FACILITIES
Alia Bay Guest House
A unique 3-bedroom, furnished, self-contained house
overlooking Lake Turkana. Located near KWS park
headquarters.
Campsites
Campsites include the "Kampi ya Turkana" by the
lakeshore and two campsites on the Rocondoni laga, a
few kilometers inland from the park headquarters.
The Research Camp, located on the Koobi Fora Spit, has
four dormitories as basic accommodation primarily for
researchers. This is run by the National Museums
of Kenya and can be booked through them in Nairobi. These are
equipped with beds, bedding, mosquito nets and towels.
Three flush toilets and three showers are near the
sleeping bandas and three more flush toilets are
located by the dining/research banda.
The Museum Bandas are located 3 km
south of the main camp, on a bluff overlooking the
lake. These offer a peaceful location and scenic view,
albeit a basic accommodation. A small but excellent
museum is situated nearby and offers insight into the
research and many discoveries made in this region. The three bandas can accommodate up to nine
persons. An outhouse latrine is provided. Visitors
must provide all food and beverages.
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PLANNING YOUR SAFARI AT
SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK
While flying in to visit the Museum and having a
glimpse of the fossil beds can be done in under two
hours, most visitors go away wishing they had spent
more time at Sibiloi. The reasonable rates and
peaceful setting make Sibiloi ideal for a one- or
many-night stay. A few of the possible activities
include:
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Jarigole Pillar Site:
A pre-Iron Age burial complex, this giant mound is
marked by standing pillars of basalt. The rich
assemblages of fragmentary pottery, beads, and bone
have been the objects of excavations by the Koobi
Fora Field School for nearly a decade.
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Sibiloi Fossil Forest:
The flat-topped mesas of Sibiloi Mountain dominate
the skyline at Alia Bay. The mountain is built of
volcanic rocks some 12 million years old, and on the
flanks of the mountain lie the fossilized logs of a
forest buried by a volcanic eruption.
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Karsa Waterhole:
The most reliable of the region's waterholes, Karsa
has always been a stopping point for explorers.
Columnar basalts provide a dramatic backdrop for this
rare pool of standing fresh water. Whether host to the
local baboons and antelopes, or visiting herds of the
local pastoralists, Karsa gives a unique glimpse of
arid-land ecology.
-
Hasuma Forest Bird Walk:
The Hasuma Forest is a gallery forest on the
ephemeral river Il Alia. The largest such river in
the region, it supports stands of Acacia and a thick
undergrowth, rich in bird life. In the wet season,
pools along the river hold catfish and crocodiles.
Walk begins about 1.5 hours south of camp.
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The
Elephant, Crocodile and Tortoise:
The three excavated fossil skeletons are located
about 45 minutes south of camp. The elephant exposes
a nearly complete, 1.9 million-year old relative of
the modern Indian elephant. The Crocodile is an
extinct fish eater, while the giant tortoise may
have been a meal for early humans.
-
Koobi Fora Spit:
For those who want a relaxing walk in the afternoon
sun, the spit offers a pleasant hike with lots of
birdlife and crocodiles. Now nearly four kilometers
long, the tip of the spit is an afternoon project,
but the sandy beaches and views of the volcanic
North Island are enjoyable for any distance.
-
Fish Nest Walking Tour:
A two-hour walking tour beginning 30 minutes south
of camp that provides a nice introduction to the
geology of the area, shows some of the sites where
Meave and Richard Leakey have found fossil humans,
identifies some of the common plants found in the
park, and ends up with fossil fish nests!
-
Karari Archeological Sites:
The Karari Escarpment is located 2 hours north of
camp and is rich in archeological sites between 1.9
and 1.5 million years old. This tour visits two of
the largest excavations, FxJj 20 and 50. While the
excavated tools are now in Nairobi, the sites
provide a unique setting for discussions of the
evolution of tool use and technology.
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