Reviews of Laikipia Wilderness
Wildlife sightings and reviews
40 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Laikipia Wilderness and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
58% success
93% success
9% success
46% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
76% success
68% success
63% success
48% success
0% success
0% success
"Still wild heaven"
Different? Well firstly the weather - last time we came it was in the rainy season, everything green and the tracks slick with mud; this time we were in the middle of a drought and the river was seriously drying up. Secondly the wild dogs, who we spent a lot of time watching before, were denning and therefore not really possible to see. There's plenty to Laikipia other than dogs, and it was interesting to see how the environment changed and an object lesson in the importance of the rains.
As far as wildlife is concerned, drought equals easy pickings for predators and the leopards were out in force. They barely even needed to hunt - the local livestock seemed to be doing rather worse in the dry conditions than the wildlife and the leopards were more than happy to provide a disposal service for any cow that expired. We got some terrific daylight sightings - a pair appeared to be enjoying a romantic Valentine's meal of carcass - and also twice saw the gorgeous melanistic leopard (big) cub who is living near the camp.
Laikipia though, is really less about what you see than how you see it. There's no luxury trappings or conventional creature comforts- but I've rarely found somewhere where I feel more comfortable. Every meal we had was delicious and often improved by being eaten out in the wilds. All the meals are taken with the guides and other guests, and evenings usually finished by sitting around the fire with a drink swapping travellers tales!
It's a great place to go if you love walking in the bush - our guide, Dan, had recently arrived in Kenya after guiding in Zimbabwe but was very knowledgeable and clearly very experienced as both a walking and a driving guide. He was ably assisted by our spotter, Simon." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
5 sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Wild Dogs and Black Leopard !!!"
Our guide was Steven - very experienced and a great spotter! We came to Laikipia Wilderness to see Wild Dogs and so he tried everything to find them. There was just 1 pack around and last seen about 20 km away from where were. Although some individuals of the pack were collared it was really hard for him to track them but finally (after a whole day of searching them!) he found them. it was amazing to to observe them while meeting and greeting after the day rest before heading out for hunting. We were so lucky to see them again next morning while crossing a river before they disappeared on an other ranch.
But the most amazing and spectacular sighting in Laikipia Wilderness was the spotting of a normal coloured female leopard and her black (melanistic) cub during a night drive. This was a really very very rare and special sighting - not only for us! Even our guide Steven had seen the black cub only 2 times before.
The Camp is the only one in the huge area of the ranch - no other people or vehicles around. It is a bit rustic but also very comfortable, the food not extraordinary but still very good.
Manager Steve was around but doesn't seem to be interested very much in us and didn't join us for one drive or walk although we've been the only guests during our whole stay at Laikipia Wilderness. That was a little bit disappointing after reading lot of comments about his very special guiding but Steven was a very good guide as well!" See all these reviews: 16n in Kenya
Buffalo
3 sightings
Eland
2 sightings
Elephant
5 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
5 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Striped Hyena
1 sighting
Wild dog
2 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Laikipia Wilderness review"
A safari in Laikipia is more hard work to spot animals but it feels more authentic and rewarding when you spot them. It was particularly on our list this time as we hoped to see the wild dogs. Unfortunately we missed them as they were quite far while we were there but we knew in advance there wasn't a guarantee to see them.
Our guides were top notch and making every effort to make sure we could see as much as possible. Especially if you like birds Laikipia and LWC should be on your list. The manager Steve is also making every effort to make sure you have a good time, again with activities different than in the Mara like walking safaris, night drives, swimming in the river, dinner in the bush,...
The tents are comfortable and clean with a nice view. Good hot water for showering and good internet from the dedicated internet tent." See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Zebra
10 sightings
"Dogs are back in town"
This was a success and I enjoyed some fantastic sightings of the pack and their five puppies. The atmosphere at Laikipia Wilderness is very relaxed with no overtly strict "Covid protocols".
It's a lovely authentic owner run camp and it was a pleasure to spend time with the owner, Steve Carey and his children and hear about their bush adventures. I did a few great walks with Steve and also Barend, although it was a constant dilemma of whether to walk or track the dogs!!" See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya
Buffalo
6 sightings
Cheetah
1 sighting
Eland
5 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
4 sightings
Leopard
3 sightings
Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
Wild dog
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Laikipia Wilderness"
The camp facilities were unpretentious compared with many other premiums priced camps, although it was more than sufficient to meet all our needs. The food was fabulous. The staff were all friendly and efficient and provided exceptional service. The guides, including Steve who accompanied us on two game drives/walks, were very knowledgeable and skilled. I have no hesitancy in recommending LWC to any potential safari goer, particularly if you are interested in seeing wild dogs, which are not that easy to see in most other places." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
5 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Wild dog
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Somewhere different at Laikipia Wilderness"
We had gone there to see wild dogs and although we had to go on to the neighbouring farm to see them (via a river crossing in a small boat!) and pay $50 each, we spent an evening and a morning watching them hunt and socialise. Fantastic!
Great guiding from Steven and Mgambe.
Lovely settings for sundowners. Great bush dinner. Comfortable tents with good hot water for showering.
We had hoped to fly camp one night but the weather was not suitable also to do a walking Safari but the government were checking all the rifles and had removed the camp rifles!" See all these reviews: 7n in Mozambique; 7n in Kenya
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
2 sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wild dog
2 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Exciting safari at Laikipia Wilderness"
The next day we arrived at the den around 7.30am and the tracker device told us the dogs were out hunting. After much crashing around in the undergrowth we came upon the dogs eating their breakfast - an impala. We stayed watching around 9 dogs eating and playing for around an hour. Magic! Unfortunately on the way home the river level had risen by about 6feet due to rain in the mountains and we had to take a very long and bumpy detour to get back to camp.
Otherwise game is quite hard to spot because the vegetation is pretty dense but I came here chiefly to see the dogs and I was not disappointed.
The camp managers were away on holiday but things seemed to be running smoothly. The food was very good especially as the kitchen was tiny.
I noted that other guests - some with fairly young children - seem to have come to this camp because they wanted to walk (sometimes all day) or because you could swim in the river.
I did not partake in any of the activities so can't comment." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Spotted Hyena
2 sightings
Wild dog
9 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Laikipia Wilderness review"
Lots of elephants. Sadly no wild dogs as a year or so earlier distemper had killed nearly all of the pack.
Associated advertising should reflect this as we arrived expecting to have an excellent chance of seeing the wild dogs." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
"East Africa Manager"
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
5 sightings
Giraffe
1 sighting
Hippo
1 sighting
Leopard
Multiple sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Zebra
1 sighting
"Laikipia Wilderness review"
Buffalo
1 sighting
Eland
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
1 sighting
Leopard
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Wild dog
1 sighting
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Relaxing Lakipia"
Elephant
4 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
2 sightings
Zebra
5 sightings
Holiday styles & special interests in Kenya
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Kenya.
Other lodges in Laikipia
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Kicheche Laikipia
Kicheche Laikipia is the most luxurious tented camp of the handful of places to stay in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in central Laikipia.
Lewa Safari Camp
Lewa Safari Camp is a comfortable and homely tented lodge, located in the Lewa Conservancy and offering a relatively exclusive safari away from mass tourism.
Lewa Wilderness
Lewa Wilderness is a comfortable, fenced safari lodge with nine cottages, great views and a huge range of activities.
El Karama Lodge
El Karama is a comfortably rustic, very personal, riverside eco-lodge on a game-rich private ranch in Laikipia, an hour’s drive north of Nanyuki airport.
Sosian
Sosian Lodge is a distinctive, estancia-style ranch house on a former cattle ranch, with great opportunities for riding, relaxing and seeing wild dogs and other savannah wildlife.
Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge
The community-owned Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge sits atop a small hill in the remote Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, a two-hour drive north of Lewa Conservancy in north-eastern Laikipia.
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp is a simple camp, with comfortable tents, delivering an authentic wilderness experience backed up by good food and guiding.
Porini Rhino Camp
Porini Rhino Camp is a small, simple, well established tented camp, with a keen focus on sustainable and low-impact tourism.
Borana
Borana is a comfortable and striking lodge on the Borana Conservancy in eastern Laikipia, offering pleasant accommodation with good food and service and a very wide range of activities.
Sirikoi
Sirikoi is a small, very high-quality safari camp with excellent service and food and a wide selection of activities.
Kifaru House
Kifaru House is a small, stylish safari lodge in the Lewa Conservancy, with beautiful views across the landscape.
Lewa House
Lewa House is a very comfortable, boutique safari lodge located on the Lewa Conservancy, north of Mount Kenya.
Solio Lodge
Solio Lodge is an exclusive and luxurious bush lodge set in the private Solio Game Ranch in southern Laikipia.
Loisaba Tented Camp
Loisaba Tented Camp is a luxury safari base of tented rooms, ranged along a ridge in the Loisaba Conservancy, facing Mount Kenya. The camp was completely rebuilt in 2016.
Tassia Lodge
Tassia offers a unique wilderness experience in a remote location: come here for cultural interaction, stunning views and something a bit different.
Loisaba Star Beds
Loisaba Starbeds is a simple camp of 4 rooms with pull-out, open-air 'star beds', located near a dam in the Loisaba Conservancy, in northwestern Laikipia.
Sweetwaters Serena
Sweetwaters Serena is a large, older tented camp – the largest camp in the Laikipia region – in the eastern part of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Karisia Walking Safaris
Karisia Walking Safaris operates camel assisted, multi-day walking safaris from its main camp, Tumaren, set in a remote part of Laikipia.
Sandai
Sandai is a pretty, owner-run homestay, set between the Aberdare Range and Mount Kenya, offering a range of activities at extra cost.
Lodo Springs
Lodo Springs is a spectacularly located luxury lodge in a remote spot in the Loisaba Conservancy, sister lodge to Loisaba Tented Camp and Loisaba Star Beds.
Sanctuary at Ol Lentille
The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille is an unusual safari lodge in northern Laikipia, consisting of three exclusive villas, and offering a huge range of activities.
Governors' Mugie House
Governors' Mugie House – a substantial, luxury safari lodge – is one of only two properties in the Mugie Conservancy in northwestern Laikipia.
Thomsons Falls Lodge
Thomsons Falls Lodge is a simple hotel dating back to the colonial era, located above the falls of the same name, near the western Laikipia town of Nyahururu.
Ekorian's Mugie Camp
Ekorian's Mugie Camp is a pleasant, family-friendly safari camp in a remote location in northwestern Laikipia.
