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- Central Island National Park — A volcanic island in the middle of the lake with black lava flows, steaming vents and crater rims you can scramble around. It’s famous for huge colonies of Nile crocodiles and seabird rookeries; short, otherworldly walks here feel almost lunar.
- South Island National Park — Another volcanic island chain with dramatic cones and cliffs; far less visited, so it’s a good spot for quiet wildlife viewing and rugged exploration. Expect raw geology, nesting birds and prime crocodile habitat along the rocky shorelines.
- Koobi Fora fossil beds (Sibiloi) — One of the world’s top paleoanthropology sites where fossils and early stone tools of ancient hominins were found. The badland scenery itself is spectacular; guided walks give context to the digs and make the deep-time
- Central Island National Park — A volcanic island in the middle of the lake with black lava flows, steaming vents and crater rims you can scramble around. It’s famous for huge colonies of Nile crocodiles and seabird rookeries; short, otherworldly walks here feel almost lunar.
- South Island National Park — Another volcanic island chain with dramatic cones and cliffs; far less visited, so it’s a good spot for quiet wildlife viewing and rugged exploration. Expect raw geology, nesting birds and prime crocodile habitat along the rocky shorelines.
- Koobi Fora fossil beds (Sibiloi) — One of the world’s top paleoanthropology sites where fossils and early stone tools of ancient hominins were found. The badland scenery itself is spectacular; guided walks give context to the digs and make the deep-time story tangible.
- Sibiloi shoreline and badlands — The eastern shore offers stark cliffs, salt flats and sculpted badlands that glow at sunrise and sunset. It’s a hauntingly beautiful landscape with pockets of birdlife and easy, worthwhile photo hikes along the coast.
- Eliye Springs and palm-fringed beaches — A surprising stretch of freshwater springs and shady palms on the lake’s western shore — great for camping, cooling off, kayaking and watching impossible Turkana sunsets. It’s also the most comfortable base if you want a bit of creature comfort after remote drives.
- Birdlife and flamingo flats — The lake and its islands attract huge numbers of waterbirds (including flamingos, pelicans and terns) when conditions are right. Birdwatching here is rewarding: big flocks, striking colors and isolated viewing points make for memorable mornings.
- Great Rift scenery & lakeshore drives — The wider Turkana basin is classic Rift Valley: knife-edged escarpments, volcanic outcrops, endless blue water and massive, empty horizons. Even simple drives along the shore deliver dramatic vistas and some of the best sunsets in Kenya.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.