Kenya · Private conservancies
Laikipia Plateau
Private conservancies beneath Mount Kenya
Size
About 9,500 km² of ranches & conservancies
Location
Central Kenya, north-west of Mount Kenya
Best time
Jun–Oct and Dec–Mar
Known for
Rhinos · Wild dogs · Walking
About the area
Kenya's conservation success story
Laikipia is a high plateau of savanna, rocky hills and river valleys stretching from Mount Kenya towards the Great Rift Valley. Instead of one park, it is a mosaic of private ranches and community conservancies, such as Ol Pejeta, Lewa (just to the east) and Solio, that work together to protect wildlife.
Because the land is private, the rules are different: night drives, guided bush walks, horse and camel safaris are all possible, and vehicle numbers are low. It is home to a large share of Kenya's rhinos and one of East Africa's best populations of endangered African wild dog.
Highlights
Why visit Laikipia
Rhino conservancies
Ol Pejeta and Solio protect black and white rhino, and Ol Pejeta has the last two northern white rhinos.
Wild dogs
One of the best places in Africa to look for packs of wild dog.
Walks & night drives
Track wildlife on foot, by horse or after dark with a spotlight.
Exclusive camps
Small, owner-run lodges with very few other visitors.
When to visit
Best in the dry seasons, June to October and December to March. Laikipia's altitude keeps it cooler than the lowland parks, with chilly mornings and evenings, and it is a good choice outside the Mara's busiest months.
Wildlife you may see
Black and white rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, chimpanzee (at Ol Pejeta's sanctuary), buffalo and many antelope.
Getting there
About 3–4 hours by road from Nairobi to Nanyuki, or a 1-hour scheduled flight to Nanyuki or a conservancy airstrip.
Visit with Asili
Trips to pair with Laikipia
10 days
Northern Kenya, Mara & Zanzibar
13 days
The Grand East Africa
8 days
Classic Kenya & Tanzania
Plan your Laikipia safari
Tell us what you'd like to do, from rhino tracking to horseback safaris, and we'll match you with the right conservancy.
Enquire now