Laikipia is a Plateau that stretches from the foothill of Mount Kenya to the Rim of the Great Rift Valley.
It’s the West of Mount Kenya that has the tributaries that join to form the earthern brown River, the Ewaso Nyiro
Ewaso Nyiro tributaries originate from the north west of the Aberdare Ranges and the West of Mount Kenya, to touch on Nyeri, Nyandarua, Meru and Laikipia Counties.
Ewaso Nyiro (Ewaso Ng’iro) flows through the Samburu, Isiolo, part of Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa and heads south East to join the Jubba River in Somalia onwards to the Indian Ocean. The River is the lifeline of Kenya’s drylands
Laikipia has four major towns; Doldol, Rumuruti, Nyahururu and Nanyuki
Nanyuki
Nanyuki is Laikipia’s most popular town, it’s also on the edges of the Nothern Frontier, the arable lands of the former central province and the rims of the riftvalley.
Thus centrally positioned to bridge multiple facets of Kenya. A melting pot for Kenyan cultures where the North and South meets.
Founded, by British settlers in 1906 with some of the descendants still living in and around the town. It’s also center for supplies for Laikipia’s wild life conservancies and group ranches.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta is a 110,000 Acres Conservancy with majority of Kenya’s Wildlife, home for the big 5; Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, Elephants and Rhinos
It’s home to the only great apes in Kenya at Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary and also has the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa with a population of over 100 Black Rhinos
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
This conservancy and orphanage is located 10KM from Nanyuki Town and 25Km from Ol Pejeta gate.
It’s home to the elusive and endangered mountain Bongo, the first species of Llama (a sheep looking camel) and a host of other animals naturally living or those in the orphanage that need special care.
Leopard Cheetah Llmar Mountain Bongo Llamar Ostrich
Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve
Ngare Ndare forest is one of the overlooked wonders in Kenya.
Gazetted in 2004, it’s an extension of mount Kenya Forest with many trees used as herbal remedies like the Moringa.
The forest is a migratory corridor for 100s of years used mostly by Elephants and other animals linking Mount kenya, laikipia plateau and Northern Range lands.
If you thought sanctuaries are a man made idea, you will be shocked to learn that Ngare Ndare Forest is the choice NATURAL sanctuary for animals such as the Elephants, Buffaloes and Rhinos where they stay for a while to give birth, nurse injuries or their place to die of old age.
The forest has 7 water falls all visible on a 7km hike path, the smallest one is where one can dive in like a pool and let the body recuperate.
There is a 500M-long canopy walkway situated in the middle of the forest where one can view wildlife below
It’s astounding to find a single forest with numerous beautiful and tranquil physical features such as sundowner sites, permanent springs, water falls, rapids and rock outcrops suitable for activities such as picnics, swimming, diving and rock climbing.
Nanyuki has many more places to visit and have phenomenal experience suitable for a day trip a day return trip or a one to three nights deserved vacation.