- Best for
- Laikipia's black leopard (Giza) · Wildlife photography in open landscapes · Private-concession safari access · Day and night safaris · African wild dogs · A quieter Kenya
- Best months
- June to October · January and February
- Ideal duration
- 4 nights / 5 days
- Getting there
- By road from Nairobi
Introducing Laikipia
A whole other Kenya.
The Kenya most travellers know comprises golden grasslands, acacia trees and is mostly focussed on the vast theatre of Masai Mara. Laikipia, lo and behold, is something else.
Its landscape rises into a rugged highland plateau, where open savannah gives way to rocky country, riverine woodland and dry bush that seems to stretch towards the northern horizon. It feels less familiar compared to the more popular destinations in Kenya, but it is familiarly spacious. And, in the right places, wonderfully private – just what you might be looking for. This is a landscape where elephants move through open country, Grevy's zebras walk the plains and predators appear without ever conforming to what a conventional safari comes with as a promise. And then there is the black leopard.
Field notes
Three ways to readLaikipia.
A concise field guide to the landscape, its daily rhythm and the encounters that define it.
The landscape
A different kind of safari
Laikipia is especially suited to travellers who have already experienced the classic African safari circuit in Kenya or who want their first African safari to feel more individual than voguish. Private conservancies offer a quieter pace to your travel and, depending on the conservancy and property, greater flexibility in how the day plays out. Night drives add another…
Photo journal
Laikipia,in frames.
Open any photograph to explore the collection in full screen.
Destination combinations
Better together.
Considered routes that place Laikipia in a wider journey without rushing either landscape.
Your private journey
Make your own Laikipia plan.
Tell us what draws you here. We will shape the right season, access, pace and places into one coherent private journey.
Begin planningGood to know
Question, meet answer.
Can I see the black leopard in Laikipia?
The melanistic leopard or the black leopard called Giza is one of Laikipia's defining wildlife attractions, and our expedition is indeed designed around finding and photographing that resident individual. However, wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. The advantage of our dedicated expedition, however, is that several days, private vehicle access and repeated drives allow you more time and better chance to respond to where the animal is moving.
Why is Laikipia different from Masai Mara?
Laikipia has a more rugged, highland character and a strong network of private conservancies. The safari experience can feel quieter and more specialised here than the Mara, particularly for travellers interested in photographing wild dogs, melanistic leopards and nocturnal wildlife. It is less about ticking off the classic safari species that is predictable and more about spending time patiently in a distinctive ecosystem.
Is Laikipia good for wildlife photography?
Yes, particularly for photographers interested in leopards, elephants, wild dogs and nocturnal species. The combination of open terrain, private vehicle access and day- and night-safaris provides flexibility in both species/subject and light. Our current expedition is specifically structured around extended photographic time in the field.
How long should I spend in Laikipia?
Four nights is a strong minimum for a dedicated black leopard expedition because the experience depends on giving wildlife time rather than hastening between several destinations. Longer private journeys can be built around Laikipia if you want to combine it with Masai Mara, Samburu or other parts of Kenya.