Hear about travel to the Laikipia region of Kenya as the Amateur Traveler talks to Shaun Stanley from Stanley Safaris about one of his favorite African destinations.
Why should you visit the Laikipia region?
Shaun says, “Kenya as a whole is one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa. That’s where the safari basically originated. That comes with its own problems in the form of too many tourists being in certain areas like the Massai Mara, which at the moment is getting quite a bad reputation for being overpopulated with vehicles around different sightings. We try and get our guests out of those sorts of environments and into the real African experience”.
“This is where Laikipia really comes into its own. It’s up in the North. It’s off the beaten track. And it’s basically made up of a series of privately owned farms. Back in the day, there were cattle ranches. The owners have now looked at the conservation model and gone, okay, we’re going to convert part of our ranch into a conservation area. They’ve started to reintroduce wildlife back into those areas. We’re talking wildlife that is completely different to what you’re going to get in the Masai Mara. So it’s one of the best places in Africa to see both black and white rhino, which as we all know, are highly endangered across Africa”.
In the podcast, Shaun Stanley recommends the following itinerary for a visit to the Laikipia region of Kenya:
- Arrival in Nairobi:
- Spend one night in Nairobi to recover from your flight and acclimate to the African atmosphere. This also provides time to adjust after arriving in Nairobi’s chaotic airport.
- Travel to Laikipia:
- Fly from Nairobi to Laikipia on a light aircraft. The flight lands on small bush airstrips where animals may need to be cleared before landing.
- Stay at Ol Lentille (3 nights):
- Cultural Experience: Ol Lentille is owned by the Maasai and Samburu communities, offering an immersive, authentic cultural experience. Guests visit local villages, meet with locals, and engage in meaningful two-way cultural exchanges.
- Activities: Walking safaris, scenic walks, bush breakfasts, and sundowners on scenic bluffs overlooking the valley are highlights. Although there is some wildlife, the focus here is on cultural immersion.
- Accommodation: Guests stay in private villas ranging from one to four bedrooms, each with its own guide and vehicle, offering a highly personalized experience.
- Travel to Lewa (3 nights):
- Wildlife Safari: Stay at Sirikoi or Lewa Wilderness Camp, both located in Lewa Conservancy. Lewa is one of the top conservancies for wildlife in Kenya, especially for seeing black and white rhinos, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, buffalo, and more.
- Activities: Wildlife viewing, tracking rhinos with rangers, walking safaris, horse riding safaris, and night drives. Sirikoi offers a private vehicle and guide for each booking, allowing guests to tailor their activities.
- Helicopter Safari (Optional): Take a helicopter to explore the remote northern parts of Kenya, visiting sand dunes, rivers, or Mount Kenya for unique experiences like fly fishing in alpine lakes.
- End of the Trip:
- After the stay in Laikipia, guests can either return to Nairobi or continue to other safari destinations, such as the Masai Mara, if they wish to experience more traditional wildlife viewing, especially during the migration season.
This itinerary allows for a combination of cultural immersion and wildlife safari, with plenty of personalized and exclusive activities.
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Show Notes
Stanley Safaris
Laikipia County
Ol Lentille – Luxury Safari Accommodation in Laikipia, Kenya
Lewa Nature Conservency
Sirikoi Lodge in Lewa
Maasai Mara
Community
on Living Abroad – More Travel Episode 2
When you get tax talk in the first 10 min ❤️. My little accountant heart soars. lol. – Nina
Hi Chris,
Love your podcast and I’ve been listening for many years now. I re-listen to episodes whilst planning trips and find your guests’ experiences and suggestions invaluable, thank you.
I am a wheelchair user based in the UK, and the experience of arranging accessible vacations is relatively easy in more developed countries, such as European countries and the US, but I find it very challenging for more unusual destinations.
I am sure I’m not alone in saying that a bonus episode on accessing resources and how to best find specialist travel companies, particularly for exotic and developing destinations, would be most appreciated.
Keep up the good work. I very much look forward to your podcast each Saturday and hope to enjoy them for many years to come.
Kind regards,
Philip (Pike)
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