Destinations Services Limited

Laikipia is known as Kenya’s high country. It is a wide plateau that enjoys an interdependent relationship with the Ewaso Nyiro River, the Aberdare Mountains and Mount Kenya. The Ewaso Nyiro River links Laikipia to the adjacent Samburu region where highlights include the Shaba National Reserve. Laikipia district is a 9,500sq.km area which is located to the north west of snow capped Mount Kenya in the Rift valley province of Kenya. It neighbours samburu district to the north, Isiolo and Meru to the east and Baringo to the West.

Laikipia is wild and sparsely populated offering a real sense of freedom and adventure with far reaching views of Mount Kenya. It has no national parks yet is the only place in Africa where wildlife numbers are on the increase. It is made up of community owned ranches, large private farms and game conservancies populated by cattle sharing the land with free ranging wildlife. It has a very diverse landscape and some of the finest lodges and camps in East Africa. Its exclusive nature and quality lodges not forgetting the immense wildlife populations make it Kenya’s premier safari destination. Recently it has been in the news for the marriage proposal of Prince William to Kate Middleton in one of the exclusive lodges based in Laikipia.

Laikipia is home to ethnically diverse communities namely the Maasai, Kikuyu, and Meru who live side by side with the Europeans, Turkana, Pokot and Samburu. These communities have come together to support and undertake conservation through their own organization called the Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF). Through these conservation activities the livelihoods of the people and the wildlife are supported. This in turn has led to a rise in wildlife numbers when most parts of the country are experiencing a decline in wildlife population. The Wildlife population density in Laikipia now ranks 2^nd to the internationally renowned Masai Mara ecosystem while the diversity of large mammals is higher than in any other part of Kenya. Laikipia’s wildlife is entirely sustained by private and communal landowners.

By Road: Accessible by road from Nanyuki, Eldoret, Baringo or Isiolo

By Air: Many ranches and sanctuaries have their own airstrips

Climate

Hot days, cool nights, low humidity