Attractions in Turkana County
12. Cradle Tented Camp
To the same degree and equally impressive in the growing index of resorts is the award-winning Cradle Tented Camp christened “an oasis of peace and comfort in Turkana County.” Its 20-detached bandas are set-up on a 16-acres property just a short distance south of the banks of Turkwel River and 4 kms southeast of Lodwar Town. The area is interspersed with fine acacia trees, manicured lawns and flourishing gardens, earning it a reputation for being a tranquil and idyllic paradise in the middle of the arid Turkana. One of the eye-catching features at the Cradle Tented Camp is the sprawling pool, enjoyed as a stupendous comfy chaises where guests can surround themselves with the cool cobalt blue waters and escape the heat. Cradle Tented Camp is within easy reach of Central Island National Parks, Turkana Boy, and Eliye Springs. It is located along Kerio Road.
13. Turkana Films
Turkana Films, a media and film start-up earnestly focused on documenting the a-gogo and galore touring resources in Turkana County and the diverse cultural diversity found across the untravelled Turkana County, is a useful stopover for adventure-makers looking for information and history of the area. At Turkana Films there is an elaborate exposition of photographs, insightful reads and even catchy documentary films illustrating both people and places. It also has fully-functioning stand-alone filming project, media school, workshops and cultural chronicles. Turkana Films is found within Republican House in Lodwar Town.
14. Eliye Springs
Eliye Springs is the most distinguished and progressive lakeshore along Lake Turkana’s 250 kms shore. It’s said the sun and sand here is as salubrious as any and matches-up well to the 512 kms shore at the Coast Region of Kenya. Here, away from mass tourism and congestion, the beach is far prettier, secluded and perhaps even more indulgent considering the sheer element of surprise. One of the earliest and well-reputed destinations at Eliye Springs is the Eliye Springs Resort, exemplified by its woven palm-frond traditional hut bandas, which pays homage to the traditional designs of the Turkana Community. Situated on the western flank of Lake Turkana near River Turkwel, Eliye Springs has steadily grown in popularity over the last decade not least for its virgin sandy shores, superb sunsets, cultural passages and its proximity to many areas of interest. It is also a place of unprecedented tranquility. From Lodwar the junction to Eliye is just 10 kms en-route Kalokol. Away from Eliye Springs a ring road rejoins the Lodwar-Kalokol Road nearby Namoratunga. It’s located 60 kms east of Lodwar.
15. Lobolo Swamp
10 kms north of Eliye Springs and just south of Kalokol sits the Lobolo Swamp, transitioning the west shores of Lake Turkana. This is known for its springs that support a palm groove at the littoral and a plenitude of birds, particularly of the flamingos. But even without the flamingos the remaining birdlife is still lovely. Lobolo Swamp makes for a lovely afternoon’s walk for trippers staying at the 8-safari-tents Lobolo Camp. Since 1990 this has also been a fisherman’s retreat. “They have a specially outfitted 30 foot boat for sport fishing, with slots for 4 fishing rods and a shaded area to patiently wait during the hunt and a large space that allows the thrill of the hook and excitement of reeling in the catch without obstruction”. It is also within reach of Eliye Springs and Central Island.
16. Namoratunga Dancing Stones
Namoratunga, a term which loosely describes a number of stone pillar sites in Turkana County marked by large upright stones, is specially associated with the Namoratunga Dancing Stones Pillar Site situated on the eastern side of Losidok Hill about 25 kms from Kalokol. Initially documented by Mark Lynch and L.H. Robbinsp in 1978 and dated back to around 300 BC, Namoratunga Dancing Stones Site holds 19 basalt pillars, surprisingly aligned with seven star systems – Triangulum, Pleiades, Bellatrix, Aldebaran, Central Orion, Saiph and Sirius. In Turkana mythology the mysterious and fascinating Namoratunga Dancing Stones, nicknamed ‘the miniature Stonehenge of Kenya’, represent dancers who were turned to stone after they mocked a malevolent spirit. Also of interest at this site is a grave partially circled by upright stones indicative that a complete circle of stone cobbles may have once formed an intricate inner circle. This site appears to have some striking similarities to the Jarigole Pillar Site in Marsabit and especially in the use of large basalt pillars. Both these the pillar sites appear to have had great social importance for centuries after their construction began.
Also known as the Kalokol Pillar Site, this special ring of huge basalt stones that stands over a platform of smaller rounded stones is a stone monument thought to depict the astrological know-how of the hunter-gather people that resided here hundred of years ago. The Kalokol Pillars were lugged in by dedicated herdsmen. The small piles on top are recent, left by latter day folks and passersby as an emblem of respect. Kalokol is found 58 kms from Lodwar.
17. Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana is the largest and most saline lake in Kenya’s Lake System in the Great Rift Valley. Spread over 250 kms long and 30 kms wide it is the world’s largest desert lake covering a mind-boggling 7,000 km2. With no outlets and a high evaporation rate it increases in salinity year-in year-out as a result of the depositing of salt in its soil and capping on the surface-river. Lake Turkana is principally fed by the River Omo from Ethiopia and Rivers Turkwel and Kerio. Originally dubbed as Lake Rudolf and renamed after the native Turkana, Lake Turkana, lying on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, was formed by faulting. No amount of infographics quite prepares anyone for the surprise of Lake Turkana. Perhaps, the most exciting and most memorable way to explore this oddity it to cruise along the shore by boat. There are three exceptional National Parks in and along its bays – the Sibiloi National Park, Central Island and South Island National Parks – which are all listed within the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Lake Turkana National Parks. It’s located 800 kms from Nairobi.
18. Lake Turkana Fishing Lodge
There are few things creepier than an abandoned building, yet, arriving at Lake Turkana Fishing Lodge (also known as Ferguson’s Gulf Fishing Lodge) nearby Kalokol is akin to visiting an institution. The dissipating lodge lying on a split at the mouth of Ferguson Gulf and surrounded by water on three sides was a thing of beauty and a splendid fishing base widely-popular among anglers on fishing expeditions and explorers visiting Central Island National Park. And there was nothing pretentious about the rustic simplicity of Lake Turkana Fishing Lodge. Unobtrusively glam and in harmony with the landscape, the six-wooden-cabin bandas were outfitted with a thatched-roof that extended to form a sun-awning deck. It is, perhaps, needless to point out that the star-gazing here was glorious.
