Journey to the Jade Sea: A Travel Story to Lake Turkana

The journey to northern Kenya began before sunrise in Nairobi. As the city lights faded behind us, the landscape slowly transformed from busy highways into endless stretches of dry earth, scattered acacia trees, and dramatic volcanic hills. The farther north we traveled, the more it felt like entering another world.

After hours on rugged roads, the first glimpse of Lake Turkana appeared on the horizon — vast, shimmering, and impossibly blue-green beneath the desert sun. Locals call it the “Jade Sea” because of its striking color.

Arrival at the Jade Sea

The air was hot and dry, but the lake breeze carried a strange sense of calm. Small wooden fishing boats rested along the shore while local fishermen repaired their...