbi desert.
The area lies in depression between 430 and 500 mm above seal level sorrounding a large central plain. Precipitation is low with an average of between 100 and 250 mm a year for the region. This mostly occurs between March-May and October-December.
The drainage from sorrounding mountains (Mt Marsabit, Hurri Hills, Mt Kulal, Mt Nyiru, Ol Doinyo Mara and Ndotos) maybe lost by evaporation and never reach the Chalbi Desert
Sabkha Ecosystems
The observations by Sabkha Ecosystems is however flawed in part; as there are flash floods from Mount Kulal and Hurri Hills. This happens especially in the rainy months of April and October that makes the ground soggy and impassable
The flash floods only last a couple of hours and are soon drained or evaporate by mid the following day. At night, Chalbi Desert provides the best environment for sky observatory . Astrophotography is also suitable as the night skies remain unpolluted with city lights.
Kenya’s Desert Tour?
Begin North Adventures has a robust ground network of local guides and contacts to the village level. We’ll orgarnise a bespoke tour for you and your party. The main Northern attractions are:
- Culture – Lake Turkana and Chalbi Desert area is home to more than 15 communities that still observe their culture to this day.
- Landscapes – Kenya’s arid and semi arid areas consist of 89% of the lands. More than half of these lands appear on Kenya’s North. here you’ll see the most breathtaking views that may not have been chronicled before.
- Outdoor Activities – camel safaris, donkey safaris, camping in the wilderness, biking safaris, hiking, walking, quadbikes and more.
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