SOUTH ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

The Isle of Mystery

Covered end to end in volcanic ash, the nightly glow of its South Island’s luminous vents has inspired numerous tales of ghosts and evil spirits. The island is home to a profusion of birdlife including 34 species of European migrants most spectacularly viewed as they return home between March and May. At least 23 species breed here, including Goliath heron, and African skimmer, while African open-billed stork, Duck and Gulls feed on the shores and the volcanic island lakes attract lesser flamingos. Birds of prey are also abundant, especially swallow-tailed kites. This park is ideal for game watching and has one of the world’s largest concentrations of crocodiles. South Island, or Hohnel Island (named after Ludwig von Höhnel who helped with Teleki's expedition), is a fissure-formed volcanic island and the largest one out of 3 other major islands in Lake Turkana, Kenya. This volcano was discovered in 1888 while it was erupting by Count Teleki, a Hungarian explorer who led the first expedition into the region. It is a part of the Lake Turkana National Parks, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.