The Ideal Time to Visit Central Island National Park: The Central Island National Park also known as Crocodile Island, is located in northern Kenya in the center of Lake Turkana. The par is encompassing three active volcanoes that belch sulfurous smoke and steam. Three crater lakes, Crocodile Lake, Flamingo Lake, and Tilapia Lake, provide breeding grounds for the world’s largest concentration of Nile crocodiles. The park is relatively small covering an area of approximately 5 square kilometers. The national park was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the largest and most impressive alkaline desert lake in the world.
Central Island National Park is renowned for its prolific concentration of Nile crocodiles and houses the world’s largest population of these reptiles. Additionally, the park is home to over 60 recorded species of fish in the lake including Nile Perch, and large Tilapia. This remarkable national park receives an average altitude of about 355 meters above sea level.
In Lodwar, the typical yearly temperature hovers around 86 Degrees Fahrenheit. During the months of March and October, it gets a bit warmer, reaching averages of 88 Degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, July tends to be the coolest month, with an average temperature of about 84 Degrees Fahrenheit. The overall temperatures remain fairly steady throughout the year.
From December to March, the weather can be scorching hot and dry, while June and July offer a welcome relief with cooler temperatures. The period from May to September is marked by strong winds that blow both in the morning and evening. Rainfall is less than 250 mm per annum and in some places, it may not rain for several years.
If you’re planning a trip to Central Island National Park, the best months to consider are June and July when the weather is more bearable. The heat really kicks in from December to March. Visitors are advised to carry plenty of drinking water and snacks.
For those interested in wildlife, April and May are particularly exciting for visitors to the lake as it’s breeding season for crocodiles. You can hear the tiny hatchlings making sounds as they begin to break free from their eggs, which their parents have carefully hidden to protect them from predators like Monitor Lizards. If you’re lucky, you might witness the amazing moment when the mother crocodiles dig up their young and carry them to the safe shallows of the lake, where they will be closely guarded as they grow.
After observing the crocodiles, don’t miss the chance to hike up to “Flamingo Crater.” The views from the top are stunning, offering a panorama of the beautiful landscape. Here, you can also catch sight of the lovely lesser flamingos, sometimes seen in the thousands against the shimmering waters of Flamingo Lake in the crater.
AMAZING THINGS TO DO AT CENTRAL ISLAND NATIONAL PARK
Visiting this park offers visitors the chance to engage in an exhilarating safari experience such as Sportfishing, Game viewing, Camping, Boat rides, Canoeing and Lake exploration, and Nature trail hiking.
The park also offers additional safari experiences to tourists while on a Kenya wildlife safari in this park, including Evening traditional songs and dances, Sightseeing, Birds and reptiles watching, Kite Surfing, Stargazing, Leisure swimming, white sand beach sun-basking, Donkey, Camel, Bike tour, Prehistoric site tour and Turkana Cultural Village visit among others.
GETTING TO CENTRAL ISLAND NATIONAL PARK
By Road
To reach Central Island National Park from Nairobi, you have a couple of routes to consider. One option is to drive through Marasabit and North Horr, or you could take the route via Maralal and South Horr. Another possibility is heading to Kalokol, which is located along the western shores of Lake Turkana. If you choose this route, you’ll go through Kitale and Lodwar first. Once you arrive in Kalokol, you can rent a boat that will take you directly to the island. There are services available that specialize in boat rentals specifically for this purpose.
The journey from Nairobi to Lake Turkana spans about 554 kilometers, and it’s best to use a 4×4 vehicle since some sections of the road can be rough. Expect the trip to take around 13 hours, so planning for an overnight stop along the way is a good idea to make your journey more comfortable.
By Air Transport
If you prefer to fly, you can book a flight to either Loiyangalani Airport or Lodwar Airport, both of which are close to Lake Turkana. From either airport, you can then take a boat to get to Central Island. These airports are designed to handle flights in all kinds of weather, ensuring you have a reliable option for your trip.
