Super User 19 July 2023

Best Travel Guide To Lake Turkana Tribes In Northern Kenya

Surrounded by arid, harsh terrain, Lake Turkana is the largest permanent desert lake in the world—stretching almost 250 kilometers (155 miles) from north to south. The lake is also known for its striking turquoise color, leading to its nickname, the "Jade Sea."

Lake Turkana, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is the largest alkaline lake in the world, and the largest lake of any kind in a desert. The area is inhospitable but eerily beautiful, and the lake’s three islands are a stopover for migrant birds and a breeding site for crocodiles and hippos. Scenery, cultural visits, and bird watching are the main attractions. There are big mammals in Sibiloi National Park on the shore of the lake.

Location of Lake Turkana in Kenya;

Lake Turkana formerly known as Lake Rudolf is located in northern Kenya, in the Kenyan Rift Valley. It’s the world’s largest permanent desert lake, the world’s largest alkaline lake, and the world’s fourth-largest saline lake. The lake covers an area of over 2,473 sq. miles (6,405 sq. km) and its northern end stretches into Ethiopia.

Lake Turkana Features;

The lake is predominantly surrounded by Volcanic rocks with outcrops and rocky shores on the east and south, while dunes, spits, and mudflats cover the west and north shores at a lower elevation. Three rivers flow into the lake, Omo River, Turkwel, and Kerio River but lack an outflow and the lake’s waters are slightly brackish with high levels of fluoride rendering it unsuitable. Violent storms suddenly frequent the lake, making its navigation dangerous. The lake’s three main islands, North, Central, and South are all volcanic.

Lake Turkana is the only lake that retains waters originating from two separate catchment areas of the Nile, its drainage basin draws its waters mainly from Kenya highlands and Ethiopian highlands. Lake Turkana also has a rift valley feature, its long body drops down along the rift valley from the Ethiopian border, extending 249 km from north to south and 44 km at its widest point with a depth of 30 meters.

Lake Turkana has three gazetted national parks; Sibiloi National Park located on the eastern shores, and South Island and Central Island National Parks located within the lake all covering an area of over 161,485 hectares in the Lake Turkana basin. The Island parks are breeding places for Nile crocodiles, Hippos, and several snakes.

Wildlife in Lake Turkana Area;

Mammals

Lake Turkana’s three national parks are habitats for vast wildlife. There are several mammal species such as Grevy’s zebra, Burchell’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Grant’s gazelle, Topi, Giraffe, Lions, Cheetah, and others.

Reptiles

The lake is home to several reptiles such as the Nile crocodiles, large water turtles in the areas of Central Island, and Mud turtles that are endemic to the lake. The rocky shores are a habitat for scorpions and carpet vipers.

Birds

Lake Turkana is home to several bird species native to Kenya and also serves as a flyway for migrating birds such as the Wood sandpiper, little stint, African skimmer, Common sandpiper, White-breasted cormorant, Greater flamingo, Heuglin’s bustard, and others.

Fish

Lake Turkana is also a habitat to several fish species such as Nile tilapia, Mango tilapia, Elephant fish, African Arowana, Nile perch, African knife fish, Bichirs, Catfish, Rudolf latest, Lampeyes, Robber tetras, Barb, Cichlids, and many others.

Why Visit Lake Turkana?

There are plenty of great things to do in Kenya and a visit to the Central Island will give visitors a unique insight into the importance of the waterways and ancient fishing practices the Turkana people have used for generations.

The walks to the nearby villages will also allow for an opportunity to meet the Turkana people where you’ll learn about everything from dinosaurs to our ancient ancestors.

It also combines wildlife, mountains, lakes, ancient forests, and ancient people in one of the world’s last real wildernesses. This is a fully guided trip and an experience of a lifetime.

A safari journey will take guests from rough African roads to the picturesque Lake Turkana basin and the stark Chalbi Desert, then onto lush Marsabit National Park and the game-rich Samburu National Reserve, traveling by 4×4 Land Cruiser or overland truck.

Encounter the fascinating traditional cultures of northern Kenya meeting nomadic pastoralists of the Samburu, Gabbra, Rendille, and Turkana tribes on this rugged adventure.

Other activities at Lake Turkana;

Lake Turkana walking safaris: Explore the nature wildlife on foot, an authentic and economical means of exploring wildlife in Lake Turkana.
Photography safari tours: Visitors on a photo safari can share a photography tour with like-minded individuals and capture their favorite moments.
Tours: Visitors can connect with the local Turkana community by the Omo River, known for their pastoralism, hunting, and fishing in this body of water. They keep cattle, goats, camels, sheep, and poultry, especially ducks, providing food and clothing items.

Other Important Features in Lake Turkana Area;

Hominid fossils have also been discovered in the areas surrounding the lake such as the Kobi Fora site along the western shores and the Nataruk site along the eastern shores containing pre-human, molluscan, mammalian, and other fossil remains all providing more insight into the way early humans thrived and survived the inconsistent climate along the lake shores and beyond.

Tribes living within the Turkana Area;

Lake Turkana's surrounding areas are also home to people of different tribes and cultures. Some of the people living around Lake Turkana include the Turkana, Pokot, Rendille, Samburu, and the smallest tribe of El Molo. Their main activities include pastoralism, fishing, and hunting.

How to get to Lake Turkana?

By Air

Lake Turkana is typically reached via charter flight from Nairobi to scheduled flights to Lodwar on the western side of the lake. International flights arrive via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) for visitors wondering how to get to Kenya.

NBO airport is located 15km/9 mi southeast of Nairobi and a Kenya visa will most likely be required to enter the country.

By Road

Located 670km northwest of Nairobi, a road journey from the capital would take over 13 hours drive time.

Lake Turkana is therefore worth a visit, arrange with ULTIMATE WILD SAFARIS to enjoy this great expedition in the wilderness of Africa.

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