Main attractions
The harsh and remote Lake Turkana area rewards visitors with a range of sensational off-the-beaten-track destinations.
- Visit the cradle of mankind, including a small but interesting museum at Koobi Fora to learn more about the origin of mankind.
- Admire the amazing landscapes and local rock art.
- Imagine the forest that once stood here and has left petrified trees that are 7 million years old.
- Immerse yourself in the culture of the different tribes in Kenya, including one of its smallest, El Molo, who live on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana.
- Try to find the ancient fossils of a predecessor of the elephant, a huge tortoise and an extinct type of crocodile.
- Exploring the islands of Lake Turkana.
Explore the cradle of mankind and the small museum at Koobi Fora
Sibiloi National Park is where they discovered some of the oldest hominid (human) fossils in the world. There is a small museum at Koobi Fora and you can visit some of the sites where ancient animal fossils have been excavated.
Step back in time and enjoy the ancient rock art in the stunning landscapes
The area surrounding Lake Turkana is mostly rocky with splashes of pink when the desert rose is flowering. There are many rocky outcrops and with luck (or a good guide) you can find ancient rock art in several places.
Petrified forest in Sibiloi National Park
It is hard to imagine the forest that once grew on the shores of this enormous lake, but the petrified trees are proof that the climate used to be very different here. The trees are 7 million years old and worth a visit.
Different tribes of northern Kenya
Cultural visits can be organised in the area to gain an understanding of life for the different tribes who live around the lake.
Try to find the ancient animal fossils in situ
In Sibiloi National Park many fossils have been found. The little museum shows copies of the most important finds, which include some of the oldest human fossils in the world. But ancient creatures were also found and those fossils were left in situ. Taking a guide from the museum is necessary to find the fossils as they are located in the middle of nowhere.
Explore the islands of Lake Turkana
Central Island is made up of three active volcanoes with three crater lakes. A walk or boat cruise with different stops around the island is a must to see Crocodile Lake, Flamingo Lake, and Tilapia Lake, which provide breeding grounds for the Nile crocodile. Small and large crocodiles, as well as turtles, can be seen swimming in the lakes.
South Island is also a breeding ground for crocodiles as well as hippo and several venomous snakes, access is difficult.
Make sure you book a reliable boat for the trip to Central Island and South Island as the lake can get very rough.
