Kenya
Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu
Region
North of Nairobi, the land rises towards Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain.
by Felix Gillen
North of Nairobi, the land rises towards Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. Around the summit are national parks with mountain forest and moorland, private conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau, and further north the dry reserves of Samburu and Shaba, home to animals rarely seen in southern Kenya.The market town of Nanyuki, on the Equator, is a practical starting point for mountain treks and game drives.
Mountains and Montane ForestMount Kenya National Park encompasses the mountain's high altitudes, including the 4,985-meter-high Point Lenana, a peak for trekkers. Since 1997, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with the surrounding forest. West of it, Aberdare National Park protects a second mountain range with waterfalls and the tree lodges Treetops and The Ark.Laikipia and the RhinosOn the plateau between Mount Kenya and the Aberdares are former cattle ranches that now protect wildlife. Ol Pejeta, west of Nanyuki, is considered East Africa's largest sanctuary for black rhinos. Lewa, north of the mountain, hosts the world's largest single population of Grevy's zebras and has been part of the World Heritage since 2013.The Dry North and MeruAlong the Ewaso Ng’iro river are Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba, home to the Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich. To the east, George and Joy Adamson raised the lioness Elsa in Meru National Park.Before travelling, check the current travel and security advisories from the UK FCDO, linked on the country page.
More places in Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu
The Samburu National Reserve lies approximately 350 kilometers north of Nairobi on the Ewaso Ng'iro, whose doum palms and riverine forests attract elephants, lions, and leopards to the arid landscape. Together with the Buffalo Springs National Reserve on the south bank, it is the most renowned safari destination in northern Kenya.Here you can spot the Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, and Somali Ostrich.
Nanyuki is a market town in Laikipia County at the western foot of Mount Kenya, whose southern part is crossed by the Equator. It is the base for tours up the mountain and for safaris in Ol Pejeta and the other conservancies of the Laikipia Plateau.British settlers settled here in 1907. Today, markets, lodges on the outskirts, and handicrafts characterize the town of over 70,000 inhabitants.
Meru National Park is located east of Meru town, approximately 350 kilometers from Nairobi, in the lowlands between Mount Kenya and the Tana River. It was here that George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, whose story became world-famous through the book and film 'Born Free'.Following a reconstruction between 2000 and 2005, the park is once again home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, black and white rhinos, and Grevy's zebras.
The Aberdare National Park protects the highlands of the Aberdare Range between 2,000 and 4,000 meters, about 150 kilometers north of Nairobi near Nyeri. Misty mountain forest, moorland, and waterfalls such as the Karuru Falls characterize the park, which was founded in 1950.It became known for the Treetops tree lodge, where Elizabeth II became queen in 1952.
History and Culture
Kirinyaga, the Sacred MountainFor the Kikuyu, living on the southern slopes of Mount Kenya, the peak is Kirinyaga. Their traditional belief holds that God resides on its summit. Their cuisine, with dishes like Mukimo and Githeri, still defines the central highlands.From Settler Farms to ConservanciesFrom 1907, British settlers established themselves in Nanyuki, leading to the creation of large cattle farms on the Laikipia Plateau. Several of these later became protected areas: Lewa from 1983 as the Craig family's rhino sanctuary, Ol Pejeta in 1988 as Sweetwaters Game Reserve, and in 2004 as a non-profit Conservancy.Born Free and Joy AdamsonIn Meru, George and Joy Adamson raised the lioness Elsa, whose story became world-famous as "Born Free." Joy Adamson later rewilded the leopard Penny in Shaba and was murdered there in 1980.
Exploring the Region
Getting ThereThe A2 highway leads north from Nairobi via Nanyuki. Nanyuki has an airstrip for light aircraft, located 6.5 kilometers south of the town. Meru National Park is situated east of Meru town, approximately 350 kilometers from Nairobi.Game Drives and EntryMount Kenya, Aberdare, and Meru National Parks are managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), with payments made via the eCitizen portal.Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba are reserves administered by the counties, while Ol Pejeta and Lewa are private conservancies with their own fees.Current rates are provided by the respective operators; they were last updated in October 2025.Best Time to TravelThe long rains typically occur from mid-March to June, and the short rains from late October to December. The drier months in between are better suited for mountain trekking and game drives.
