Reviews of safaris to Laikipia
226 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Laikipia.
"Another excellent safari by Expert Africa"
Expert Africa's assistance and expertise ensured that the camps we picked were exactly what we had hoped for, small and intimate with great food, game viewing and accommodation. Many thanks to Ellie Dunkels for once again putting together a memorable trip. All the internal connections and pickups worked as planned and this confidence in the EA team is why we come back each time to EA when planning our trips.
We would have no hesitation in recommending Expert Africa to anyone considering a trip to the southern continent of Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Can't think of anything, your team seem to think of everything." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
"Offbeat to Tassia"
Everything ran smoothly and I also have to mention my driver Edward who collected me from the airport and drove me around for eight hours on my last day in Nairobi. Charming fellow and I felt very safe with him. Offbeat was a perfect start to my safari and Tassia was the best place to truly unwind and feel on vacation.
Every animal I viewed and every personal experience I had with the two camps staff will remain in my memory forever. These people helped me fall in love with Kenya. I will return." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 5 on a Kenya safari
"My Feb 2014 trip"
The second camp we chose was much smarter than we had expected, we couldn't fault it but we would have preferred something more relaxed with the use of the campfire rather than formal lounge. As we were the only ones there we felt they needed to alter their routine a little.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The rough guide was very helpful.
We felt the early visa option was a waste of money as we queued just the same as those purchasing at the airport." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
"A lot of variety from one week in Kenya"
Chances we won't return to Offbeat, but we can imagine returning to Sandai not least because it is relaxed and easy going. There's little in the way of procedure and process and a lot to be said for meeting others of like mind. Nearby Solio is good for a satisfying safari and the Aberdares offers a contrast, especially up above 3000m.
Overall we were very happy with the week." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 4 on a Kenya safari
"Amazing trip to Kenya"
Our EA portion of our trip was relaxing and friendly, and surpassed our expectations for a safari experience. Our children are already asking to go back to Kenya, especially to El Karama. We travel a good bit and this is not their normal response!
Our trip was well organized and all of our questions were answered by Richard. He is a wonderful resource and I would not hesitate to use his or EA's expertise again when going to Africa. Thank you for everything!" Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 3 on a Kenya safari
"My February 2014 Safari in Kenya"
Richard was very helpful in finding two perfect safari spots, the first for three generations of our family at El Karama and the second for me alone. Everything was seamless from the first plane ride from Nairobi to Nanyuki to El Karama with my family all the way to my trip back to the airport in Nairobi from Sosian Ranch.
It was all very exciting for me and I consider it the best vacation I have ever had." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 6 on a Kenya safari
"Still plenty of unspoilt parts of Kenya"
We went on from our trip with Expert Africa to join a photographic trip in two of the conservancies north of the Maasai Mara, staying at Kicheche Mara and Bush camps. The sightings here were superb and we highly recommend these camps/conservancies too.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep up the good work! Every trip Expert Africa has planned for us has been superb and we are very grateful.
The client feedback on your website and your staff's knowledge of the camps also really helps us to make the right choices time after time." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari
"A very successful holiday"
"A diverse and thought-provoking trip"
Second, we should also mention why we land-transferred to Nanyuki, ie to visit the Karatina market, reputedly the second biggest food market in East Africa. While we had a business-specific reason for making this unusual visit, we can certainly recommend it for anyone who wants an interesting and different experience for a couple of hours in the Nanyuki area, meeting and chatting with local small business people.
All this being said, the heart of the trip was, of course, the safari in general and, in particular, the opportunity to visit - and therefore support - three community-based projects in Laikipia which are all run in somewhat different ways. Our growing sense for some time during our regular visits to Africa since 2006 has been that, with national parks in some parts often failing to provide adequate environmental and wildlife protection, much of the future may well lie in community-based and private (eg Mundulea in Namibia where we stayed in sept 2013) projects. This trip firmed up this view further, especially as it gave us a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the commitment of the local community to the projects and its aspirations, including for the education and related opportunities available to future generations.
Despite the ready sharing of views by those we met, we are cautious about trying to draw firm conclusions other than in the following respects. First, Laikipia is a fabulous part of Kenya and well worth visiting for both its wildlife and its culture. Second, we feel that these community-based projects are genuinely helping the local community consistent with its aims and aspiration and are, therefore, well worth supporting. Third, it will nevertheless likely to difficult to balance preserving tradition with the evolving way of life which inevitably ensues.
Finally, a word of thanks to the Expert Africa team, especially Richard Trillo, for their efforts putting together for us what was another excellent trip." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
"Kenya with a toddler"
It was nice to feel like we had a common 'acquaintance' in Richard, when talking to the owners of the various lodges. They all seemed to respect his work and knowledge of Kenya.
However, we also feel a bit sad that parts of the holiday were not as perfect as we'd hoped despite careful planning and a significant budget (see issues mentioned about El Karama and Driftwood)." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 5 on a Kenya safari
Where to stay in Laikipia
Our suggestions for safari camps in Laikipia
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.
Laikipia Wilderness
Laikipia Wilderness is a rustic owner-managed bush camp, in excellent wild dog territory, offering outstanding guiding.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sirikoi
Sirikoi is a small, very high-quality safari camp with excellent service and food and a wide selection of activities.
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.
Porini Rhino Camp
Porini Rhino Camp is a small, simple, well established tented camp, with a keen focus on sustainable and low-impact tourism.
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.
Kifaru House
Kifaru House is a small, stylish safari lodge in the Lewa Conservancy, with beautiful views across the landscape.
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.
Sandai
Sandai is a pretty, owner-run homestay, set between the Aberdare Range and Mount Kenya, offering a range of activities at extra cost.
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.
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.
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.
