Marsabit

Marsabit National Park is an oasis of green in the midst of an arid, desert region of Northern Kenya. At the centre of the park is an extinct volcano - the height of which creates a microclimate that supports a huge tract of indigenous forest that in turn supports a wide variety of wildlife. The Montane forest is watered by thick mist which forms overnight as the hot air rises off the desert and cools. The mist often lingers until late morning.

The forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. The downside of Marsabit is that the forest is so thick that game viewing is very challenging. However, it can be very rewarding if you have patience. The Park is home to a number of greater kudu and the rare Grevy's zebra.

The park has many extinct volcanic craters known as Gofs. One of the largest of these is Gof Sokorte Guda which has Lake Paradise at the bottom of it. The lake, where we camp, was made famous by pioneer film-makers Martin and Osa Johnson in the 1920s. It is ringed with scenic forest and the birdlife is amazing. From our camp there is a great view across the lake, which is a magnet to much of the park's wildlife and we normally see a good variety when relaxing in camp.

The Lake Paradise Camp is classed as a "Special" campsite by the Kenya Wildlife Service. It is special, not for its complete absence of facilities, but because it has to be booked exclusively for one group at a time. This means we, and the wildlife are not disturbed by other visitors - not that there are ever many! This is camping in the classic safari style, with large walk-in tents and en-suite shower and toilet facilities.