Lakipia

To the north-east of the Great Rift Valley, and north-west of snow-capped Mount Kenya, the high plains of Laikipia are increasingly recognized as one of Kenya’s best safari regions. This is a better option for safari enthusiasts that do not want the crowded and chaotic scene of the Maasai Mara. The area boasts a large amount of animals for such a small sized area (think the island of Cape Breton).

Formerly a patchwork of huge ranches, and still an important livestock district, Laikipia is now where some of Kenya’s most encouraging conservation success stories are unfolding. The environment here is managed to protect the wildlife, to promote a personal and small-scale approach to adventurous and often luxurious safari tourism, and to generate an income for the local Samburu and Ilaikipiak and Mokogodo Maasai communities.

It is a great and “change of scenery” destination to add to a Kenyan safari itinerary that almost always includes the Masaai Mara region.