SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK

The Cradle of Mankind

Sizzling with coos, chirps and a blend of bird melodies, South Island is a haven for water bird species and serves as a stopover for rare migrants. Some of the bird species that breed locally include Goliath heron, African skimmer, white open African billed stork, duck and congregatory birds such as lesser flamingo.

This island is also a UNESCO, Man and the Biosphere (MAB) reserve and Kenya’s Important Bird Areas (IBA) as defined by Birdlife International, as it is a key stopover for 34 species of Palearctic migrant water birds. The lake is a major breeding ground for the Nile crocodile most prevalent in the numerous surrounding sandy beaches, a variety of reptile species including endemic lizards, and including fish.

The Loiyangalani desert museum located 2KM from South Island on top of a hill bears a backdrop of the picturesque Lake Turkana with a display of rich cultural splendor of the eight communities living around Lake Turkana. Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is also a great attraction. This is an annual festival held to celebrate the diverse and rich cultural splendor of the communities living in the area. These include El Molo, Rendille, Samburu, Turkana, Dasanach, Gabbra, Borana, Waata and Burji.

The island offers exciting views of some of the giant crocodiles in history and age old traditional lifestyles. Visitors can enjoy game viewing, camping, walking safaris, picnicking and boat safaris.Sibiloi National Park is located on the wild and rugged shores of Lake Turkana – the cradle of mankind - Sibiloi is home to important archaeological sites including Koobi Fora where the fossil remains have contributed more to the understanding of human evolution than any other site in the continent. The area is characterized by semi-desert habitat and open plains flanked by volcanic formations including Mount Sibiloi, where the remains of a petrified forest can be seen.

The park was named for Mount Sibiloi in view at Alia Bay on the south perimeter. There also is located the park headquarters of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the administering authority; camping and short-stay facilities for visitors; and the Koobi Fora Museum. Koobi Fora Spit with the facilities of the Koobi Fora research Center are to the north, but are accessible through guided tours.

The most famous remains from the park are the Australopithecus and early Homo fossils. These have been moved to Nairobi, but fossil non-humanoids are on display in the museum.