18/06/2026
This is Loiyangalani, a culturally vibrant frontier town on the southeastern shores of Lake Turkana in Marsabit County, Northern Kenya.
Its name means “a place of many trees” in Samburu and true to its spirit, the town stands like an oasis in the middle of a harsh volcanic desert landscape, sustained by a rare natural freshwater spring.
Here, life unfolds beside the vast waters of Lake Turkana, the world’s largest permanent desert lake, known for its dramatic beauty and powerful natural ecosystem.
Loiyangalani is also home to unique cultural and historical treasures, including the Loiyangalani Desert Museum, which preserves the stories, tools and traditions of the region’s resilient communities.
Nearby, the shores are shared by the El Molo people, one of Kenya’s smallest indigenous fishing communities, while landscapes like Mount Kulal rise in contrast with unexpected forests in an otherwise arid region.
Every year, this town comes alive during the Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival, where over a dozen communities gather to celebrate culture, peace and identity.
This is Loiyangalani.
