Maralal is a small highland town north of Nyahururu, set in attractive country at around 1900 metres — cool enough to be a relief after the lowland heat. It sits on the edge of Maralal National Sanctuary, a patch of bush that brings elephant, zebra, and impala into town. The surrounding area is Samburu country; you'll see herders in traditional dress around the market and on the roads out of town.
The town is on the tourist map largely because of the Maralal International Camel Derby, held each August at the Yare Club and Campground a few kilometres outside town. It draws participants from across Kenya and beyond for a chaotic, enjoyable weekend — there's an amateur class open to anyone willing to hire a camel and a handler with a stick. The professional race runs alongside it. The whole event runs Friday through Sunday and turns the normally quiet town briefly festive.
Outside derby season, Maralal is a quiet stop on the route north toward Lake Turkana. The road conditions beyond here deteriorate significantly, so it's worth checking current conditions before continuing north.