Central Island National Park is the furthest National park about 800 kilometers away from Nairobi the park sits on the blue-green waters of Lake Turkana, the largest permanent desert lake in the world. The Central Island National Park is made up of three active volcanoes that emit sulfurous smoke and steam. There are also, Three crater lakes, Crocodile Lake, Flamingo Lake, and Tilapia Lake, providing breeding grounds for the world’s largest population of Nile crocodiles. Central Island National Park has a campsite where visitors can enjoy the beauty of the only desert lake in the world.

The park has a black lava beach while the moon rises over the menacingly smoking craters. Central Island, is one of the smallest national parks in Kenya also referred to as Crocodile Island. It is a volcanic island located in the middle of Lake Turkana in Kenya. It is also the location of Central Island National Park, which is governed by the Kenya Wildlife Service. The island is made up of more than a dozen craters and cones, three of which are filled by small lakes. The two largest lakes partially fill craters up to a kilometer wide and about 80 meters deep, the floors of which are near sea level. The highest point on the dominantly basaltic island reaches 550 metres about 190 metres above the lake surface. An East to West trending chain of small explosion craters cuts the eastern side of the 3-kilometres wide island. Several small islands represent partially submerged crater rims, and other cones and lava plugs lie beneath the lake surface near the island

Climate:

Scorching hot and arid (especially December-March) June and July are the coolest months. May-September very strong winds blow both morning and evening. Rainfall is less than 250 mm pa and in some places, it may not rain for several years.

Vegetation

The vegetation is scant, but some of the sheltered areas are overgrown with thick grass and bushes for a short period each year.

Wildlife

The islands are home to hippos, bats, and the world’s largest Nile crocodile population.

Birds

More than 350 recorded species including large flocks of flamingos.

Attractions

Crocodile Kingdom

Survivors of an epoch long before mankind, Lake Turkana’s estimated 12,000 crocodiles have not changed in 130 million years. Despite their monstrous size and formidable appearance, they are generally inoffensive creatures living in perfect harmony with their environment and feeding on the lake’s prolific fish.

The world’s largest crocodile nursery

Crocodiles breed on the shores of the island’s crater lakes between April and May. The baby crocodiles can be heard squeaking in their eggs, which are buried deep beneath the sand to escape the predatory attentions of monitor lizards and raptors. Their cries bring their parents scurrying to dig them out and carry them down to the water’s edge, where they spend their first months.

Venomous reptiles and prehistoric fish

Turkana is home to some of the world’s most venomous reptiles, including saw-scaled viper, night and puff adder, and cobra

How to get there

  • By Air: Access to Lake Turkana is usually by air and there are two all-weather airstrips. Also in Loiyangalani
  • By road: The Lake is a three-day drive from Nairobi via Marsabit and North Horr, or Maralal and South Horr. 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 to Central Island.

Central Island N. Park is almost in the middle of Lake Turkana, The Jade Sea. It’s a designated world heritage site and covers an area of about 5sqkms. Emerging starkly from the blue-green waters of the largest permanent desert lake in the world, Lake Turkana, the Central Island is made up of three active volcanoes that belch sulfurous smoke and steam. Out of this, Several craters have merged to form three crater lakes namely; Crocodile, Flamingo, and Tilapia Lakes. The lakes provide conducive breeding grounds for the world’s largest concentration of Nile crocodiles and are home to thousands of endemic fish

The world’s largest crocodile nursery

The Crocodiles breed on the shores of the island’s crater lakes between April and May. The baby crocodiles can be heard squeaking in their eggs, which are buried deep beneath the sand to escape the predatory attentions of monitor lizards and raptors. Their cries bring their parents scurrying to dig them out and carry them down to the water’s edge, where they spend their first months.

Reptiles and Fish

Turkana is known to be home to some of the world’s most venomous reptiles, including saw-scaled viper, night and puff adder, and cobra. There are also many species of fish including huge Nile perch and large tilapia. Pufferfish, a type which is normally found in seawater.

Birdlife

The islands are home to a profusion of birdlife (over 84 water bird species), including 34 species of European migrants most spectacularly viewed as they return home between March and May. At least 23 species breed here, including the Goliath heron, and African skimmer, while African open-billed storks, Ducks and Gulls feed on the shores and the volcanic island lakes attract lesser flamingos. Birds of prey are also abundant, especially swallow-tailed kites.

Park Entry fee

Adult                     Child

Citizen                 kshs 300                  kshs 125

Resident             kshs 300                   kshs 125

Non-resident     22USD                         13USD

The best time to visit Central Island National Park

The best time to visit Central Island National Park is in June and July when the temperatures are moderately cooler. From December to March, it is Scorching hot and extremely arid. Tourists are advised to carry plenty of drinking water and snacks.

Activities done in Central Island National Park

Bird watching

The Central Island National Park is home to more than  350 bird species,84 of them are water species others are residential and migratory which include; the Goliath heron, African skimmers, grey heron, Egyptian geese, great egrets, sacred ibis, fewer egrets, Osprey, swallow-tailed kites many more.

Boat rides

There are boat rides from the shores of the lake which offer guests which reward the visitors a wonderful, unique view of aquatic animals and some water birds.

Game viewing 

The park is small in size but it gives a taste of how Kenya is rich with diverse wildlife in a Kenya wildlife safari experience like no other. The park hosts game animals such as hippos, topis, Gravis Zebra, grant gazelles, crocodiles, and Oryx. Tourists are advised to be accompanied by armed guides due to the high population of crocodiles.

Nature walks

They are guided nature walks and wonderful hiking on the island’s highest elevation which has views of the magnificent lakes and scenery, tourists hiking to the top of the flamingo crater will come across many interesting sites on the way and most importantly breathtaking views of the whole park, and the case the butterflies, dragonflies, and insects are also to be expected.

Camping

This is a perfect place to camp in Kenya because of the park’s unique location which makes it the most stunning and amazing activity done in the park where you are exposed to nature in the park and also have incredible views of the lakes.

Accommodations at Central Island National Park

While at Central Island National Park there is no accommodation inside the island apart from a campsite, the other accommodation sectors are on the mainland such as :Eliye Springs Resort, Malabo Resort,  Oasis Lodge among others offering midrange, economy to the most luxurious facilities