The high plains of Laikipia provide some of the finest safari experiences in Kenya, as well as many of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories.
Local Maasai communities offer rewarding cultural encounters, and small-scale, luxury safaris come courtesy of renowned destinations such as Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Ol Pejeta Conservancy, both of which have thriving populations of black and white rhino. While it doesn’t rival the Maasai Mara in sheer volume of wildlife, Laikipia is certainly its equal in diversity.
Location: 3 hours’ drive north of Nairobi in central Kenya
To the northeast of the Great Rift Valley, the vast Laikipia region is a composition of beguiling and distinctive habitats, where private conservancies such as Ol Pejeta and Lewa provide a safe habitat for some of Africa’s rarest animals, including Black rhino, Grevy’s zebra and cheetah.
Consequently, safari holidays in Laikipia will usually take a small-scale approach, focusing on luxury boutique accommodations and adventurous experiences that focus on conservation efforts and community engagement. Laikipia safaris offer all of the drama of the Maasai Mara, alongside the knowledge that you are supporting Kenya’s most successful wildlife sanctuaries.
Dominating the plains of Laikipia, Mt. Kenya is an ancient stratovolcano that forms the centrepiece of a national park, and the second-highest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro. The mountain has several peaks, of which Point Lenana is the highest that can be reached by walking, while others such as Batian and Nelion require rock climbing equipment.
Organised, guided treks take you through some of Kenya’s finest hillwalking terrain, from moorland to forest, with exceptional views over Laikipia and even as far as Kilimanjaro on a clear day. Mt. Kenya mountain climbing can be undertaken all year-round depending on the route you choose, but the dry season is most suitable for those with less experience.
Just a few hours from Laikipia by road, the rugged, arid plains of the Samburu National Reserve are fed by the Ewaso Nyiro river, known for its populations of crocodile, elephant and hippopotamus. Despite its remoteness, the reserve is very popular among those seeking a more relaxed safari holiday in Kenya away from the crowds.
The Samburu people, cousins of the Maasai, live on the outskirts of the reserve. Cultural tours to their villages offer an enthralling glimpse into their traditional, pastoral ways of life, as well as the opportunity to witness the tribal dance performances for which the Samburu are renowned.
Laikipia is one of the great African conservation success stories. Through a combination of sustainable, community-owned tourism, innovative game management and anti-poaching efforts, the region’s private conservancies have helped to create a wildlife population that rivals the Maasai Mara in both density and diversity.
As such, a safari holiday in Laikipia goes far beyond the traditional game drives. Visitors enjoy boutique camp lodgings, smaller crowds, a greater range of safari activities than found in most national parks, and above all, an opportunity to make a significant positive difference to Kenyan wildlife.
