Safari to Laikipia South

private reserves focused specifically on rhinos

Laikipia South is centred on the town of Nanyuki and covers the northern part of the broad saddle of land that lies between Mount Kenya and the Aberdares Range.

This is an area of relatively well-watered and fertile uplands, much of which is now quite heavily farmed, densely populated and not particularly wild.

However it is home to some very important and pioneering conservation projects, fenced reserves which provide a key buffer zone between the more heavily populated areas to the south and the wild open ranges to the north.

The most significant of these projects is the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which contains a good range of wildlife. The area is best known for its rhino conservation work. The handful of northern white rhinos that remain in the world all live here. There is also a chimpanzee sanctuary for animals rescued from various war zones over the years, but which (in all honesty) is a rather depressing place.

Unfortunately Ol Pejeta is very much a part of the main overland safari route around Kenya, which means that there’s an uncomfortable flow of budget traffic into the reserve. However the handful of lodges on the western side of the reserve are able to offer a better quality experience.

To the north of Ol Pejeta the landscapes start to become rather more wild, as many of the colonial cattle ranches have been converted back to wildlife and had their fences dismantled. There’s a few high end lodges up here.

To the south of Ol Pejeta the reserves tend to be smaller and more intensely encircled by human populations, but there are some interesting accommodation options, notably the very upmarket Solio Conservancy.

Laikipia South tends to feature in a relatively small proportion of trips, since most of our guests tend to head to the wilder areas further north, namely Laikipia South, Samburu and the Mathew’s Range. But this area can work, especially for guests interested in rhinos and horse-back safari.

The usual stay duration is 3-4 nights in one lodge.

Seasonality

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

Getting there

The Laikipia South area is most commonly accessed by scheduled flight from Nairobi into the airport at Nanyuki, or by light aircraft direct into bush airstrips close to a specific camp.

It is also possible to connect by road with the Lake Naivasha area of the Rift Valley and with lodges in the Lewa Downs, Borana, Samburu, Laikipia North and Mathews Range areas, further to the east and north.

iconic views of the impressive Mount Kenya