Book Flights to Laikipia Plateau

Laikipia Plateau – Kenya

The Laikipia Plateau is not as famous as its southern cousin the Masai Mara, it is a hidden gem still slightly off the beaten track but its reputation is growing and rightly so.

It is a vast area with stunning scenery where the wildlife is thriving, thanks to its many private conservancies which offer excellent and often luxurious camps and lodges whilst at the same time running their cattle farms.

There are hidden waterfalls, perfect for a swim. Or lazy rivers with kayaking options, others full of hippo and crocs. Kopjes (rocky outcrops) poking their heads up from the surrounding bush, offering stunning viewpoints from which to see the sunset or just admire the natural beauty as far as the eyes can see. But also cliffs, hills, and some open grassy areas.

And lastly, you can of course find waterholes perfect for checking out the wildlife coming in for a drink.

Let Tripindigo show you the beauty of the Laikipia Plateau and experience Kenya as not many have done before.

Main attractions

The Laikipia Plateau has many hidden gems and heaps of reasons why you should plan a visit:

  • To see Kenya and Kenya’s wildlife without the crowds of the more famous national parks.
  • A chance to see some of Kenya’s endangered species, like the black rhino and the wild dogs.
  • Several private conservancies offer a range of activities and some different options to view wildlife
  • Excellent bird watching
  • Some of Kenya’s best wildlife viewing in terms of variety of animals and number of animals.

 

Watch Kenya’s amazing wildlife without the crowds

Where the Masai Mara can sometimes feel a bit crowded, you will have a more exclusive safari on the Laikipia Plateau. Often only one or a handful of lodges and camps can be found on each private conservancy, which means you might not see another vehicle during your safaris.

See if you are lucky enough to spot some of the endangered species in Kenya like the wild dogs or black rhino

The Laikipia Plateau has good numbers of rhino as well as wild dogs. They are elusive, but can be found with a good guide and some patience.

Different ways of game viewing

Several private conservancies offer a range of activities as well as viewing wildlife other than sitting in a safari vehicle. The Laikipia Plateau offers you a chance to go on a night drive, take a walking safari, or view wildlife from the back of a horse.

Birdwatching on the Laikipia Plateau

The Laikipia Plateau offers world-class bird watching. Pick up a bird book and see how many of Kenya’s 1065 bird species you can tick off.

Some of the best wildlife viewing in Kenya

The Laikipia Plateau is large, more than 9000km2 or roughly the size of Wales, and this vast area is home to some of Kenya’s biggest populations of endangered species like the black rhinos and the Grévy’s zebras. There are no national parks or reserves, but instead, it consists of many private ranches and private conservancies with huge wildlife densities.

Private conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau

The conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau often offer additional ways to experience Kenya’s wildlife and to explore its stunning natural surroundings. Night drives and walking safaris are often offered, giving you a totally different experience to the standard game drives.

Some of the more famous private conservancies like Ol Pejeta, Lewa and Solio are well-known for their large rhino populations which are slowly expanding with the excellent private protection these conservancies offer.

Sosian is well-known for its amazing horse-riding safaris and the Laikipia Wilderness Lodge offers a good chance to spot the elusive wild dogs as they have two packs that frequent their ranch. Both groups of dogs are radio-collared due to the research done with these 2 packs.

One of the most accessible conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau is Ol Pejeta. It is not far from Nanyuki so you can quickly fly in, and is also within driving distance from Nairobi (3.5 hours). Ol Pejeta is world-famous for having the last three northern white rhinos in the world, it also has a chimpanzee orphanage and a blind black rhino called Baraka. They offer a variety of accommodation options, including camping for those on a smaller budget.

How to get there

Fly to the Laikipia Plateau

The Laikipia Plateau is huge and depending on the Conservancy you go to there are different options for flying. The popular conservancies have flights directly into the area, meaning you arrive near your lodge. Flying to Nanyuki is another option if you are staying in a conservancy on the eastern side of the plateau.

Alternatively, you can charter a plane to reach the less visited conservancies, or drive from a nearby town like Nanyuki or Nairobi.

Drive to the Laikipia Plateau

It is possible to drive to the Laikipia Plateau, although most people will fly as it is faster. Depending on the location of the Conservancy it might be a 3 to 8-hour drive from Nairobi.

Safari itinerary options in Kenya including the Laikipia Plateau

An excellent itinerary in Kenya would be to take in the North (for example Samburu or Meru), the Centre (for example the Laikipia Plateau or Mt Kenya), the South (for example the Masai Mara, Amboseli or Tsavo) and finishing with a week of relaxing on the excellent beaches on Kenya’s coast (for example Diani, Watamu or Kalifi).

Book your cheap flights to the Laikipia Plateau with Tripindigo and see the amazing landscapes and wonderful wildlife of Kenya in a different way.

Best time to visit

Kenya’s higher inlands are very pleasant with daytime temperatures between 20°C/68°F and 28°C/82°F, cooler at night.

Kenya has a dry season from June to October, a wet season called ‘short rains’ in November and December, another dry spell in January and February, followed by the ‘long rains’ in March, April, and May.

You will need warm clothes for the evenings in most of the Laikipia Plateau.

High season

The Laikipia Plateau in general is excellent year-round for game viewing and other activities. Between January and March as well as from the end of June to October it is the dry season on the Laikipia Plateau and wildlife congregates around the few remaining water sources left in the area.

Low season

Although Kenya’s rainy months, especially April, are usually avoided for going on safari, it is possible to avoid the rains by going further north. The further north on the Laikipia Plateau you go, the drier it is. This might potentially be an excellent way to have great wildlife sightings if you need to visit in the rainy season, or if you want to avoid the busier times.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Once a year the Lewa Conservancy allows a limited number of runners on its property to run a half or a full marathon for its Tusk charity. This is a run often listed on the top 10 marathons to run in the world. It is known as a very tough, but amazing run as the loop goes through the property and wildlife can be seen on the run, the Big 5 are all present on Lewa Conservancy, but they make sure the lions and other dangerous animals are kept well away from the tracks during the run.
  • The Laikipia Plateau is home to some of Kenya’s last remaining packs of wild dogs.
  • The Laikipia Plateau has no national parks or reserves, but collaboration between local people and ranchers has resulted in some of Kenya’s (and Africa’s) most encouraging wildlife conservation success stories.

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