The Laikipia Plateau
The home of some of the most dramatic landscapes across Kenya!
The Laikipia Plateau in Kenya is characterised by a patchwork of interlocking ranches and rolling red plains. Featuring a wide variation of stunning lodges, all unique in their own way, the region offers good game viewing along side a whole host of family friendly activities. Often featured in itineraries as a compliment to a safari in the nearby Masai Mara, or as a destination in itself, Laikipia is well worth a look.
Following in the pioneering footsteps of the Craig/Douglas family, plenty of lodges in the Laikipia Plateau now offer a truly top end experience and have introduced many of the rarer African species onto their land such as African wild dog and rhino. Many have also tried to move away from being an out and out safari experience, focussing more on the family and activity market, offering a wealth of activities such as riding (camels and horses), ballooning, quad biking, tubing, hiking, fly camping, mountain biking, cultural visits and many more! Therefore, where the nearby Lewa Downs deserves its own title as a safari destination, Laikipia offers a slightly different experience. Stretching north from the Abadare Mountain Range to the start of the Samburu tribal lands in the shadow of the Mathews Range, the Laikipia Plateau can also offer a chance to glimpse this nomadic tribe in their native element. Along with Amboseli, Laikipia is a good value and logistically simple way of extending your time in the bush.
The Abadares
The Abadares is a small range of mountains running from Nairobi up to the foot of the Laikipia Plateau. With a variation of topographies, it is a visually interesting place to visit, if a little tricky on the lower slopes to spot game due to the density of the forest. Made famous by the Queen who went and stayed in “Treetops” a princess to return a queen, this region used to be one of the most popular in Kenya. To be honest, however, it is not somewhere that we recommend to clients any more as the accommodation and overall experience is nowhere near what it used to be.