Sibiloi National Park

 park, national park, fossil park

 Upload a photo

in Northern Kenya, is certainly one of East Africa's best-kept secrets. Mostly arid semi desert, commiphora woodland is prevalent. Euphorbia and stunning pink flowers of the desert rose stand out amongst the dark sandstone outcrops. Dry sand rivers lined with shady thorn trees intersect the landscape. Lake Turkana is undoubtedly the most striking feature of this region; algae-inspired shades of green give the lake its name “The Jade Sea”. Lake Turkana is one the largest alkaline lake in the world.

Sibiloi was declared a National Park by the government of Kenya in 1973. This was undertaken primarily to ensure the long-term protection of the many important fossil sites in the area but also to conserve the rare fauna and flora endemic to area. This wildlife includes rare dry country large mammals such as Grevy zebra, gerenuk and oryx.

Sibiloi National Park and Lake Turkana lies at an approximate altitude of 375 meters (1246 feet) above sea level.

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. The combination of wildlife and prehistory makes Sibiloi National Park unique in East Africa and has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The National Park is administered under Kenya Wildlife Service, which falls under the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources.