Lake Turkana Attractions

Extinct volcanoes and lava beds surround Lake Turkana, also known as the Jade Sea. The nickname for Lake Turkana is due to algae particles which shift with changes to the wind and light, so the water surface moves from blue to gray to jade.

Turkana is the largest desert lake in the world and the surroundings are steeped in prehistoric history. In 1888 an Austrian explorer came across human skulls and bones in Turkana. Richard Leakey excavated fossil remains, eighty years later that dated back three million years.

Lake Turkana is home to thousands of crocodiles, hippos and more than 40 different species of fish. Enormous Nile perch have been spotted in the lake and the Nile tilapia are caught for commercial purposes. Many species of birds have been sighted around Lake Turkana, including many migratory species from Europe as they travel home between March and May.

Several tribal groups have adjusted to the harsh climate around Lake Turkana including the Turkana, Rendille, Gabra, and El Molo. The Turkana are semi-nomatic while the El Molo live as hunter-gatherers.