Central Island National Park

Central Island National Park is approximately 5 square kilometres in size, but it is so visually and archaeologically unique that it is a must-see on every adventurer’s Kenya itinerary.  Central Island rises starkly above the emerald waters of Lake Turkana, the largest permanent desert lake in the world, and is composed of three hissing and belching active volcanoes and many smaller volcanic cones.  Each of the volcanoes houses a crater lake, making Central Island the only place where you have the remarkable opportunity to view lakes within a lake!

Lake Turkana is a saline water lake and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Central Island is one of three National Parks (the other two are the Sibiloi National Park and Southern Island National Park) situated on Lake Turkana, and together these three parks provide an incredible store-house of archaeological and paleontological sites, making Lake Turkana and her Islands a treasure-trove of fossils and other deposits required for the study of plant and animal communities.   In addition, Central Island provides a major breeding ground for Nile Crocodiles and many species of water birds. 

The three major crater lakes on Central Island are known as Crocodile Lake, Flamingo Lake and Tilapia Lake respectively, and each of these provide a perfect breeding ground for the animal it is named after

Activities in Central Island

• Bird watching-for birders they are well catered for because central island acts has a home to many species including 84 species of water birds. This population is joined by about 34 species of European migrants, which are most successfully viewed here during March and May when they return to the island to rest and breed.  Some of the species you are likely to see around the fresh water lakes include: African Skimmer, Goliath and Grey Herons, Little and Great White Egrets, Sacred Ibis, Egyptian Geese, Osprey and Swallow-tailed Kites
• Crocodile watching- Central Island is Africa’s largest and most accessible natural Crocodile nursery. Here live in harmony with Nature as they have done for over 130 million years.  Some of them are immense, growing to several meters in length, and to ensure your safety you will be accompanied by an armed guard while you walk on the island. The main breeding time is between April and May, when hundreds of baby Crocs can be heard squeaking in their eggs, which the parents have buried under the sand or in burrows along the shores of Crocodile Island. If you are lucky enough to be there at the right time, it is an amazing sight to watch!  The cries of the babies quickly gain the attention of the parents who come and dig up the eggs and carry the babies to the shallows of the lake, where they will be closely guarded for the first few months of their lives.
• Hiking- Although the entire island is great for hikers, offering interesting sights all along the way, and a climb to the top of “Flamingo Crater” will reward you with one of the most arresting views in Africa.