Traverse Laikipia on Foot

Nights 2 - 4: Karisia Walking Safari

After breakfast you will depart early from Tumaren on your mobile Karisia walking safari with camels.

There will be riding camels with you and these can be ridden when you wish, and they also carry the refreshments for the walk. The pack camels with your mobile camp will have taken a more direct route arriving in camp ahead of you and setting up your tents and hot showers. You will arrive in camp in time for lunch and a cold drink. After lunch you can relax in the cool shade of acacia trees or enjoy a short loop walk with one of your guides.

Accommodation is in private Air B&C tents (air bed and camel!), with comfortable mattresses, crisp linens, hot showers, cool drinks and delicious food. It is the perfect way to unplug from busy lives and reconnect with nature under African skies.

The next three days are spent walking and exploring the conservancies of Laikipia working your way south with end destination El Karama Lodge. The route will take you past Mpala and Combretum and the mobile camp will be setup in a different location every night. On average around 15km is walked every day and the riding camels are always on hand if need be. The min age for the safari is 12 years, but children from 8 to 12 can be accommodated by taking a vehicle along too, which is at an extra cost.

You will experience amazing scenery along the way as well as great wildlife sightings whilst learning from your guide all the time.

Night 5: El Karama Bell Tent Camp

Your first night on El Karama will be at Combretum on the northern boundary.

You will say goodbye to the camels and be welcomed into the gorgeous bell tent camp. Have a hot bucket shower and change into clean clothes, stretch your legs by the fire. By now, you will be used to the many sounds of the African night, lulled to sleep by the night jar’s call and the distant howl of hyena. Hot water bottles warm your cosy safari beds, the smell of the campfire still lingering softly on the air.

Nights 6 to 8: El Karama Lodge

Awakening in the clean bright light of the bell tent, today you will walk through the conservancy via a delectable bush lunch, through plenty of wildlife and endless views, to El Karama Lodge.

After five days on foot, you’ll be ready for some luxury and pampering. Swim in the pool, enjoy a massage by the river, read a book on your own private veranda. The pace of your safari can change as much, or as little, as you’d like. The rooms are all comfortable, spacious and airy, with en suite bathrooms equipped with big baths for hot soaks. Remaining horizontal is 100% an option, and well deserved, but if you’d like to keep exploring, there are LOTS to do!

Early morning game drives are often rewarded with cat sightings, and a trip to the farm yields tasty, organic rewards to be enjoyed at lunch. You can go for walks, play volleyball, swim in the river (and try and catch a fish or two), take sundowners to some likely sighting spot, go lion tracking or learn about the leopard research programme. The chefs will prepare superb meals, all fresh and local, and the bar is well stocked with all the cool drinks you could possibly need.

On your final day on safari wake up at six and make the most of the dawn, photographing wildlife in exquisite, golden light. Take a picnic breakfast and stay out all morning, coming back in the heat of the day for a blissful swim in the pool and last, lazy, siesta after lunch. After tea, go for one more walk, followed by an evening by the fire, reminiscing on all your adventures.

The next morning, a leisurely breakfast and flight back to Nairobi for your connecting flight home, or the next leg of your safari.