home about us reviews videos travel tips travel services eco shop ezine blog contact us

Northern Kenya walking safari

country:Kenya
trip type:Walking safari
departures:2008: 19 Aug, 19 Sep, 19 Oct, 19 Nov
2009: 18 Feb, 19 Mar
price:From £1927 (11 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK from £550
late availability:Late availability on small group trips starting 19 August, 19 September & 19 October. Safari and / or beach extensions available on request!
 
the amazing things you'll be doing
Our walking safari in Kenya’s wild and remote Laikipia plateau and Karisia Hills is a journey back in time across one of Africa’s most spectacular wilderness areas. The walking safari route traverses the rolling hills of the forested Karisia Hills, one of Kenya’s most important old-growth forests high on the Leroghi plateau. As with many walking safaris in Africa, the experience is defined by a subtle combination of adventure and style. The walking safari is planned and organised by some of Africa’s most experienced guides and you are accompanied throughout by a skilled local Samburu warrior guide plus a team of local Samburu and Laikipia Maasai cooks and camp staff.

Kenya walking safariThe walking safari descends from the lush forests to the dry country of the Seya lugga and onwards to the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro river. This is a Kenyan walking holiday with a difference! You’ll follow ancient wildlife trails with nights spent in spectacular camps, erected each night for you by our team. The walking on safari is easy (about 4-5 hours per day) and the days’ activity will be conducted at a pace which suits everyone. This trek is well within the capability of anyone who can manage a gentle day's hiking in the hills at home.

This is luxury ecotourism! Camps are completely organised for you, with all the comforts possible in the bush – delicious 3-course meals around blazing camp fires, hot showers, wash hand basins, spacious tents with comfortable mattresses. Chilled wines and beers are served with meals each evening.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:Arrive in Kenya. Arrive in Nairobi, where you will be met and transferred to a quiet hotel in the suburbs, with pool and excellent restaurant. Relax and recover from the journey.
Day 2:Journey to northern Kenya. We drive through the Great Rift Valley and Laikipia plateau to the foot of the Karisia hills, where our first camp is in a clearing at the edge of the forest. Home to buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard, the Karisias are one of Kenya’s most magical regions.
Day 3-9:Walking safari. We begin by exploring the forests and river valleys of the Karisia Hills before journeying onwards down the Suiyan dry riverbed and up the Leroghi Plateau. Continuing over the Laikipia Plateau, we reach the Ewaso Nyiro river, likely passing Elephant, Impala, Dikdik, Steinbuck, Gerenuk, and hopefully Lesser Kudu. Our safari ends in Tumaren with a spectacular night drive.
Day 10:Tumaren, Laikipia Plateau. Enjoy a morning wildlife drive, looking for hartebeest, reticulated giraffe and Grevy zebra amongst many animals. We enjoy a picnic lunch by the river followed by a further evening drive and sundowners on a high hilltop to celebrate the end of our safari.
Day 11:Return to Nairobi or continue safari. Our hosts will drive us to Nanyuki, from where you will fly back to Nairobi. Alternatively many of our guests choose to extend their safari to one of several excellent wildlife reserves in northern Kenya. We would also be pleased to organize a safari extension to many other parts of the country including the Great Rift Valley Lakes, the Masai Mara or the Indian Ocean coast.
how this holiday makes a difference
We are passionate about the positive effects of considered ecotourism for conservation of natural environments and sustainable development of local communities. The Laikipia plateau is home to rare wildlife such as elephant, lion, leopard and African wild dogs. The natural environment also provides a vital source of water, firewood and cattle grazing for the local Samburu people, who have lived for generations in relative harmony with wildlife.
Kenay walking safari
The walking safari employs a team of local Samburu warrior guides, camp staff and cooks – all of whom have been trained by our in-country partners. The walking safari route deliberately passes through various community-managed “group ranches” (community-managed reserves) where a fee is paid to the community for every client who overnights in the area. It is vital that the local people see that the plateau and its rare wildlife have a value beyond timber and as such, well-managed ecotourism is critical to the region’s future. Our in-country partners are heavily involved in conservation in Laikipia and coordinate a web forum which raises awareness of conservation challenges in the region. Our safaris contribute to the wildlife research and monitoring process in the region.

In addition to supporting the employment of many local people on our safaris, every year we make a significant contribution from our earnings to support nature conservation and related community development projects in northern Kenya. We are proud to have provided over $20,000 of support to the Leroghi Mountains Conservation Fund, which supports the preservation of the Karisia Forest through which you will walk on the first days of your walking safari. This incredible forested region provides a vital habitat for the elephants of the region and many other species. This project is operated by the leading UK conservation organization, the Wilderness Foundation in association with local partners.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.

Convert currencies