Safari to Laikipia North

historic colonial era cattle ranches

Laikipia North is a broad swathe of open rangelands lying around 100 km to the northwest of Mount Kenya.

This elevated plateau of arid rangelands, much higher than the arid landscapes of Samburu to the east, have long been known for their unusually healthy climate and reliable rains. There is virtually no malaria this far north, which makes it a particularly good area for families with smaller children.

During the Colonial Era much of this land was subdivided into large commercial cattle ranches, but in recent decades there has been significant re-wildification and it is now very much an area for safari.

The area is now once again home to a broad range of wildlife, including some of less familiar species which are characteristic of the area, notably including imperial zebras, gerenuks, reticulated giraffes and Somali ostriches.

The area is centred on the Ewaso Nyiro River, which rises on the slopes of Mount Kenya and is a critical source of water for wildlife in this whole region during the main dry season. The river has cut a broad and scenic valley through the rangelands and is fringed by ribbons of forest which enable a wide range of animals to survive and prosper out in this semi-desert.

Visitor densities are very low and there are some excellent high-end lodges, offering an usually wide range of activities including vehicle safari, night vehicle safari, walking safari, hiking, mountain-biking, river swimming, camel safari and horse-back safari, as well as some really excellent cultural interaction.

Some lodges operate predator rehabilitation programmes and can track lions, leopards, wild dogs and elephants by means of radio collars.

However, the area does feel a little less wild than it might, largely due to the presence of cattle fences, the use of radio collars and the fact that some lodges still bait leopards.

Laikipia North tends to feature in trips where guests are specifically trying to experience more remote areas.

The usual stay duration is 3-4 nights in one lodge, occasionally 4-8 nights in two lodges.

Seasonality

The best time of year to visit Laikipia North is generally considered to be the Jun-Oct dry season, but there are very good reasons to visit during other months.

Getting there

Laikipia North is usually accessed by light aircraft from Nairobi.

The area is most commonly combined in trips with the Maasai Mara, far off to the southwest of the country.

a more remote and unusual safari location