The Cradle of Mankind
Sibiloi National Park also known as cradle of mankind is a spectacular national park covering 1570 sq kilometers of magnificent landscape sceneries, the park is very important as it has got some of the world’s oldest remains of mankind.
Sibiloi National Park is situated on the eastern shores of the lake, near the Ethiopian border in the North Eastern shore of Lake Turkana which the largest desert lake in the world. Sibiloi National Park, the South Island and Central Island National Parks collectively form the Lake Turkana National Parks.
The Park boasts of significant plant animal and plant species while the flora formed of desert roses, omophoria woodlands, sand rivers, and sand stone out crooks and Europhobia grasslands. Mount Sibiloi stands 1700 meters above sea level, Sibiloi national park is one of not commonly recognized parks but offers a thrilling wilderness experience.
The Park was created to protect the fossil sites, that have contributed more to our understanding of human evolution than any other area on the planet so far. The Koobi Fora Region is the centre of archaeological, paleontological and geological interest. The movements of the earth, human origins and mammalian evolution over the last 4 million years have been documented and studied at many sites, but the most exciting part is that there is still a massive land area with fossil exposures that has yet to be explored.
Over the last 30 years, a Petrified Forest has been discovered and thousands of fossils brought to light, including more than 300 hominid specimens plus the remains of a giant Crocodile, Tortoise and Elephant. Dr Richard Leakey unearthed an ancient skull of an early human at this site and since then Sibiloi and the Turkana Basin have been the centre of scientific study and research.
Wildlife
The Park is extremely hot and arid, yet it protects a range of wildlife such as Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk and greater Kudu. Other species include a comprehensive range of predators namely Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Striped and Spotted Hyena, Jackal and Caracal to name a few. Central Island is a major breeding ground for Nile Crocodile.
Birdlife is prolific with more than 300 species recorded around Lake Turkana. This number increases during the summer months when migrant species arrive. The alkaline lake is not suitable for many species, but Flamingos and Pelicans love the algae in the water and the salty environment. A variety of water birds including African Skimmers, Herons and Gulls can be spotted on the shoreline and the park is also home to local species such as the Crested Lark and Heuglin’s Bustard.
Lake Turkana
Lake Turka na is the world largest desert lake and the largest alkaline lake in Africa. The lake colour changes due to algae growth and the shifting winds; changing colours from grey to blue to jade.
The petrified Forest
The petrified forest in Sibiloi National Park is definitely one of Kenya’s hidden gems. Get to experience life in this middle-of-nowhere in Kenya’s northern frontier. The remoteness undoubtedly adds to the charm of the destination.
Culture
Experience the unique african culture by visiting the turkana, dassanach and gabbra tribes. This tribes have a lot to offer from their different cultural values and their way of life.
Koobi Fora Museum
In the language of the Gabbra people who live near the site, the term Koobi Fora means a place of the commiphora and the source of myrrh, which is a common plant in this hot and arid area. The Koobi for a museum boasts with Australophecus and homo fossils that explain the evolution of mankind than any other site in the continent, the discovery of fossils is evidence that humans were present two million years ago. There is also an elephant fossil dating 1.7 million years ago as well as a giant tortoise of 1.6 million years ago.
