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Lake Turkana

Well off the regular tourist trail the beautiful 'Jade Sea' or Lake Turkana, will provide a great adventure for those game enough to endure this experience of a lifetime. The roads are rough, the distances vast, and there are few 'mod cons'.

Lake Turkana is around 800 km north of Nairobi, in possibly Kenya's most arid, remote and inhospitable area. This is Kenya's largest lake and it runs a long narrow path north south for approximately 250km. The lake is home to large populations of flamingos, hippo and reportedly Africa's largest population of Nile crocodile.

The lake abounds with wildlife both living in the water and in the various national parks around the shore and on islands within the lake. The stark arid semi-desert scenery is beautiful and the Turkana people are colourful and unique.

Another one of Kenya's bird-watching paradises, there are around 350 species recorded in this area including flamingo, bustard, bee-eater, sandgrouse, kestrel, Somali ostrich, stork, crane, heron, duck, gull - as well as many migratory birds.

It is also thought that the lake was once part of the Red Sea because of puffer fish which are found in the lake who normally live exclusively in salt water - and in another couple of million years if the Rift Valley continues to drop the Red Sea may flow there again.

Although the region is reasonably safe, we do not advise independent travel to Northern Kenya. This part of the country has not reliable transport links and is best seen on an organised safari with a reputable company experienced in the tours to this area.  

Sibiloi National Park

Just north of Turkana is Sibiloi National Park which covers 1570sq km of wilderness on the shores of Lake Turkana.

The park was partially established through the initiative of National Museums of Kenya to protect unique prehistoric and archeological sites - some of which are linked to the origin of man. Some of the unique fossils found here include a crocodile Euthecodon brumpti, giant tortoile Petusios broadleyi, elephant Elephas recki and a petrified forest.

The park is waterless apart from the alkaline waters of the lake, but is home to masses of animals including lion, cheetah, oryx, zebra, kudu, gerenuk, dik dik, hartebeest, hyena and jackal.

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