South Island National Park is found on an island in the southern area of Lake Turkana. It is actually the biggest island in the lake covering nearly 3,900 ha with rocky shores, muddy bays with extensive bushes and weed for spawing fish. The south and central islands national park were declared national parks in 1983 and 1985 respectively declared as a UNESCO heritage and managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service. South Island national park is the biggest island in the lake raising nearly 3,900 ha comprising with rocky shores, muddy bays with extensive bushes and weed from spawning fish.
Attractions in South Island national park.
Wildlife.
The island is from the remote Lake Turkana a preserving area for natural wild habitat for both animals and birds, it is covered with vegetation type of spear grass, acacia, woodlands, toothbrush as well as weeds growing on the muddy shores and rocky beds.
Crocodile Kingdom.
This is famous island due to high concentrations of crocodiles which have been existing over millions ago, since this island is found on Lake Turkana and it estimates 12,000 crocodiles, despite their monstrous size and formidable appearance they generally show that are inoffensive creatures living in peace with their conductive environment and feeding on the lake’s prolific fish.
The World’s largest crocodile nursery.
This is hallmark of world’s largest crocodile survival where crocodile do breed on the shores of the island’s crater lakes between April and May. They lay their eggs and burry them deep beneath the sand to escape from the predatory attentions of monitor lizards and raptors. After for a while baby crocodile can be heard squeaking in their eggs. Their cries can bring their mother parents scurrying to dig them out and carry them down to the water’s edge, where they spend their first months as they grow.
Birdlife Haven.
The island is the best spotting area to a profusion of bird life with over 84 water bird species including 34 species of European migrants and are mostly viewed as they return home between March and May. At least 23 European migrants breed here, like Goliath heron, African skimmer, while African open billed stork, Duck and Gulls feed on the shores and volcanic island lakes attract notable lesser flamingos. Prey birds are also abundant here, especially swallow-tailed kites.
Venomous reptiles and prehistorical fish.
Lake Turkana is a place where you can find some of the world’s most venomous reptiles such as saw- scaped viper, night and puff adder and cobra, many species of fish can be seen here including huge Nile perch and large tilapia. Pufferfish are commonly seen in sea water indicate turkana’s prehistoric connection to the Red sea water.
Activities in South island national park.
Fishing.
South Island national park offers the great fishing activity, the park has got 60 recorded species of fish in the lake, this makes the guests to enjoy the activity of fishing as they as being ridden on the boats while fishing on Kenya Safaris .
Game viewing.
South Island national park is a good game viewing destination with a variety of animal species for example the olive baboon, grevy zebra, Grant’s gazelle, Oryx, lesser kudu and the dikdik and among others, these are easily spotted during your game drives, as they bring you closer to the animal species.
Bird watching.
The South Island national park has amazing variety of bird species such as several migrant birds from Somalia and there are more than 84 species recorded in the island park and neighbouring Sibloi National parks, some of the notable species are the greater flamingos, spur winged plover, ringed plover, little stint, African eagle, banded snake eagle, Abyssian ground hornbill all these species can be identifies and observed during your bird watching activity.
Boat riding.
The two- day to Loiyanagalani gives you a grand opportunity to visit south Island national park, that is where the largest Nile Crocodiles reside, and a walk around the island to discover the wonders such as those of an over 30 meters deep crack in the park.
Archaeological safaris.
South Island national park has got the most amazing famous that is the passed/ previous occurrences that your eyes did not see in the times of the act but with the discovery of many of the artifacts that can be studied and we be able to tell on what happened in the past mostly million years ago, the mysteries in the history of mankind are drawn presently closer to you whenever you read or visit, like the rocky shores.
Nature walks.
This activity in South Island national park is done with the help of the game guides as you come closer to the animals within the park as you easily identify them which gives you a great experience in life.
Camping.
This is the most conducive experience of stars in the wild in late night, outdoors, in South Island national park, camping sites are situated inside the park such as South Island National park and among others where you experience your camping safari in the park.
Best time to visit South Island National park.
The best time of the year to visit the park is from October to January which are the driest months while the months of July to August are the cool months in the year.
Where to stay in South Island National Park.
The prominent accommodation facilities for the guests who are to stay in this park include the South Island Campsite, Malabo resort, Lobolo tented camp, Oasis Lodge, National museum of Kenya, Kobi For a, Game trackers campsite, Palm shade camp and sunset strip camp and among others.
Entrance fees in south island national park.
| Category | Citizen (KSH) | Residents (KSH) | Non Residents (USD) |
| Adult | 350 | 600 | 25 |
| Child | 200 | 350 | 15 |
How to get to South Island national park.
South Island national park can be accessed by both road and Air transport.
By Air Transport. Access to Lake Turkana is usually by air and there are two all-weather airstrips also in Loiyangalani, southeastern coast of Lake Turkana.
By Road Transport. The lake is a three day drive from South Horr. Alternatively travel by road from Nairobi to Kalokol on the lake’s western shores, through Kitale and Lodwar, from Kalokol boat hire services are available to south island.
