Palm Shade Camp: Our full report
If you want to explore Lake Turkana, you will need to visit Loiyangalani, and Palm Shade Camp is one of the ...
... few places to stay. The camp offers very simple facilities for adventurous visitors willing to forego many of the comforts that most travellers take for granted.Although we’ve stayed at Palm Shade Camp while researching the Rough Guide to Kenya, we haven’t yet given it the kind of more rigorous inspection that Expert Africa consultants normally do when checking out properties - one that would enable us to write a detailed report. While the wind, the flies and the absence of ordinary privacy and comforts can be exhausting, we did enjoy our time here and found the area’s cultural aspects and photographic opportunities especially rewarding.
The remote and fascinating Lake Turkana town of Loiyangalani (it’s too important to think of as a village, but ‘town’ risks making it sound much bigger than it really is) is based around warm springs that keep the area’s palm groves flourishing. Most visitors are on small group tours from Nairobi, and the camp can be full during the annual Lake Turkana Cultural Festival in May or June.
Accommodation here consists of basic, thatched bandas, with beds and simple bedding (shared toilets and showers), and some ensuite rooms which were in the final stages of construction when we last checked. The camp also rents out modest-sized tents. Taking your own sheet sleeping bag would be advisable.
Our view
Loiyangalani has a number of small camps but we think Palm Shade is on balance the best place to stay in the area. The owner, Benedict, is very helpful and always on hand to look after guests, whether fetching you a cold drink or organizing an excursion.
Country manager: Kenya
Geographics
- Location
- Northern Kenya, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 2-3 nights
- Directions
- Palm Shade Camp is in the heart of Loiyangalani, a tiny town near the shore of Lake Turkana, with very simple services. Charter a plane to the local airstrip, or drive here from Desert Rose in about 5 hours.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Room Only
- Food quality
- Simple meals can be provided to order.
- Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- The kitchen arrangements at Palm Shade are extremely basic and food is of the goat stew/chicken stew variety, usually served with rice or any vegetables available in the market. You can also order fish. It's important to order earlier in the day to be sure of having a meal for lunch or dinner.
- Drinks included
- Drinks and bottled water are not included but are reasonably priced and reasonably cold, depending on when the generator was last on.
Children
- Attitude towards children
Communications
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- The water at Palm Shade is Loiyangalani's warm spring water, so usually very clean and pleasat to shower in.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Limited medical facilties can be provided in real emergencies by the local missions.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Crocodiles pose a serious threat to fishermen and anyone foolish enough to bathe in the briny lake.
- Fire safety
Activities
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Accepted payment on location
- Palm Shade Camp only accepts cash, preferably Kenya shillings.
Other lodges in Northern Kenya
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Sarara
Sarara is an outstanding safari lodge, with access to a vast wilderness region. Walks, drives and cultural experiences are on offer, all with very good guides.
Sarara Treehouses
Sarara Treehouses is a luxurious camp with tents raised up in the forest canopy. Come here for the wildlife, walking and cultural activities, accompanied by excellent local guides.
Oasis Lodge
Oasis Lodge is a basic hotel for adventurous travellers near the east shore of Lake Turkana.
Saruni Rhino
Saruni Rhino is the only camp in the Sera Conservancy in northern Kenya, where guests are based when tracking black rhino on foot.
Ngari Hill Ecolodge
The 6-room Ngari Hill Ecolodge is the only full-service lodge in Maralal and makes a convenient overnight stay en route from Nairobi to Lake Turkana.
Desert Rose
This small, unique mountain lodge – Kenya’s northernmost luxury accommodation – is set amid the towering landscapes of Mount Nyiru, and is a superb place for rest and relaxation.
Marsabit Lodge
Marsabit Lodge is the only safari lodge in the fascinating Marsabit National Park, and the only decent accommodation anywhere between the Mathews Range and the Ethiopian border.
Wild Frontiers
Wild Frontiers Camel treks are based in the Milgis River area and run in various parts of northern Kenya between Lake Turkana and Laikipia.
Kitich Forest Camp
Kitich Forest Camp is one of Kenya's most established, remote highland forest camps, offering exciting bush walks and close encounters with big game as well as insects and birdlife.
