Karisia Walking Safaris: Our full report

Karisia Walking Safaris is a small, family-run set-up in a remote part of Northern Laikipia.

Based on Tumaren ranch, a 3000-acre (12-square-kilometre) wildlife conservancy, Karisia specialise in camel-assisted walking safaris that explore the farther reaches of Laikipia. Karisia either use overnight fly-camps to make a multi-day safari from A to B, or do day walks out of the permanent camp on their ranch.

After breaking camp each day, the Laikipia Maasai crew go ahead to set up the next overnight camp. Depending on whether you are doing a “classic safari", or a “luxury safari", your tent will be either a lighter, canvas "hunting tent" or a large, traditional safari tent with more luxurious sleeping arrangements. Toilet and bathroom facilities are private in the case of luxury safaris (one toilet and one shower tent for each tent) or shared on classic safaris. In either case, long drop toilets are freshly dug for each camp, with wooden seats provided inside a small loo tent. The showers are in shower tents, and safari-style “bucket showers", with hot water brought to the back of the shower tent as required and dispensed through a regular shower head.

The third option, Tumaren Satellite Camp, is the luxury camping version but in a fixed location on the ranch with private toilet and shower facilities. If you stay at Tumaren Satellite Camp, your camel-assisted walking takes place as a half-to-full-day excursion from the camp each morning, returning later in the day for dinner.

On all the safaris, riding camels are available for tired members of the party, and kids love the view from on high! Most walkers will carry day packs, but your main luggage is carried by the camels.

On multi-day walking safaris, each day typically consists of a 4-5 hour walk of around 8-15km, depending on the fitness of the party and the terrain being crossed, and allowing for rest stops and pauses to watch wildlife. You'll walk for miles without crossing a road. The walks usually stop at lunch time, leaving the afternoon free for rest, reading, pottering around the camp, or further activities such as guided nature walks and exploring for children and energetic adults.

As you are walking, the wildlife tends to be more skittish than if you were in a vehicle, but you are likely to see, at a distance, elephant, reticulated giraffe, various species of antelope and plains game as well as some of the endangered species, such as Grevy’s zebra and wild dog.

Our view

We haven’t yet had a chance to do a full Expert Africa inspection visit to Karisia, but one of our team sampled the walking experience in 2016, before joining Expert Africa. What we loved was the sense of freedom – the vast open spaces and the opportunity to learn about the fascinating Samburu culture. The walking was complemented by our guide’s wonderful ability to make quite long walks informative and interesting without losing the pace of the journey.

Anton Walker

Kenya expert

Geographics

Location: Laikipia, Kenya
Ideal length of stay: 3–4 nights
Directions: Scheduled flight to Nanyuki, where you will be met, followed by a 2-hour drive.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board
Food quality: Freshly made meals are prepared three times a day.
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Outdoor Dining
Drinks included: Soft drinks, local beer, house wine and some spirits are included on luxury safaris, but are not included on classic safaris. However, they can be bought.

Special interests

Walking safaris: On Karisia's multi-day walking safaris, you'll typically walk for up to five hours each day, covering around 15km. Karisia will tailor this to the fitness of people in your party and the landscapes you're crossing, allowing for rest stops and pauses to watch wildlife en route.; See ideas for Walking safaris
Walking: Walking with camels at a relaxed pace (camel-assisted walking) is an ideal way to absorb the landscapes and wildlife of northern Kenya. You can do this for a few hours or several days.; See ideas for Walking

Children

Attitude towards children: Karisia is a family friendly outfit and children as young as 4 have participated in their walks.
Property’s age restrictions: 5
Special activities & services: Traditional activities are often organized with the Samburu guides, including fire-making, spear throwing and bow-shooting, animal tracking and nature walks. fishing, bouldering, and learning from the Laikipia Maasai trackers.
Generally recommended for children: While we would recommend Karisia for adventurous families, children must be active, outdoor types who enjoy lots of exercise.

Communications

Power supply notes: No power while walking. At night, limited solar lighting and head torches. Ask us about charging camera batteries, which is not always possible.
Communications: Very limited phone signal while walking.
TV & radio: None
Water supply: Transported in