Laikipia, Kenya

The district of Laikipia constitutes a vast plateau, with extensive plains and dramatic escarpments overlooking the Frontier District. The plateau is physically diverse, with large stretches of open savannah, thick forests of cedar, isolated kopjes and rocky hills. It is fed by the Narok and Nyiro Rivers, which sustain life in the region and attract plenty of game.

Running for 200 kilometres south of Laikipia, and forming part of the eastern wall of the Rift Valley, are the Aberdares. This beautiful hill country is the source of great Kenyan rivers such as the Tana.

Wildlife in the region is generally excellent with healthy populations of elephant and assorted plains game, as well as black rhino (over half of Kenya’s black rhino are found in Laikipia) and the world's last remaining northern white rhino.

Wildlife is very much dependent on where you are in Laikipia. Much of the wildlife on the plateau was hunted to near extinction in the 19th-century, but it’s been slowly reintroduced into private conservancies, most of which are fenced and heavily protected. A large number of lodges on the outer regions of the Laikipia plateau, such as Sabuk, offer only limited game-viewing (but excellent walking). On the other hand, those within private conservancies, such as Kicheche Laikipia in Ol Pejeta, offer fabulous game-viewing.

In and around Laikipia, Kenya
Walking safaris and game drives are offered at most lodges in the region. Some lodges, such as Loisaba, also offer horse and camel riding, and the region in general is excellent for hiking and mountain biking once you get away from the wildlife packed conservancies and ranches.

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy offers the best chance of spotting black rhino, while Ol Pejeta is home to the last northern white rhino.

Also of note is the small chimpanzee sanctuary in Ol Pejeta, though the experience here doesn’t compare to seeing chimps in the wild, as is possible in Tanzania.

Finally, Laikipia provides good opportunities to interact with the local Masai and Samburu tribes in an authentic setting. Sabuk Lodge, for instance, offers Samburu-led walking safaris in the basalt hills of Samburu land.

While Laikipia used to primarily attract only the most ardent safari enthusiasts, the region is becoming increasingly popular among first-time safari-goers, too, as the wildlife in the conservancies improves. A few nights here tracking rhino are a great addition to any Kenya safari itinerary. Let us help you plan an itinerary incorporating the best that Laikipia has to offer.