The history, geography and wildlife of Borana

The Borana Conservancy has been in the hands of the Dyer family for generations and, for most of that time, has been used primarily as a cattle ranch.

The first safari accommodation, Borana Lodge, was opened in 1993, which in safari terms is a really long time ago.

In 2007 the Dyer family made a conscious and important decision to commit all retained earnings from their commercial activities on Borana to supporting the increasing costs of conservation.

This means that by staying at Borana you can be reassured that you’re making a direct contribution towards the conservation efforts in the area.

a privately-owned cattle ranch

At around 130 square kilometres, the Borana Conservancy is a relatively modestly sized conservation area, but one which contains some very pretty landscapes, mostly comprising domed hills with dramatic views, backed by plateau grasslands.

The area forms part of a critical buffer against the heavily populated and farmed upland areas to the south, serving as a vital wildlife corridor connecting the lush Mount Kenya ecosystem with the vast open ranges of the north.

In 2013, after decades of planning, the fences that separated the Borana Conservancy and Lewa Downs areas were removed to create a single large reserve, with free movement of wildlife between the two.

part of much larger conservation area

The combined Borana Conservancy and Lewa Downs area is well populated with a full range of wildlife, including lions and elephants, as well as being an important sanctuary for highly endangered species such as black rhinos, white rhinos, Grevy’s zebras and reticulated giraffes.

When it comes to predators, the area is home to around 50 lions, 100 spotted hyenas, 12 cheetahs and 20 leopards, supplemented by occasional visits by roaming wild-dog packs.

In 2013 a total of 21 black rhinos were translocated from Lake Nakuru National Park to Borana and Lewa conservancies. Now that the fences have been removed, these animals are now free to roam and mix with the black and white rhinos previously in the Lewa area.

The Grevy’s zebras are also of great note around here. The total world population of this very strippy mule-like creature is reckoned to be around 2500, of which 90% are in Kenya and 350 are here on Lewa/Borana, the largest single population.

The area also represents a safe haven for elephants and hosts around 400 migratory animals around the year. The reserve also does a lot of work monitoring and protecting elephants across the whole region, including the building of an elephant underpass on the busy Meru-Nanyuki highway to maintain the important migration route up into the forests of Mount Kenya.

Other interesting local specialities are Beisa oryx, gerenuks and Somali ostriches.

The owners of Borana have also been keeping a bird list since 1980 and now have over 330 species listed.

reliable and diverse wildlife sightings