“The Cradle of Mankind”
Sizzling with coos, chirps and a blend of bird melodies, South Island is a haven for water bird species and serves as a stopover for rare migrants. Some of the bird species that breed locally include Goliath heron, African skimmer, white open African billed stork, duck and congregator birds such as lesser flamingo.
This island is also a UNESCO, Man and the Biosphere (MAB) reserve and Kenya’s Important Bird Areas (IBA) as defined by Birdlife International, as it is a key stopover for 34 species of Palearctic migrant water birds. The lake is a major breeding ground for the Nile crocodile, most prevalent in the numerous surrounding sandy beaches, a variety of reptile species including endemic lizards, and fishing.
The Loiyangalani desert museum located 2KM from South Island on top of a hill bears a backdrop of the picturesque Lake Turkana with a display of rich cultural splendor of the eight communities living around Lake Turkana. Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is also a great attraction. This is an annual festival held to celebrate the diverse and rich cultural splendor of the communities living in the area. These include El Molo, Rendille, Samburu, Turkana, Dasanach, Gabbra, Borana, Waata and Burji.
The island offers exciting views of some of the giant crocodiles in history and age-old traditional lifestyles. Visitors can enjoy game viewing, camping, walking safaris, picnicking, and boat safaris.