Camel Derby will take place from the 17th – 19th August 2012

Kenya's Camel Classic - Maralal Camel Derby The Annual Maralal Camel Derby takes place in the month of August in Maralal, a remote desert outpost in Samburu county.

The quiet town of Maralal, about 348 kms North of Nairobi, is considered the gateway to Kenya’s wild and arid North, and is a mecca for adventurers, nomads and camels.

Maralal Camel Derby will take place from the 17th – 19th August 2012 at Yare Camel Camp in Maralal.

This is real camel country, and the single humped dromedary camel is a vital part of life for many of Northern Kenya’s nomadic people.

Each year, the Camel Derby brings colour and action to the streets of Maralal as the finest Camels in the North gather for the big race.

While most of Kenya’s camel rearing communities do not ride them- using them as pack animals- they are excellent handlers and judges of an animals strength and potential for speed.

Winning the Derby is a great local honour, and each year the title is hotly contested. But this by no means a purely local event.

Maralal is a haven for nomadic cultures, and that includes travellers from all over the globe.

The Town is a popular stopover for travellers looking for adventure in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District - one of Africa’s last great unspoilt wilderness areas.

For anyone visiting the area around this time, attending the Derby is a must. The three day race event is a chance to experience culture, colour, action and adventure first hand.

This is not just a spectator sport - if you are going to attend the derby, why not saddle up and join in? 

The derby this year will include: Camel ride competition for amateurs and experts as well, Tricamalon, 10km fun run, 5 km fun run for the physically challenged and bike races.

At home with the "special five"

Sentrim Samburus’ location deep inside the reserve guarantees close encounters with Samburu’s shier species, including elephant, leopard and Samburu’s famous “Special five” – the rare Reticulated Giraffe, long necked Gerenuk Antelope, Somali Ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, and Majestic Beisa Oryx. Located 345 kms North of Nairobi, the Journey to the camp involves a 50 minutes flight to the Isiolo airstrip followed by a 35 minutes drive through the reserve. Natural Environment of the area is: Arid and semi-arid lands, open scrub and grasslands; Significant environmental variation based on altitude.Highlands of the Leroghi Plateau (Ldonyo) are relatively cool and well watered.Lowlands (Lpurkel) are quite dry and hot semi-desert. In keeping with new “green movement” of Kenyan tourism, Sentrim Samburu endeavors to uphold the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. The camp enjoys close relations with the local Samburu community, from which some 70 percent of our employees hail. The Samburu are related to the Masai although they live just above the equator where the foothills of Mount Kenya merge into the northern desert and slightly south of Lake Turkana in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists whose lives revolve around their cows, sheep, goats, and camels. Milk is their main stay; sometimes it is mixed with blood. Meat is only eaten on special occasions. Generally they make soups from roots and barks and eat vegetables if living in an area where they can be grown. ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk Etton Travel and Tours