The Park covers an area of 5 square kilometers and it is tucked on Central Island which is also referred to as Crocodile Island due to the numerous crocodiles it resides. The central Island is an active volcanic island located in the middle of Lake Turkana in Kenya.
The Park on the Island is administered by the Kenya Wildlife Service. The Island offers an unusual spectacular view in Kenya and thus it is of a great excitement that you will get if you visit the Island for untamed scenery after viewing Kenya’s abundant wildlife in Maasai Mara or Amboseli.
Central Island consists of more than a dozen of 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 meters about 190 meters above the lake surface.
The several small islands to the Southeast of the Park represent partially submerged crater rims and other cones and lava plugs lie close to the lake surface near the island. The youngest Central Islands tuffs and lavas may be as young as Holocene (Karson and Curtis, 1992).
Fumarolic activity is concentrated along the Northeast-to-Southeast rim of the central crater and sprays of sulfur from the fumaroles were observed by visitors in the 1930s. In 1974 intense emission of molten sulfur and steam clouds were seen from the mainland.
The Island consists of 12 craters and cones whereby three of them are filled by small lakes such as; Lake Flamingo, Lake Crocodile and Lake Tilapia.
Lake crocodile is the breeding ground for the many Nile crocodiles found at the Central Island well as Lake Flamingo is a home to a large number of flamingos in Central Island national park and Lake Tilapia is the breeding place for many Nile Tilapias at the Island.
Mammals in the Park include; Grevy’s and Burchell’s zebras, Topis, reticulated giraffes, Grant’s gazelles, and many more. The Park is also a home to over 350 bird species including the many flamingos and there is a campsite within the Park offering magnificent views to the smoking craters of the Park and waters of Lake Turkana.
Various activities can be conducted from the Park including the boat cruises while accessing and leaving the Park which will offer you with splendid views to various beautiful Islands situated on Lake Turkana.
Other activities will include; game viewing, bird watching, photographing due to the Island’s good scenery. Turtles can also be viewed from the Island since they are resided in high amounts in Lake Turkana.
The Island is situated at Lake Turkana which is found in the northern region of Kenya in the Kenyan rift valley.
The lake is world’s largest alkaline and permanent desert lake and by volume, it is the world’s fourth largest Salt Lake only next to Caspian Sea, Issyk-kul, and Lake Van.
The lake boosts almost 50 fish species including; cichlids, catfish, robber tetras, Nile tilapia, the Nile perch and many others. Therefore, visitors to Central Island will be able to identify some of the lake’s most caught fish species and if possible, you can have a taste of them.
