Book Flights to Lodwar

Lodwar – Kenya

Lodwar is a desert town with strong winds in the far northwest of Kenya, on the western side of Lake Turkana. Lake Turkana is the fourth largest lake in Africa and the biggest desert lake in the world. It is also called the Jade Sea due to its turquoise colour and the area is often called the Cradle of Mankind due to the many fossilised hominids that have been found here.

Lodwar can potentially be used as a starting point to explore the three national parks, all of which will require a boat trip to be organised. Two of the national parks are islands: Central and South Island. And the other national park lies on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana, Sibiloi National Park.

Book your cheap flight to Lodwar on Tripindigo today to marvel at the ancient fossils of the Turkana area and visit the islands of the beautiful Lake Turkana.

Why visit Lodwar?

Watch the women weave baskets, a local specialty
Feel dwarfed by the size of Lake Turkana, also known as the Jade Sea due to its amazing colour
Visit Central Island, one of the national parks, the most important breeding ground for Nile crocodiles
Try to visualise the origins of man at Sibiloi National Park and the Cradle of Mankind (Koobi Fora)
Visit the dancing stones of Namortung’a, a cemetery with more than a hundred burials marked with standing stone circles, some as high as 2m, some decorated with rock art

Overview

Time zone: UTC / GMT +3
Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KSh, often written as =/)
Driving: left-hand side of the road.
Power Outlets: 220V-240V 50Hz. Plug types are ‘Type D & G (British)’
Closest airport: Lodwar Airport (LOK).
Local Tribes: the Turkana people, most still very traditional, believe in a god of skies called Akuj. When there are any problems like droughts they call upon Akuj.

Best time to visit

The average annual temperature of Lodwar is one of the highest in the world (nearly 29°C / 84.2°F) and the annual rainfall is only around 186mm (7.32in). This means Lodwar is best visited in the cooler winter months of April to September, but even then the temperatures are high in this desert town.

Sights and sounds

Lodwar is a very small town with not much happening in a rugged and extreme desert environment. At the local market, you can watch the women weave baskets. Near Lodwar is a mysterious site called Namortung’a, or the dancing stones, where the Turkana people gather once a year, usually in December.

The major attractions in the area can be reached from Lodwar, but require quite some planning. It is however very much worth the effort. Lake Turkana with its beautiful jade colour is home to 3 national parks and is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is an important stopping point for migratory birds and an important breeding ground for the Nile crocodile.

The 3 national parks are South Island, Central Island and Sibiloi. Sibiloi National Park is famous for Koobi Fora, a site where many early hominid (human) fossils were found, including the world famous, nearly complete skeleton of Turkana Boy and Skull 1470 which is nearly 2 million years old.

Dining and Dietary Considerations

Lodwar is a small town and has a limited selection of places to eat. The local staple is goat and fish for those living closer to Lake Turkana.

All fruit and vegetables, drinks and general things come from Kitale, without this supply line the town Lodwar would not exist.

The name Lodwar means ‘bitter thing’ and refers to a bitter fruit found in the area and favoured by locals, it needs to be boiled several times before it can be eaten.

Religious and Cultural considerations

The majority of the Turkana people believe in their god of skies Akuj, some have converted to Christians, but the majority still live a traditional life with traditional values.

When photographing people, always ask permission first and agree on payment if required.

Cost of Living

Lodwar has facilities, but the choice is limited and can be expensive. This is true for accommodation, transport, food and excursions.

This is what you can expect to pay in Kenya for:

Domestic beer (0.5-litre bottle) in a supermarket – 175KSh
Imported beer in a supermarket (0.33-litre bottle) – 223KSh
Pack of cigarettes (Marlboro) – 200Ksh
A bottle of coca cola / pepsi (0.33-litre bottle) – 52KSh
A small bottle of water (0.33-litre bottle) – 44KSh

DID YOU KNOW?

The first president of Kenya was kept under house arrest in Lodwar for 2 years prior to independence.
Some of the world’s oldest human remains were found in the Turkana region, as well as fossils of ancient animals.
The largest wind farm in Africa is being built on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana.

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