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LAIKIPIA

Laikipia, spannig an area of over 9,500km² that forms part of the 25,000km² Ewaso ecosystem, is a vast plateau to the north west of snow-capped Mount Kenya, straddling the equator at the heart of Kenya’s Rift Valley Province.  The Laikipia plains stretch from the Great Rift Valley to magnificent escarpments which descend into the Northern Frontier District.  These plains are physically diverse and scenically spectacular, covered by open grasslands, basalt hills, lonely kopjes and dense cedar forests, fed by the Ewaso Nyiro and Ewaso Narok rivers. 

Wildlife population densities in the Laikipia region now rank second to the internationally-renowned Maasai Mara ecosystem, whilst the diversity of large mammals is higher than in any other part of Kenya.  Laikipia and the Ewaso ecosystem is home to the second largest population of elephant in Kenya (6,000+) and Laikipia hosts the highest populations of endangered species in the country.  Laikipia supports eight heavily protected rhino sanctuaries, which hold over half of Kenya’s black rhino population. 

The Ewaso also provides a safe haven for endangered Grevy’s zebra (70% of the world’s population), reticulated giraffe, and the only viable population of Lelwel hartebeest in the country, as well as Africa’s only expanding population of wild dog and significant numbers of other large predators.  Laikipia is the ideal venue for an active safari - on horse back, with camels or on foot – and along with traditional activities, many of Laikipia’s lodges and camps offer adventure activities like rock climbing, river rafting, fishing and mountain biking.