Journey

Mombasa to Kakuma through Turkana

Liv Kenya's complete 2022 expedition from Mombasa through Voi, the Taita Hills, Taveta, Tsavo West, Nairobi, Eldoret, Kitale, West Pokot, Lodwar, Lake Turkana, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei.

Firsthand material by Liv Kenya

Follow the full route

Journey chapters

01 Mombasa to Taveta through the Taita Hills 1 video available.

From the coast to Voi, Wundanyi's green highlands, Mwatate, and Taveta.

02 Taveta lakes and Tsavo West 2 videos available.

Lake Jipe, Grogan's Castle, Tsavo West, Severin Safari Camp, and Lake Chala lead back through Voi to Nairobi.

03 Nairobi to Lodwar through West Pokot 2 videos available.

A long northern road through Eldoret, Kitale, Kapenguria, Kainuk, and Lokichar to Lodwar.

04 Lodwar and Lake Turkana 2 videos available.

Lodwar opens onto Namoratunga, Kalokol, Central Island's crater lakes, and Eliye Springs.

05 Lodwar to Kakuma and Kalobeyei 1 video available.

The final northwestern stage reaches Kakuma and Kalobeyei through a landscape shaped by movement and many communities.

—

Origin

Mombasa

Departure from the coast.

Car

Travel leg

Mombasa to Voi

Travel times vary with traffic, weather, and road conditions.

Typical duration: 155 minutes

—

Town / locality

Mariakani

—

Waypoint

Voi

Overnight road base.

Car

Travel leg

Voi to Wundanyi via Mwatate

Typical duration: 55 minutes

—

Place / visit

Taita Hills and Wundanyi

Voi Home Base

Highland visit above Mwatate.

Car

Travel leg

Wundanyi to Taveta

Typical duration: 75 minutes

—

Junction / route departure

Mwatate junction

—

Destination

Taveta

Arrival after returning through Mwatate.

Car

Travel leg

Taveta to Lake Jipe

Typical duration: 60 minutes

—

Home Base

Taveta

—

Town / locality

Rekeke

—

Place / visit

Lake Jipe

Taveta Home Base

Guided lake visit from the fishing village.

Car

Travel leg

Lake Jipe to Grogan's Castle

Typical duration: 35 minutes

—

Place / visit

Grogan's Castle

Taveta Home Base

Historic hilltop stop.

Car

Travel leg

Grogan's Castle to Tsavo West

Typical duration: 105 minutes

—

Town / locality

Rekeke

—

Home Base

Taveta

—

Home Base

Taveta

—

Route landmark

Tsavo West Maktau Gate

—

Place / visit

Tsavo West National Park

Taveta Home Base

Entry through the Maktau side of Tsavo West.

Car

Travel leg

Maktau Gate to Severin Safari Camp

Typical duration: 140 minutes

—

Service stop

Severin Safari Camp

Taveta Home Base

Overnight inside the park.

Car

Travel leg

Severin Safari Camp to Lake Chala

Typical duration: 155 minutes

—

Place / visit

Lake Chala

Taveta Home Base

Crater-lake stop.

Car

Travel leg

Lake Chala to Voi

Typical duration: 95 minutes

—

Junction / route departure

Chala lake-road approach

—

Home Base

Taveta

—

Waypoint

Voi

Return to the coast highway.

Car

Travel leg

Voi to Nairobi

Typical duration: 325 minutes

—

Town / locality

Mtito Andei

—

Town / locality

Emali

—

Junction / route departure

Athi River / Machakos turnoff

—

Destination

Nairobi

Nairobi pause before the northern stage.

Car

Travel leg

Nairobi to Eldoret

Typical duration: 430 minutes

—

Home Base

Naivasha

—

Town / locality

Gilgil

—

Home Base

Nakuru

—

Service stop

Eldoret

Service stop

Overnight with friends in Liv's documentary.

Car

Travel leg

Eldoret to Kitale

Typical duration: 55 minutes

—

Service stop

Kitale

Service stop

Supply stop before West Pokot.

Car

Travel leg

Kitale to Kapenguria

Typical duration: 25 minutes

—

Waypoint

Kapenguria

Waypoint

Gateway into West Pokot.

Car

Travel leg

Kapenguria to Kainuk

Typical duration: 70 minutes

—

Waypoint

Kainuk

Waypoint

Crossing into Turkana near the Turkwel River.

Car

Travel leg

Kainuk to Lokichar

Typical duration: 60 minutes

—

Waypoint

Lokichar

Waypoint

Major progress point on the Lodwar road.

Car

Travel leg

Lokichar to Lodwar

Typical duration: 65 minutes

—

Destination

Lodwar

Arrival in Turkana's principal town.

Car

Travel leg

Lodwar to Namoratunga

Typical duration: 80 minutes

—

Place / visit

Namoratunga standing stones

Lodwar Home Base

Archaeological stop on the Kalokol road.

Car

Travel leg

Namoratunga to Kalokol

Typical duration: 25 minutes

—

Transfer

Kalokol and the Lake Turkana shore

Lodwar Home Base

Boat departure area.

Ferry / boat

Travel leg

Kalokol to Central Island

Typical duration: 60 minutes

—

Place / visit

Central Island National Park

Lodwar Home Base

Crater-lake walk reached by boat.

Ferry / boat

Travel leg

Central Island to Kalokol

Typical duration: 60 minutes

—

Transfer

Kalokol and the Lake Turkana shore

Lodwar Home Base

Return to the western shore.

Car

Travel leg

Kalokol to Eliye Springs

Typical duration: 95 minutes

—

Service stop

Eliye Springs

Lodwar Home Base

Lake Turkana overnight.

Car

Travel leg

Eliye Springs to Lodwar

Typical duration: 165 minutes

—

Town / locality

Kalokol

—

Route landmark

Namoratunga

—

Destination

Lodwar

Return to Lodwar.

Car

Travel leg

Lodwar to Kakuma

Typical duration: 105 minutes

—

Waypoint

Kakuma

Food and community context in Kakuma.

Car

Travel leg

Kakuma to Kalobeyei

Typical duration: 20 minutes

—

Destination

Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement

Kakuma Home Base

Broad geographic endpoint, shown with safeguarding context.

Further viewing

See this Journey on the ground

Epic RoadTrip Around Kenya | Driving Over 1000KM Exploring Kenyan Hidden Gems

Video by Liv Kenya

The opening episode sets out the scale and discovery purpose of the Mombasa-to-Kakuma road trip.

Video

Full Documentary | Driving From Mombasa To Kakuma | Liv Kenya

Video by Liv Kenya

Liv Kenya's full documentary presents the complete coast-to-Turkana expedition.

Know another useful local video? Suggest it for review →

Destination Place

Now discover Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement

The Journey explains how to reach it. Continue to the Place page for the reason to go, what to expect, local knowledge, photographs, and onward Journeys.

Explore Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement →