• Home
    • TRAVEL
    • Shop
      • Apparels (Kenya only)
      • Artwork (Kenya only)
      • US & REST OF WORLD
    • BLOG
    • Youtube Channel
    Sign in or Register
    0

    Koobi Fora

    • Call now
    • Bookmark
    • Profile
    • Events
    • Reviews 0
    • prev
    • next
    • Call now
    • Send an email
    • Website
    • Leave a review
    • Bookmark
    • Share
    • Report
    • prev
    • next
    Description

    The Koobi Fora site was gazetted as a national monument in 1972 as the Sibiloi National Park. Koobi Fora refers primarily to the region around Koobi Fora ridge – an outcrop of mainly Pliocene/Pleistocene sediments. It is composed of claystones, siltstones, and sandstones that preserve the numerous fossils of terrestrial mammals, including early hominin species. Koobi Fora lies on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana where a unique wealth of prehistoric remains has been found in an area approximately 90km by 30km extending from Ileret in the north to just south of Allia bay.

    In the language of the Gabbra people who live near near the site, the term ‘Koobi Fora’ means a place of commiphora and the source of myrrh, which is the common plant in this hot and arid area.

    The site is one of the leading prehistoric sites for the study of the evolution of man, and in recognition it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on December 7, 1997. This fossil landscape was first discovered by world renowned palaeontologist, the late Dr. Louis Leakey, from the air when he saw the sediments spanning across the area. Koobi Fora was first explored in 1968 by a team from National Museums of Kenya led by Dr Richard Leakey. He established the Koobi Fora Base Camp on a large sandpit projecting into the lake near the ridge, which he called the Koobi Fora Spit.

    Koobi Fora has yielded plants and animal fossils spanning to over 7 million years ago with hominid fossils from the Plio/Pleistocene period have been found here. This site comprises approximately 700mi² of fluvial and lacustine sediments representing a broadly continuous sequence of deposition from the Pliocene (5.0 million) to the Early Pleistocene (1.0 million) years old.

    Prior to 1960, most of the evidence for the evolution of man during the early Pleistocene was confined to Southern Africa. However, since the earliest excavations at Koobi Fora the greatest body of evidence for early hominid development has been obtained from this site in northern Kenya.

    Video
    Phone Number

    254 721 308485

    Alternative Phone Number

    254 20 374 2131

    Alternative Phone Number
    254 20 374 2131
    AD
  • No comments yet.
  • Add a review

    Leave a Reply · Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Overall Rating

    Hospitality

    Service

    You May Also Be Interested In

    The Great Rift Valley

    The Great Rift Valley is one of the most breathtaking geological features in the world. It measures…
    OPEN

    Mount Suswa Conservancy

    About Mt Suswa Mount Suswa is a dormant shield volcanic mountain that lies in the floor of the Rift…
    OPEN
    • Hiking
    • +5

    Travelers Church Maimahiu

    Maimahiu Catholic Church
    • Attraction
    • +2
    logo round

    Africa Travel Companion

    Instagram Facebook-f Twitter Youtube

    © All rights reserved 2018-2022

    Get Started

    • Find fun activities
    • Find restaurants
    • Find places to stay
    • Blog

    Business Solutions

    • Digital Solutions
    • Content creation
    • marketing video

    Countries

    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Uganda
    • Tanzania
    • Zambia

    Company

    • About Us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Refund Policy

    Cart

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • WhatsApp
      • Telegram
      • LinkedIn
      • Tumblr
      • VKontakte
      • Mail
      • Copy link