North Kenya Convoy.

[VanGS]

Me again...

I have met some guys going north and all complained about the security situation in north kenya.

Couple missed a shooting by an hour etc etc.

Are there anybody heading south at the moment that would like to hook up to ride the road together?

Cheers
R

[tadhg123]

We came south via moyale and then returned to turkana to meet friends coming through turkana in another landy about 2 weeks ago.

We bush camped in the losai np and on the beach at turkana with no issues.

We were advised to avoid barsaloi by a primatoligist who travels regularly to turkana. This advice is probably outdated now though.

We did meet a lone biker on a round trip from Nairobi and a Kenyan family on a camping trip along turkana so there is a few people (including us) driving alone.

The route through losai to laisamis let's you avoid baragoi and is quite good in the dry. Tarmac starts just south of laisamis at the town of merille.

[VanGS]

Thanks that makes me quite at eaze. I am still in 2 minds about the moyale road or the omorate to lodwar road. I have some time though!

Thanks for the reply!

[tadhg123]

Moyale road was an experience. We had friends on board that we picked up in ethiopia so couldn't risk missing their flight home if we had problems at turkana.

Personally I'd go turkana but I'm glad I got to experience moyale to merille. A lot of the road is on temporary bypasses while work progresses on the main line. Be prepared for lots and lots of dust if you go this way!

Passed a lone biker and 3 Scots we met in Egypt actually drove at night along it (not that I'd advise that!). Policeman just before marsabit was a big aggressive and demanded a bribe and then a particular tshirt but we just waited him out.

Actually we did notice that all trucks carried a visibly armed guard on the cab roof when we returned north to laisamis. This definitely wasn't the case when we traveled through a week before. Not sure what prompted the extra security.

[jamieT]

Heh Van

We are in Arba Minch now, maybe Jinka today or tomorrow, then around Turmi ish on sat/sunday, Omerate and exit ethiopia monday or tuesday.

Hard to predict plans exactly as we're are now 10 people in 4 cars, so it's about as organised as an amnesiacs reminiscence.

I'll post any dramas/issues when next on internet.... assuming I'm not shot of course

JT

[timbuktoo]

Originally Posted by VanGS

I have met some guys going north and all complained about the security situation in north kenya.
Couple missed a shooting by an hour etc etc.

I've traveled this and surrounding roads 5 times now. This section between Marsibit and Moyale is still my favorite section of the Trans-East-African Highway which has a deserved reputation for breaking vehicles. It's also got the nickname of the 'Bandit Belt' or 'Badlands'.

The 'Bandit Belt' is supposedly the east-west section between Turbi and Moyale, running parallel with Ethiopia (where Ted Simon had his accident). In the 90's there was a spate of highway robberies on this road directed at "Wazungus", but this happens all over the world (I was robbed of cash in Austria by a guy in a fancy costume with a gun).

This area of Kenya is pastoral and under traditional law systems. There is a lot of inter-tribal conflict. At Turbi, 60 people were massacred in 2005 in these tribal wars. The tribes are generally friendly. I've stayed with the Sakuye and Samburu. Conflict is not directed at westerners, though I find the Somali people can be quite aggressive; and I won't argue with anyone chewing Khat.

I wild-camped 200m off the road near Sololo in 2010, which wasn't a problem. Just find a local and introduce yourselves to them. They're happy to have visitors. Beware of lion and hyenas. We saw two massive lions.

On a whole, the road should be no more dangerous than Ethiopia or any other remote area. The poor road conditions should be more of a concern. The sand road via Dabel and Wajir is a viable alternative which the trucks use when the rains close the main "highway".

[jamieT]

Absolutely no drams on E side route from Omerate-Maralal etc. A bit remote, so a couple of cars is reassuring, but with a reliable vehicle and a biut of mechanical confidence it shouold be fine.
For info we did

1. Omerate to Siboloi buchcamp 11am to 5ish including registration at Ileret police station
2. Siboloi bush camp to Loiyangalani 1 easy day with some very slow going in Siboloi and we should have tried harder to avoid the fee (see 2 turkeys and a rope for the waypoints we forgot)
3. We slowed down after that as a lot of towing of other toyota with blown head gasket/cracked head, but Loiyangalani to Maralal probably possible in a long day, but South Horr was a very nice camp anyway
4. We crossed from Maral to Baringo on great track once you've turned off the nasty Maralal to Nyarahururururu road

[VanGS]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Did Moyale-Isiolo in the end. No issues. Loved it!

[Atlas]

Am heading towards Jinka and Lake Turkana in next few days . Anyone interested in joining up for the trip into kenya ?

[Mousse83]

Hi,
Planning to do Lake Turkana route into Ethiopia beginning / mid January with our Landcruiser. Anyone wants to team up ?

marloes_ark@yahoo.com / 0031641034583
Maurits en Marloes on Tour | Van De Kaap naar Den Haag!

[Sirakor]

Hi,

I'm planning the exact opposite on my KTM, Ethiopia into Kenya via Turkana in beginning of January 2014. Give me a shout if you want to team up (PM on the HUBB).

Safe travels!