Marsabit is a town in northern Kenya, located 170 km east of the center of the East African Rift. It is located in the Eastern Province and is almost surrounded by the Marsabit National Park and Reserve. It serves as the capital of Marsabit District, and lies southeast of the Chalbi Desert in a forested area known for its volcanoes and crater lakes.
The town of Marsabit is an outpost of urban civilization in the vast desert of northern Kenya. The town is situated on an isolated extinct volcano, Mount Marsabit
, which rises almost a kilometer above the desert. The hills here are heavily forested, in contrast to the desert beyond, with their own "insular" eco-system.
The town is inhabited by the Nilotic Samburu and Turkana, as well as the Cushitic-speaking Gabbra, Burji, Borana and Rendille. It is also home to some Somali and Ameru traders and migrants.
In addition, Marsabit has an airstrip and a mountain peak (Mount Marsabit), with "singing" wells just outside the town. Elephants can also often be seen in the local wildlife refuge that surrounds the town, occasionally breaking down fences and causing damage to local farmers crop beds.