Reviews of safaris to Laikipia
210 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Laikipia.
"Kenya Safari review"
Olivia was very responsive and helped customize our trip based on our wants. She kept us up-to-date on any flight changes which was very helpful.
We loved the rough guide to Kenya that we received, it was nice to read.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We ended up staying 4 days in Masai Mara because they were running a special 4 nights for 3 days cost. We had a great time at Basecamp and saw a lot but it might have been too much time in one place. We had 7 nights total, I think it would be possible to fit a 3rd location into our itinerary for those that are looking for a more strenuous trip.
The Rough Guide to Kenya was great however you may want to consider sending it a little earlier on in the process if feasible. Our itinerary was already set by the time we received it so if we read about something we were interested in, we couldn't change anything." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari
"My Nov 2018 trip"
Kenya is magical, suffice to say " I Will be back "
As I stated earlier, I came home a tired but extremely happy lady who is yet to wipe the grin off her face" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
"A good trip with a few adventures"
Rwanda was a nice surprise. Kenya was wonderful.
Saw little of Uganda but we liked what we saw.
Made new friends and enjoyed the contacts with the local people. Most of them were welcoming, happy and very friendly. Then again we found this in most African countries we visited." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
"October Kenya safari & Lamu dream holiday"
The four legs of the trip - Borana in the Highlands, a not for profit conservancy which is helping re-establish the black rhino to the first Maasai-owned Camp in the Mara, to six days on Lamu island, a centre of Swahili culture, provided wonderful contrasts and very different experiences.
We could not have wished for a more perfect trip which exceeded all expectations. Now we would love to explore more of Kenya and see more of sub-Saharan Africa. Problem is, we also loved where we went and would like to return to these places and people too! Not the worst problem to have...asante sana, Expert Africa!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Expert Africa could offer a bit more information about activities in addition to quality of camps and lodges -- including interrogating the interests of a family group in order to get them to plan more of what they can get out of a trip. We didn't realise until the end of our first day at Borana, for example, that horse riding really offered the chance of a safari on horseback - and this then made Borana very special.
On the other hand, the flexibility of the Expert Africa team in allowing us to stay at a friend's private accommodation on Lamu was greatly appreciated. The process of building up the itinerary was a very positive experience and I trusted Richard Trillo's advice and in depth knowledge.
On the quote: It would have been nice to have had more of a breakdown of costs and options as I didn't feel able to weigh up alternatives fully. On the other hand, the itinerary was fairly fixed when it came to where we wanted to go on safari.
Finding ways of helping providers be as green as possible would be beneficial - not just conserving species (and we did donate to the Rhino International fund) but also ways of eliminating plastic in camps is important as these are visible ways of leaving less impact. After all, the Kenyan government has banned all plastic bags, so camps and airlines including safarilink should be encouraged to have refillable water canteens, etc. And camps can easily switch.
On Lamu - I would certainly explore the growing private villa/house rental options as these a fun, private and often of historic interest. Otherwise, airbnb and tripadvisor will take a share of your future business....(Our situation was coincidental and through a friend who owns a place with bandas at the end of the island...)
In summary, I rate Expert Africa highly and would recommend you to others! Many thanks." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
"My Aug 2018 trip"
"My Aug 2018 trip"
Excellent organisation from Expert Africa.
Thank you for all your help.we felt safe in all the camps as there are short wave radios in the rooms with guards on at night.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Warn people it can be very cold even though it’s on the equator! Woolly hat would have been good!
The standard of hygiene was very good in all the camps. Drinking water provided ." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
"Kenya safari 2018 "
Only reservation, final camp would have been better if they told me what the routine re securing tents in the evening was - on first night escorted to camp by guard but it was pitch dark and on my one felt a little scared. However they did sort it out for the other nights making sure that the blinds were all down and the lights were left on.
Generally felt very safe despite being on my own." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
"My Aug 2018 trip"
Combining Kicheche Laikipia and Kicheche Mara provided variety and also continuity in their shared ethos of commitment to the animals, environment, local community and to their guests being cared for and to providing the best possible guiding experience. Both conservancies offer lovely landscape and a great variety and number of animals.
Expert Africa (Richard!) organized the trip so well and thoroughly that, travelling alone, I felt continually looked after." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari
"McCurdie trip July 18"
"My Mar 2018 trip"
I have traveled extensively in Africa, but this was my first trip to Kenya. It is a totally different experience and I attribute the success to our wonderful guides at each camp.
The animal life is astonishing as is the bird life.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
One suggestion: provide more detail about applying for the e-visa...advise people that they need to log onto the site after several days to get the visa.
This is not very clear on the Kenyan site." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Where to stay in Laikipia
Our suggestions for safari camps in Laikipia
Kicheche Laikipia
Kicheche Laikipia is the most luxurious tented camp of the handful of places to stay in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in central Laikipia.
Laikipia Wilderness
Laikipia Wilderness is a rustic owner-managed bush camp, in excellent wild dog territory, offering outstanding guiding.
Lewa Safari Camp
Lewa Safari Camp is a comfortable and homely tented lodge, located in the Lewa Conservancy and offering a relatively exclusive safari away from mass tourism.
Sosian
Sosian Lodge is a distinctive, estancia-style ranch house on a former cattle ranch, with great opportunities for riding, relaxing and seeing wild dogs and other savannah wildlife.
Lewa Wilderness
Lewa Wilderness is a comfortable, fenced safari lodge with nine cottages, great views and a huge range of activities.
El Karama Lodge
El Karama is a comfortably rustic, very personal, riverside eco-lodge on a game-rich private ranch in Laikipia, an hour’s drive north of Nanyuki airport.
Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge
The community-owned Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge sits atop a small hill in the remote Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, a two-hour drive north of Lewa Conservancy in north-eastern Laikipia.
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp is a simple camp, with comfortable tents, delivering an authentic wilderness experience backed up by good food and guiding.
Borana
Borana is a comfortable and striking lodge on the Borana Conservancy in eastern Laikipia, offering pleasant accommodation with good food and service and a very wide range of activities.
Solio Lodge
Solio Lodge is an exclusive and luxurious bush lodge set in the private Solio Game Ranch in southern Laikipia.
Porini Rhino Camp
Porini Rhino Camp is a small, simple, well established tented camp, with a keen focus on sustainable and low-impact tourism.
Lewa House
Lewa House is a very comfortable, boutique safari lodge located on the Lewa Conservancy, north of Mount Kenya.
Sirikoi
Sirikoi is a small, very high-quality safari camp with excellent service and food and a wide selection of activities.
Loisaba Tented Camp
Loisaba Tented Camp is a luxury safari base of tented rooms, ranged along a ridge in the Loisaba Conservancy, facing Mount Kenya. The camp was completely rebuilt in 2016.
Kifaru House
Kifaru House is a small, stylish safari lodge in the Lewa Conservancy, with beautiful views across the landscape.
Tassia Lodge
Tassia offers a unique wilderness experience in a remote location: come here for cultural interaction, stunning views and something a bit different.
Loisaba Star Beds
Loisaba Starbeds is a simple camp of 4 rooms with pull-out, open-air 'star beds', located near a dam in the Loisaba Conservancy, in northwestern Laikipia.
Sandai
Sandai is a pretty, owner-run homestay, set between the Aberdare Range and Mount Kenya, offering a range of activities at extra cost.
Karisia Walking Safaris
Karisia Walking Safaris operates camel assisted, multi-day walking safaris from its main camp, Tumaren, set in a remote part of Laikipia.
Sabuk Lodge
Sabuk Lodge is a charismatic and remote lodge in western Laikipia on the high, rocky banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River.
Sweetwaters Serena
Sweetwaters Serena is a large, older tented camp – the largest camp in the Laikipia region – in the eastern part of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Sanctuary at Ol Lentille
The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille is an unusual safari lodge in northern Laikipia, consisting of three exclusive villas, and offering a huge range of activities.
Governors' Mugie House
Governors' Mugie House – a substantial, luxury safari lodge – is one of only two properties in the Mugie Conservancy in northwestern Laikipia.
Thomsons Falls Lodge
Thomsons Falls Lodge is a simple hotel dating back to the colonial era, located above the falls of the same name, near the western Laikipia town of Nyahururu.
Ekorian's Mugie Camp
Ekorian's Mugie Camp is a pleasant, family-friendly safari camp in a remote location in northwestern Laikipia.
