Tembea : Sibiloi : Ancient Paradise

Sibiloi National Park is one of Kenya’s hidden secrets. Named for Mount Sibiloi, the Park covers 1,570 square km of wilderness scenic landscape on the shores of Lake Turkana. It is dry, arid and hot but startlingly beautiful with panoramic views of scenic landscapes set in expansive areas of wilderness. From lake shore with water vegetation, hippos, and crocodiles to arid, desert-like lava rock terrain; savanna plains to riverine forest, the park offers a unique variety of landscape. Particularly, along the water’s edge large numbers of Topi and zebra can be seen drinking and grazing on the shoreline grasses and, where jackal and hyena have been sited. Further inland where the landscape opens up offering vast panoramic views, cheetah can seen. Herds of majestic Oryx can be found both near the lake and further inland whilst the long-necked gerenuk are found browsing amongst the euphorbia. The world’s largest Nile crocodile population breeds on Lake Turkana’s Central Island. Sibiloi is also part of the ‘cradle of humanity’, the sites which have been found to contain prehistoric fossils. These include giant tortoises; Behemoth, 45ft long Crocodile, elephant elephas recki and the Petrified Forest. The terrain of Turkana’s lake shore is dry semi desert bush and near desert country. The park is waterless apart from the alkaline waters of the lake. The lakeshore provides important refuge to increasingly threatened crocodile and soft-shelled turtle populations, and serves as an important breeding ground for crocodiles, many different fish species and water birds. Central Island is an extinct volcano that rises out of the middle of Lake Turkana. It is a scenic and dramatic island, some 5 km2 in size. A footpath skirts the perimeters of the three crater lakes and follows the shoreline in places. The path also leads up the northeastern flank of the volcano, past active sulfur and steam vents. Although there is no risk of the volcano erupting today, the smells of sulfur provides impressive indication of the volcanic activity below. Also called “Jade Sea” because of its striking green hues, the Turkana is the largest alkaline lake in the world. The rest of the park is Euphorbia and stunning pink flowers of the desert amongst the dark sandstone outcrops. Dry sand rivers lined with shady thorn trees intersect the landscape.. Lake Turkana is one the largest alkaline lake in the world Accommodation can be found in Lodges and tented camps like the Oasis Lodge, Lobolo Tented Camp, Allia Bay Guesthouse. Campsites: Turkana Campsite, Sunset Strip Camp. Sibiloi is approximately 900 km north of Nairobi, an easy two and a half hour flight in a light aircraft. its northern boundary is only some 40 kilometers from the Kenya/Ethiopia border. The park is a three day drive from Nairobi via Marsabit. Alternatively travel by road from Nairobi to Kalokol on the lake’s western shores, via Kitale and Lodwar. From Kalokol boat hire services are available across the lake to Allia Bay. Ends

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Tembea : Sibiloi : Ancient Paradise