Walking Safaris in Laikipia, Northern Kenya

A walking safari in unspoilt wilderness, escorted by Samburu and Maasai guides with an intimate knowledge of the wildlife, people and landscapes, is a memorable experience.  We offer walking safaris in Kenya spending 2 nights or longer in the bush in simple but comfortable mobile camps, with supplies and equipment carried by camels and staffed by the camp team who will look after you throughout the expedition. Once you have slept under the African stars, listened to nightjars calling, or the singing of Samburu warriors in the distance, you will have unforgettable memories of being close to nature in the wilds of Africa . The walking safari can be added to any of our itineraries featuring our Porini Camp safaris and an perfect excursion from Porini Rhino Camp.

Click here for detail of Porini Rhino Camp.

The walks take place in stunning landscape starting from an unspoilt 3000 acre ranch dedicated exclusively to the management and conservation of wildlife. With 360 degree sweeping views of Mount Kenya to the South and the vast Frontier District to the North, the ranch is a window onto the romantic wilds of northern Kenya . and has good numbers of resident game and predators. An evening walk on the ranch typically will turn up Gerenuk, Impala, Steinbuck, Common Zebra, Grevy's Zebra, Elephant, Grant's Gazelle and Dikdiks. Several days spent in the area will likely find the shyer or less common species such as Lesser Kudu, Eland, Hyena, Bat-eared Fox, Reticulated Giraffe or Hartebeest.  Occasionally visitors may catch sight of the local Lions or Wilddogs.

Conservation
The walking safaris are dedicated to conservation in Kenya and specifically in the particular areas where they operate. Since conservation and people are directly linked, the safaris actively support the communities, by employing local people, paying conservation fees to the communities, and purchasing all local goods whenever possible. The owners of the ranch have supported and encouraged sustainable, traditional honey production for the last seven years, by buying raw honey from the local Samburu amd Laikipia Maasai people and processing it, employing many local people. The locally produced honey is then delivered to markets in Nairobi , allowing the honey gatherers to sell their product to a much larger market.

Walking Safari Itinerary - 2 night / 3 day Safari:

Day 1 You will be met in Nanyuki or from Porini Rhino Camp and taken to the start of the safari. The drive is about 2 hours through pretty countryside, hopefully seeing some wildlife along the way.

Nyarara Camp

You will be welcomed at camp by your team of Laikipia Maasai and Samburu. Nyarara means Cheetah in Maasai and the camp was given this name because of a large male that has been seen in the area.

On our afternoon walk we will pass through plains as well as mixed bush.  Herds of Zebra, Oryx and Grant’s gazelle predominate on the large plains with smaller numbers of Jackson’s Hartebeest and Thompson’s Gazelle.  In the mixed bush we find Dikdiks, Gerenuk, Impala and Lesser Kudu if we are lucky enough to see them.

Day 2 Tumaren Ewaso Camp

Today we will be heading down toward the Ewaso Nyiro River, which runs along the eastern edge of the Laikipia Plateau and then turns eastward toward Samburu National Reserve.  Along the way we will be looking for Eland, Steinbuck, Giraffe, Waterbuck, Grevy Zebra as well as all the tough-to-see predators such as Wild Dog, Hyena, Lion, Leopard or Cheetah. We will spend the afternoon by the river and swimming and fishing before an evening walk to a sundowner spot looking towards Mt. Kenya.

The pack camels with the camp will have made a more direct route than us and so they will have arrived and set up most of camp before our arrival.

Day 3 After breakfast you will be driven to Nanyuki in time for your onward flight or stay at Porini Rhino Camp.

Walking Safari Itinerary - 3 night / 4 day Safari:

Day 1 You will be met in Nanyuki or from Porini Rhino Camp and taken to the start of the safari. The drive is about 2 hours through pretty countryside, hopefully seeing some wildlife along the way.

Nayasura Camp / Tumaren

A beautiful outcrop of stone overshadows the camp and you will have seen the feature from miles as you approached in the vehicle.  The local Laikipia Maasai call these rocks Nayasura and stone chippings suggest that they have been used as a camp for millennia.  

 After lunch you will head out on a short walk looking for game and getting a feel for the country.  As the sun begins to set we will find ourselves at the crest of Nayasura with drinks and bitings watching the baboons come back to roost on the face of the rock.  

Day 2 Nyarara Camp

From Nayasura we will head out early after breakfast so to see as much game as possible on our walk north towards Nyarara Camp. Nyarara means Cheetah in Maasai and the camp was given this name because of a large male that has been seen in the area.

Along our walk we will walk across plains as well as mixed bush.  Herds of Zebra, Oryx and Grant’s gazelle predominate on the large plains with smaller numbers of Jackson’s Hartebeest and Thompson’s Gazelle.  In the mixed bush we find Dikdiks, Gerenuk, Impala and Lesser Kudu if we are lucky enough to see them.

The pack camels with the camp will have made a more direct route than us and so they will have arrived and set up most of camp before our arrival.  After lunch we will follow our routine of resting, reading or badminton for the energetic and later another walk in the evening to a pretty spot for sundowners.  

Day 3 Tumaren Ewaso Camp

Today we will be heading down toward the Ewaso Nyiro River, which runs along the eastern edge of the Laikipia Plateau and then turns eastward toward Samburu National Reserve.  Along the way we will be looking for Eland, Steinbuck, Giraffe, Waterbuck, Grevy Zebra as well as all the tough-to-see predators such as Wild Dog, Hyena, Lion, Leopard or Cheetah. We will spend the afternoon by the river and swimming and fishing before an evening walk to a sundowner spot looking towards Mt. Kenya.

Day 4 After breakfast you will be driven to Nanyuki in time for your onward flight or stay at Porini Rhino Camp.