LAIKIPIA
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THINGS TO DO IN LAIKIPIA
OL PEJETA
As well as conserving wildlife, preserving wilderness and providing sanctuary to endangered species, Ol Pejeta has a host of activities that’ll keep even the most active visitor happy. Those who are interested in their innovative conservation techniques can ‘get their hands dirty’ working behind the scenes with the rangers. Tracking lions, working with anti-poaching dogs, visiting the endangered species boma, participating in feeding time with the chimpanzees and dropping in on the local communities are just some of the ways rangers spend their days. For those who enjoy safari, there are many ways to view the animals and birds: game drives, bush walks, bird watching and more. For the most energetic of all, try a safari on horseback or mountain bike, then slake your appetite with one of Morani Restaurant’s
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famed burgers or a healthy fresh salad. www.olpejetaconservancy.org
NGARE NDARE FOREST
This lush forest is dotted with cascading waterfalls, gleaming pools, rugged crags and towering trees. Not only that – according to the Northern Rangelands Trust, it’s the only indigenous forest in Kenya with an expanding canopy cover, some of whose trees are thought to be as much as 200 years old. There’s plenty to do here. The canopy walk – a mesh bridge over 450 meters long, dangling around 15 meters above the ground – takes you through the tops of the trees; if you’re lucky, a black rhino, elephant or buffalo might stroll beneath you. Many walking paths and mountain bike trails meander through the forest and guides are available to show
you the way. If you’re brave enough, why not leap from the towering rocks and plunge into the icy water below. Afterwards, if you need a drink, head for Ngare Ndare Village which – it is said – is home to 500 people and 26 bars! www.nrt-kenya.org/ngare-ndare/
MT KENYA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY
Kenya’s highest mountain, and the second highest in Africa, is home to unique species of flora and fauna; the mountain is a National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site and has a Wildlife Conservancy on its shoulders. The Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy was started in the 1960s by film star William Holden and TV personality Don Hunt, and immediately seized the interest of the then
