Koobi Fora

Koobi Fora largely refers to the area surrounding Koobi Fora Ridge, which is located on the eastern coast of Lake Turkana in the nomadic Gabbra homeland. The ridge is composed primarily of Pliocene/Pleistocene sediments. It is made up of claystones, siltstones, and sandstones, which have preserved many fossils of terrestrial mammals, including early hominin species. A number of ephemeral rivers that pour into the northeast portion of present Lake Turkana are currently eroding the ridge into badlands topography. Richard Leakey created the Koobi Fora Base Camp in 1968 on the Koobi Fora Spit, a wide sand spit jutting into the lake near the ridge.

As a result, the Kenyan government designated the area as Sibiloi National Park in 1973, building a headquarters for the National Museums of Kenya on Koobi Fora Spit. The reserve is well-kept and well-protected by friendly but armed park police. The preservation of areas, particularly wildlife, is a top priority. The Koobi Fora Research Project (KFRP), which interacts with a variety of interesting colleges and individuals from around the world, continues to explore and excavate.

Previously, the term Koobi Fora was used to refer to one or two early sites or the sand spit. Today, it can refer to any or all locations inside Sibiloi National Park. East Turkana has also come into use with a broader meaning.

Location: the northeastern shores of Lake Turkana, Kenya