Laikipia is a haven of ranches, wildlife conservancies, breathtaking scenery, and rich cultural diversity. Walk amidst high plains, rolling hills, and escarpments. Walk along with the game.
Laikipia is derived from the Maasai language, meaning “plains without trees.” It extends from bordering the majestic Mt. Kenya, the Aberdares, to the rim of the Rift Valley, stretching to the northern semi-arid deserts. It consists of high plains, rolling hills, and escarpments.
Agriculture is practised by a majority of peasant farmers. Pastoralists are mainly found in the northern Laikipia of Mukogondo and Doldol. The largest chunk of the land falls under ranching. The ranches have blended well with free-range wildlife conservation. This has contributed positively to wildlife tourism. Laikipia has the highest wildlife population outside the gazetted protected areas. The communities are also collaborative with sustainable eco-tourism. Along with ranches, they have established tourism facilities like lodges, hotels, tented camps, and resorts in the circuit.
Apart from the abundance of wildlife, the vibrant culture of the ethnic communities residing in the county, includes Laikipia Maasai, Borana, Samburu, Meru, Turkana, and the Kalenjin. Their unique way of life is an additional tourist feature.
The county entry points are through its major towns.
Nanyuki
(a) Nanyuki, meaning “a place of red waters” from the Maasai dialect. The town was established by colonial settlers as a trading centre in the early 1900s. It hosts the Kenya Air Force base, the Kenya Army, and the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK). The town is connected to the neighbouring towns by the tarmac road. There is also a light aircraft airstrip just 6 kilometres from the town. The town has facilities to cater to every budget. Notable establishments include Beisa Hotel, Kirimara Hotel, Falcon Heights, Simba Lodge, Sportsman Arms Hotel, and the nearby Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club. Budget accommodations include, but are not limited to, Jambo House, Joskaki, Ibis, and Riverside. Although Laikipia has no portion of Mt. Kenya National Park, Nanyuki is a busy mountain climbing base, as is the Ngare Ndare forest.
Nyahururu
(b) Nyahururu, formerly known as Thompson Falls. Named after the Scottish explorer who saw the waterfall along the Ewaso Narok River, one of the major tributaries of the River Ewaso Nyiro (Ngiro) that drains its waters to the Lorian swamp. It used to be the administrative headquarters of Nyandarua County before it was hived off to Laikipia County. The town has tarmac-paved roads connecting other major towns. The town boasts a high-altitude training ground for athletes eyeing international debuts. The main attractions include the 73-metre waterfall, Hippo Point (Manguo), and Nyahururu Forest, among others. Accommodation facilities in the area include Thompson Falls Lodge, Panari Resort, Kawa Falls, Olimpia Hotel, and Laikipia Comfort Hotel. Other budget accommodations are available within the town.
Conservancies
Successful conservancies in Laikipia include Ol Pejeta Ranch, Ol Jogi Ranch, Segera Ranch, Loisaba Conservancy, Laikipia Nature Conservation, Lewa Downs, Borana Farm, Conservancy, Borana Wildlife Conservancy, Il Ngwesi, Leparua Community Conservancies, El Karama, Mpala Ranch, Mugie Ranch, and Sosian Ranch. They have immensely contributed to conserving wildlife. The rhino sanctuaries have a happy ending, hosting half of Kenya’s black rhino population. The last surviving northern white rhinos have a home here. The “big five” are also present throughout the year. On the endangered species, it is worth stating that Laikipia has sanctuaries for the remaining Jackson’s Hartebeest, African wild dog, Reticulated giraffe, and Grevy zebra, also known as “Imperial zebra.” The ranches have made accommodations available to meet their clients’ aspirations, from lodges, tented camps, and farmhouses to camping sites.
Activities in Laikipia include game drives, Chimps Sanctuary visits, hiking, cycling, horse riding, camel riding, camping, photography and videography, water rafting, helicopter tours, and culture and tradition sampling. Laikipia is unique in its exposure and experience, offering unrestricted activities. You can walk along with the game, unlike in other reserves.
