Northern Kenya

The Laikipia area is a collection of communal and private land that are now managed collectively by the Laikipia Wildlife Forum. Lion, wild dog, rhino, reticulated giraffe, aardvark and over 280 species of birds are highlights here. The rhinos have collars and are closely protected. There are a number of excellent lodges to visit here – some fancy and some quite basic – that offer a great variety of things to do. It’s also a highlight to visit a Samburu village – they are an offshoot of the Maasai tribe with some of the most elaborately and colourfully dressed people on the planet. As an added bonus, the area is free from malaria because it’s on high-lying ground. The Samburu Game Reserve, which is in the so-called Northern Frontier, offers some phenomenal game viewing, especially along the winding course of the Ewaso Ng’iro River. The area is a great place to see and photograph dryland species including giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. The national park does get busy, and it’s best to head for more exclusive private game camps such as Elephant Watch or cross to the far side of the river at Shaba, which was where Joy Adamson lived for a while. The Northern region also includes Mathews Range of mountains as well as the northern lakes.