Sibiloi National Park is located in the northern part of Kenya on the northeastern shore of Lake Turkana, near the town of Sibiloi. It was established in 1973 by the Kenyan government to conserve the country’s wildlife and paleontological sites. It encompasses 1,570 km2 (610 sq mi) and is worldwide renowned for its fossils, which have been discovered there. Lake Turkana National Parks was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. It is a part of that site.
This national park is located on Lake Turkana’s wild and rugged shores, which is considered the cradle of humankind. Sibiloi National Park is home to numerous archaeological sites, including Koobi Fora. Their fossil remains have contributed more to our understanding of human evolution than any other site on the continent. A semi-desert habitat with broad plains flanked by volcanic formations, such as Mount Sibiloi, where the remains of a petrified forest may be seen, characterizes the region. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife.
Mount Sibiloi, which can be seen from Alia Bay on the park’s southern edge, inspired the name. Campgrounds and short-stay accommodations for visitors are also available. The Koobi Fora Museum is housed within the park headquarters of Kenya Wildlife Service (the park’s governing authority). Located north of the island, the Koobi Fora Spit and the Koobi Fora research Center facilities are only accessible through guided excursions.
The Australopithecus and early Homo fossils found in the park are the most well-known of the park’s archaeological finds. These have been relocated to Nairobi, although there are fossil non-humanoids on show in the museum.