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The Laikipika plateau is situated in Central Kenya and it
is one of the seventy one districts of Kenya. The district
has large privately owned ranches that cover many types of
terrain and is rich in wildlife.
Views & Vistas
The Laikipia Plateau is often called the last stronghold of
romantic East Africa. It features vast open ranches, with
the snow-capped Mount Kenya in the background. The district
houses ethnically diverse communities including the Mukogodo
Masai and Samburu. These indigenous tribal people have partnered
with the settlers and ranchers to create a two million acres
(800,000 hectares) wild savannah conservation and wildlife
haven.
The land of Laikipia is fed by the Ewaso Nyiro and Ewaso Narok
rivers, Laikipia's abundant plains have long nurtured exceptional
diversity. Even today traditional resources remain the mainstay
of the community- The main occupations being wheat farming
and livestock ranching to wildlife conservation and now tourism.
As a tourist destination, Laikipia's offers something for
everyone. You can choose between a wildlife conservation activity
holidays, to simply taking a break from your routine life.
The more active tourist or visitor can participate in the
annual Lewa Downs Cross-Country Marathon. This is one of the
most spectacular runs at an altitude of around 3000 metres.
It is considered one amongst the most gruelling challenges
for runners from all over the world.
The district is an ideal location for catching The "Big
Five" in their natural habitat. (rhino, elephant, lion,
leopard, buffalo). Laikipia is also home to the largest number
of endangered mammals in Kenya.
The conservancy protects half of Kenya's black rhino population
in the Solio, Lewa, Ol Jogi, Ol Pejeta and Ol Ari Nyiro Sanctuaries.
Kenya's second largest herds of elephant (over 3,200 at last
count) outside the Tsavo National Park reside here and this
is the last refuge of the endangered Jackson's Hartebeest.
Other animals in the conservancy include the Wild dog, leopard,
lion, cheetah and other predators that hunt the plentiful
plains game viz., impala, gazelle, reticulated giraffe, Grevy's
zebra, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx and gerenuk.
Laikipia offers diverse scenery from the peaks of Mount Kenya
to the boundaries of the Great Rift Valley. The views comprise
of dusty plains and green grasslands, interspersed with rocky
hills, rivers, and waterholes.
The Laikipia ecosystem is an experiment in ecotourism. Here
the local residents and the administration demonstrate the
viability and sustainability of wildlife tourism as an economic
resource.
The conservancy is home to world class community owned tourism
projects such as IL Ngwesi, Tassia, Koija, Loisaba amongst
others.
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