The Laikipia Plateau formerly consisted of farms and cattle ranches until landowners banded together to establish a conservation area. Today, Laikipia boasts an array of private game reserves and luxury safari camps, along with game populations that thrive within their protected boundaries.
Laikipia is the name of a Maasai chief, and for the Maasai, a place takes the name of a person. The Laikipia plateau large populations of elephants are only second to the ones at Tsavo National Park. The area is also teeming with vast numbers of zebra, eland, impala, hartebeest, and gazelle, but this area of nearly 7,000 square kilometers is unique in Kenya because it is not a national park.
Despite its scattered mosaic of farms and cattle ranches, it is essentially still a wilderness, a wildlife refuge supporting huge numbers of game in the vast newly established conservancies. Stretching from the slopes of Mount Kenya to the rim of the Great Rift Valley, the Laikipia Plateau is an untouched natural haven where abundant wildlife wanders through spectacular scenery. Vast open plains in the shadow of the snow-capped silhouette of Mount Kenya create a tranquil and secluded setting, where game drives encounter abundant wildlife with not another vehicle in sight.
Two rivers, the Ewaso Ng’iro and Ewasa Narok run through the area, attracting the second largest population of elephant in Kenya. A wild yet romantic haven, Laikipia shelters not only the Big Five but a variety of rare and endangered species, including Black and White Rhino, African wild dog, Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest and the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope.
The Laikipia Plateau formerly consisted of farms and cattle ranches until landowners banded together to establish a wildlife conservation area and animal migration corridors. Today, Laikipia boasts an array of private game reserves and luxury safari camps, bush homes, private lodges, along with game populations that thrive within their protected boundaries. There are seven large conservancies: Borana Ranch, Il N’gwesi Group Ranch, the Lekurruki Group Ranch, Sabuk Wilderness, Lewa Wilderness Conservancy, Loisaba Wilderness and Sosian Ranch.
Why Visit Laikipia Plateau, Kenya.
- A panoramic patchwork of tribal land, conservancies, sweeping cattle ranches and wildlife reserves, Laikipia offers a heady mix of perspectives on conservation – and through the active participation of all parties, and it works!
- One of the few areas in Kenya still home to the endangered white and black Rhino
- Samburu and Maasai culture at its best – both modern and traditional communities live side by side. In more isolated areas traditional cultures remain nearly unaffected by the modern world.
- A paradise for walkers and active travelers, from camping out in the wild (in relative comfort, of course!) to horse riding in big game country or running with the incredible Maasai at altitudes of 6000 ft. above sea level.
- Unobstructed game corridors make the entire area one massive wilderness area and allow wild animals to follow their natural paths.
- See and experience the scenic Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa. Activities include scenic flights by helicopter or bi-plane, hiking and fly fishing in its high altitude lakes.
- Temperate weather – fairly high altitude, with warm days and cool evenings, spend the day in bright sunshine and the evening in front of a roaring fireplace.
- The best place to start an excursion into the wild Northern Kenya frontier.
