Mount Kulal

Kulal rises to around 2,300 metres directly above the desert on the eastern side of Lake Turkana, and like Marsabit it traps enough moisture to hold cloud forest on its ridges while the country below is bare lava and sand. A deep gorge, El Kajarta, cuts the mountain almost in two, so the massif reads as two summits joined by a narrow ridge. The forest holds endemic and near-endemic species, including the Kulal white-eye, a bird found nowhere else, and the mountain was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1978. Samburu and Rendille communities live on the slopes, grazing livestock and farming small plots at Gatab, where a mission and airstrip sit high on the mountain. The views from the rim, down to the jade water of Turkana on one side and over the Chalbi on the other, are the reason people make the effort.

What's there

• El Kajarta gorge - the deep cleft splitting the mountain.
• Cloud forest - green woodland above the desert.
• Turkana views - the jade lake far below to the west.
• Gatab - the high settlement and mission on the mountain.

When to go

Dry seasons for the tracks; the mountain roads are steep and slippery when wet. It is cold and misty on top compared with the furnace below, and warm clothing is needed. Guides and vehicles are arranged in Loiyangalani.

Practical notes

Access is difficult: steep rough tracks needing a capable 4x4 and a driver who knows them, with no signage. There is no tourist accommodation; camping or mission hospitality are the options. Supplies must be carried. This is remote travel and arrangements should be made locally with people who know current conditions.

Nearby

Loiyangalani and Lake Turkana lie below; the Chalbi desert is east.

Key facts