Laikipia National Park
Located to the north of Nairobi and Mount Kenya, the Laikipia Plateau is regarded as the gateway to Kenya’s remote and wild northern frontier country. The area is thinly populated and offers huge vistas and stretches of the complete wilderness; some of Kenya’s finest views are found here. Huge cattle ranches and private estates cover the region, many of which are now private wildlife sanctuaries that contain the big five.
Wildlife conservation initiatives here have also been a fantastic success. Laikipia is now seen as a wildlife destination in its own right, with the big five on the show and good numbers of endemic species such as the Grevy’s Zebra and reticulated giraffe as well as African wild dog and sitatunga antelope. Over 50% of Kenya’s rhino population is found in Laikipia, with a number of the ranches operating as breeding sanctuaries for both white and black rhino. Many of the concessions are also now run in conjunction with, or even by, the local community tribespeople themselves.