Borana Conservancy

Borana Conservancy is located at the foot of Mt Kenya just North of the equator, resting on the Laikipia Plateau. The Conservancy is nestled between an arid landscape to the north and ancient indigenous forests to the south. This 32,000-acre conservation area is home to both Black and White Rhino and various other endangered species.

How to get there

Drive: You can also get to Lewa by road, we are only an hour’s drive from Nairobi. Head out through the Thika road. Pass through Thika, Makuyu and Karatina. Turn right before Nyeri Town (about 16km before the town there are signs to Buffalo Springs and Samburu).

Pass through Naro Moru, Nanyuki, and Timau. Approximately 15km after Timau is the Meru/Isiolo junction. Turn left at this junction heading towards Isiolo. Approx 3km further on at the bottom of the hill on the left-hand side is the main entrance to the Borana Conservancy.

Commercial Flights: There are daily direct flights to Lewa Downs from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, offered by SafariLink or Air Kenya. A flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Borana Conservancy takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Borana shares a joint conservation management policy with its neighbors that is dedicated to protecting a quarter of a million acres of Africa’s natural environment. During a successful afternoon exploring Borana, you might see over 20 different kinds of mammals. Around 3000 elephants roam freely through the conservancy and wider landscape, we have over a dozen matriarch cows with radio collars in the Laikipia area so that we can monitor their movements. This research is of great importance to us to reduce the instances of human-wildlife conflict.

Borana Conservancy is home to a variety of different environments which combine to create a haven for a huge diversity of bird life. Our list of birds was started in 1980 and has been compiled by many ornithologists since. We have now accounted for close to 400 different species of birds. We provide all of our guests with a comprehensive birds, mammals, reptiles & amphibians list for all guests when staying at Borana Lodge.

✓ Fly-Camping: Experience an overnight camp in the African bush with a blend of adventure and luxury.
✓ Train Like a Ranger: Participate in ranger training activities, learning skills like tracking and navigation.
✓ Visit Pride Rock: Explore the location that inspired Pride Rock from “The Lion King,” with breathtaking views.
✓ Rhino Tracking: Join guided expeditions to track and monitor rhinos, gaining insights into conservation efforts.
✓ Waitabit Farm Tours: Learn about sustainable farming practices and community support through guided farm tours.
✓ Local School Visits: Tour schools supported by the conservancy to understand the impact of conservation on education
✓ Ngare Ndare Forest: Walk through the forest canopy and swim in glacial pools, offering a different wilderness experience.
✓ Bush Meals & Sundowners: Dine in scenic spots within the bush, and enjoy drinks and snacks while watching the sunset.
✓ Helicopter Safaris: Experience the conservancy from the air, offering stunning views and unique perspectives of the landscape.
✓ Guided Bush Walks: Experience the ecosystem up close with knowledgeable guides who focus on flora, fauna, and tracking wildlife.
✓ Masai Cultural Visits: Engage with the local Masai community to learn about their traditions, with opportunities to buy handmade crafts.
✓ Mountain Biking & E-Biking: Ride through the conservancy’s terrain, suitable for various skill levels, providing an active way to see wildlife.
✓ Reteti Elephant Orphanage: Visit an orphanage dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating elephants, with close encounters and conservation education.
✓ Game Drives: Enjoy guided 4×4 game drives to spot the Big Five and other wildlife. Drives are personalized, with options for night drives to see nocturnal animals.
✓ Horse Riding: Explore Borana’s landscape and wildlife on horseback. Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders, with various durations available.

✓ Arijiju Retreat Holiday Home: a private holiday villa for exclusive accommodation and is situated in the Borana Conservancy on the Laikipia Plateau in Kenya. The retreat is about 350 km from Nairobi by road and is about a 15-minute drive from the Borana Airstrip.

You can reach Arijiju by shared scheduled flight to the Lewa Airstrip which is then a 90-minute drive to the property. Alternatively, you can take a private charter to the Borana Airstrip which is only 15 minutes from Arijiju, or charter a private helicopter to land directly at the property.

✓ Borana Lodge: located in the Borana Conservancy in Laikipia, about 27 km (17 miles) north of the equator (Nanyuki Town). Borana Lodge is set on the edge of the Samangua Valley with panoramic views of Mount Kenya and Kenya’s Northern Frontier.

Borana Luxury Lodge is a 4-hour drive from Nairobi and an hour from Nanyuki. We can arrange scheduled flights or private charters for your trip. Scheduled flights land at the Lewa airstrip located 50 minutes from Borana. The journey to the lodge can of course take longer depending on how much wildlife is seen on the way.

✓ Lengishu House: an exclusive-use family home located at the center of the Borana Conservancy surrounded by undulating hills and boasts breathtaking views of the Lengishu hills across Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Borana Conservancy is the most successful rhino sanctuary, located 30km north of the equator at an altitude of 2000 meters on the foothills of Mt Kenya. Daily scheduled flights are available from Nairobi Wilson to Lewa Downs followed by a 1-hour 30-minute road transfer to Lengishu house. Lengishu house is a 5-hour drive from Nairobi. Private charter flights are also allowed to the Borana Conservancy Airstrip, a 15-minute game drive to Lengishu.

✓ Laragai House: a luxury safari villa located in Borana Conservancy, Laikipia adjacent to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. It is situated 17 miles north of the equator (Nanyuki). Borana Conservancy is Kenya’s newest and most successful rhino sanctuary.

Laragai house has panoramic views into the Northern Frontier District, across the ranch, and up to Mount Kenya.  This luxury house is a 4-hour drive from Nairobi and a 1-hour drive from Nanyuki.

There are daily scheduled flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Lewa Downs where a guide will be there waiting for you and will take you on the one-and-a-half-hour game drive to Laragai House. You will have the opportunity to see the big five on the way. Laragai also has its helicopter landing site and a private airstrip. Charter flights are welcome.

✓ Sirai House: a magnificent private home located on (35000-acre) Borana Ranch on the Borana Conservancy Laikipia, on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya. Borana Conservancy is just 27 km north of the equator and has an average altitude of around 2,000 meters (6,560 feet).

Borana is a 4-hour drive from Nairobi and a 1-hour drive from the town of Nanyuki. There are daily scheduled flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport to the neighboring Lewa Downs Conservancy airstrip followed by a 1-hour game drive transfer to Sirai House. There is also an airstrip on the Borana Conservancy for private charter flights followed by a 20-minute drive to Sirai House. 

Note: To visit Borana Conservancy, booking accommodation within the conservancy in one of the above houses is required.

The Borana Conservancy is well populated with a full range of wildlife, including lions and elephants, as well as being an important sanctuary for highly endangered species such as black rhinos, white rhinos, Grevy’s zebras, and reticulated giraffes. When it comes to predators, the area is home to around 50 lions, 100 spotted hyenas, 12 cheetahs, and 20 leopards, supplemented by occasional visits by roaming wild dog packs.

In 2013 a total of 21 black rhinos were translocated from Lake Nakuru National Park to Borana and Lewa conservancies. Now that the fences have been removed, these animals are now free to roam and mix with the black and white rhinos previously in the Lewa area.

The Grevy’s zebras are also of great note around here. The total world population of this very strippy mule-like creature is reckoned to be around 2500, of which 90% are in Kenya and 350 are here in Lewa/Borana, the largest single population.

The area also represents a haven for elephants and hosts around 400 migratory animals around the year. The reserve also does a lot of work monitoring and protecting elephants across the whole region, including the building of an elephant underpass on the busy Meru-Nanyuki highway to maintain the important migration route up into the forests of Mount Kenya. Other interesting local specialties are Beisa oryx, gerenuks, and Somali ostriches.

Horse Riding

Experience the landscape and wildlife of Borana Conservancy on horseback. This activity allows for a closer encounter with animals, as horses can creep through the terrain. Rides are available for different skill levels, ranging from a few hours to full-day excursions.

At Borana Conservancy Headquarters, we maintain a stable of over thirty horses suitable for all levels of riders. We offer gentle, patient horses trained to be cautious with children and novice riders, allowing guests to ride through the plains among giraffes, zebras, elands, and impalas, providing a close-up wildlife experience.

For more experienced riders, we have thoroughbred horses and thoroughbred crosses, standing between 14.2hh and 16.3hh, all well-schooled and ridden in snaffle bridles. These riders can explore the beautiful landscape of Borana and its diverse wildlife. Our younger guests can go for short pony rides led by one of our experienced grooms or riding guides.

We use English-style Wintec saddles and a few Australian stock saddles, ensuring comfort for both horse and rider. Advanced riders must be comfortable walking, trotting, and cantering in an English saddle. Non-riders and beginners are welcome at any level. A strict weight limit of 15 stone/210 lbs/95 kg is enforced. All guests of 21 years or younger must wear riding helmets.

Game Drives

Guided game drives in 4×4 vehicles offer a chance to see various wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros). Drives are typically scheduled for early morning or late afternoon to coincide with peak animal activity periods.

Enjoy unforgettable game drives across the spectacular Borana Conservancy in Lengishu’s custom-designed, four-wheel drive vehicles that guarantee comfort and exceptional game viewing.

As Borana is a private conservation area exclusivity is guaranteed meaning game drives are personal, peaceful, and uninterrupted. A member of the Lengishu team will drive guests, the best time to view wildlife is in the mornings or afternoons and Big 5 game viewing is great year-round.

Night game drives can be arranged to allow guests to meet nocturnal birds and animals such as nocturnines, honey badgers, and leopards. Click the link below for a safari itinerary that fully explores everything Borana Conservancy has to offer while staying at the luxurious Lengishu House:

8-Day Lengishu House Kenya Ultra Luxury Fly-in Safari | Click Here

Bird Watching

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a special birding destination. This is partly because there are many north Kenya specials here, including the Somali ostrich, vulturine guineafowl, and beautiful golden-breasted starling. In all, more than 350 bird species have been recorded in Lewa, making it a great place to go birding.

Some of the bird species that can be viewed include the ring-necked Dove, Namaqua Dove, White-browed Coucal, Bateleur, Rattling Cisticola, Magpie Starling, Superb Starling, Kenya Rufous Sparrow, Yellow-billed Duck, Crested Francolin, Gray Crowned-Crane, Little Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Great Egret, African Sacred Ibis and the Hadada Ibis.

Other birds include the Black-winged Kite, White-headed Vulture, Brown Snake-Eagle, Eurasian Hoopoe, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Lilac-breasted Roller, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Red-billed Oxpecker, Hildebrandt’s Starling, African Pied Wagtail, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Reichenow’s Seedeater, Somali Ostrich, Egyptian Goose, etc…

Guided Bush Walks

Experienced guides lead these walks and provide an intimate experience with nature. Walks focus on learning about the smaller aspects of the ecosystem, such as plants, insects, and tracks, as well as larger wildlife.

Guided bush walks allow guests to appreciate the smaller aspects of this ecosystem as well as the opportunity to encounter wildlife from a different perspective. Our extremely knowledgeable and experienced rangers can teach guests about the plants as well as the smaller creatures that live in the conservancy.

Mountain Biking & E-Biking

Experience the thrill of mountain biking on the game paths and trails of Borana Conservancy. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a beginner, these exhilarating adventures offer a unique way to explore diverse landscapes, encounter wildlife, and soak in the breathtaking views that the conservancy has to offer, all while enjoying the freedom and excitement of two wheels.

Lengishu House has a range of mountain bikes for those guests seeking adventure. The hills and valleys provide perfect terrain for adrenaline-fuelled riding. This isn’t for the faint-hearted as hill climbs can be long and steep, but bikes allow guests to travel long distances at their own pace surrounded by nature.

e-Bikes use a battery to help you pedal making uphill climbs seem effortless. You can get as much or as little ‘assistance’ from the battery as you like, a truly exhilarating way to see and experience Borana Conservancy. Hiring e-bikes is an additional cost. This activity is run by Wild Rides, an e-bike touring company operating out of the Borana Conservancy. Please speak to our reservations team if you’re interested.

Bush Meals & Sundowners

Enjoy meals and drinks in the heart of the bush. Bush meals are typically set up in scenic spots, providing a unique dining experience surrounded by nature. Sundowners are involved in enjoying drinks and snacks while watching the sunset over the conservancy.

Waitabit Farm Tours

Visit Waitabit Farm to learn about sustainable farming practices in the region. The tours include insights into crop cultivation, livestock management, and how the farm supports the local community.

Waitabit Farm also provides the Borana Conservancy anti-poaching team with fresh vegetables as part of a balanced diet. Visiting the farm is a fantastic activity for the entire family. Llewellyn Dyer manages Waitabit and is extremely passionate about the way it operates and the innovative systems that are in place.

A trip to Waitabit leaves one with a wealth of knowledge along with a passion for food and where it comes from. The idea of Waitabit is to reduce the gap between farm and fork, ensuring all guests at Borana Lodge eat local, fresh food that is not only good for one’s health but also good for the soul.

Masai Cultural Visits

Engage with the local Masai community to learn about their culture, traditions, and way of life. These visits often include a tour of a Masai village, traditional dances, and an opportunity to purchase handmade crafts. Borana has a close relationship with one of the local communities, the Laikipia Maasai, who live North of the conservancy and are eager to share their culture.

An elder will give you a tour of the village and will describe the history of the Maasai tribe. Various members of this ancient forest-dwelling culture, descendants of the Yaku people, will show you their customary ways of life and traditions. The tour usually ends with a traditional tribal dance. Handmade souvenirs and Maasai jewelry are also available to buy.

Rhino Tracking

Join a guided expedition to track and observe rhinos in their natural habitat. This activity offers a chance to learn about rhino conservation efforts and the challenges faced in protecting these endangered animals.

Tracking rhinos on foot at first light is a fantastic way for guests to experience ‘behind the scenes’ of conservation and help with identifying rhinos. Guests join the team of scouts who track and account for all rhinos each day, often encountering elephants, giraffes, and other wildlife along their way. The team must set out on foot from various locations across Borana to see and monitor each rhino on the conservancy.

By joining them on this adventure, guests are allowed to learn more about the ‘behind the scenes’ work that goes into the conservancy, how we track and identify rhinos as well as take the time to meet the team that keeps the rhino safe.

Helicopter Safaris

Experience Borana Conservancy and the surrounding landscapes from the air. Helicopter safaris provide a bird’s-eye view of the terrain, wildlife, and notable landmarks, offering a unique and thrilling perspective. Set against the backdrop of Sirai House’s strategic location, Tropic Air’s helicopter safaris offer unparalleled adventures.

Your helicopter flight continues by air over the Aberdare National Park before you make your approach to Mount Kenya. Weather permitting; explore the peaks, lakes, and valleys of this prolific Mountain. 

East of Mount Kenya your Pilot will choose an ideal spot to land, before proceeding to your final drop-off at your camp/ lodge. The Conservancy is home to a wide variety of wildlife including the rare and endangered black rhino, Grevy’s zebra, and sitatunga. It also includes the big five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and African buffalo). Find out more about the Scenic Helicopter Safari below:

1 Day Borana Conservancy/Lewa Downs Helicopter Scenic Flight Safari | Click Here

Reteti Elephant Orphanage

Visit the Reteti Elephant Orphanage, which rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and abandoned elephants. The sanctuary is in Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in Samburu County, northern Kenya. This area used to be heavily poached and degraded due to instability in the region.

Now, with the help of Northern Rangelands Trust, they have become a self-governed community conservancy that is working to protect its natural resources to create stability, employment, and revenue.

The sanctuary rescues orphaned and abandoned elephants and injured and sick elephants and nurtures them back to health to release them. It is by no means an easy task – rescued elephant calves have very high mortality rates. Below is a fly-in safari to the elephant orphanage for those pressed on time:

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary 1-Day Flying Excursion | Click Here

Local School Visits

Tour local schools to see the educational initiatives supported by Borana Conservancy. These visits offer insights into the impact of conservation on the community and the efforts to improve local education.

Borana supports seven Primary schools: Ethi Primary School, Chumvi Primary School, Kanyunga Primary School, Sanga Primary School, Lokusero Primary School, Arijuju Primary School, and Ol Kinyie Primary School.

From these seven Primary schools, the BESP provides secondary school bursaries to the top-achieving students in their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) final exams. Borana works closely with the Lewa Education Programme to ensure widespread support for these top-achieving students. 

Train Like a Ranger

Participate in a one-of-a-kind fitness experience by joining the Borana Conservancy CrossFit sessions alongside our dedicated anti-poaching rangers. Challenge yourself physically while gaining an insight into the important conservation efforts as you train alongside these courageous individuals, giving you an insight into their world and fostering a deeper appreciation for their vital work in protecting wildlife.

Mazingira Yetu Centre

Visiting the Mazingira Centre is a wonderful activity for all guests, you are allowed to see conservation work in action, such as water storage, solar power, and tree nurseries. The focus of the center and its curriculum is to teach visitors from all backgrounds about the wider conservation issues on this landscape, particularly land degradation, and ecology, and pass the key messages on to social circles, empowering everybody to take positive steps to protect the integrity of the ecosystem and our planet for years to come.

Visit to Pride Rock

Enjoy a two-hour bush walk to the original Pride Rock, where Disney’s “The Lion King.” took their inspiration. This beautiful rock formation is found at the center of the conservancy, with spectacular views deep into the Northern Frontier. Pride Rock This site offers stunning views and a chance to connect with the iconic imagery from the film.

Fly-Camping

If you yearn for the true wilds of the African bush, let us arrange an overnight camp where the comfort and service found at Sirai makes this an overland adventure without sacrifice of luxury.

Let our tents with wooden beds, our campaign-table bar, and dinner beneath the African night sky evoke memories of a distant era where attention to detail and quality brought glamour to the wilderness

The fly camp is accessible via a game drive, on foot, on horseback (regardless of riding ability), or a mountain bike, making this a truly unique experience for active travelers and families. The activity which guests choose to take part in before and after the fly camp will dictate where the camp is set up, no two nights are the same.

Wildlife is often seen from the fly camp with nocturnal visitors, such as porcupines and leopards, making their way through the cover of darkness. The fly camp is extremely comfortable with full linens, pillows, duvets, cast iron bed frames, and a mess tent including a fully stocked bar, lounge area, and library of reference books.

Arijiju House

Arijiju’s architecture borrows from the Kenyan tradition of grouping rooms to house multi-generations, with three suites in the main house and two generous cottages along a stone pathway. The house has three suites in the main house and two generous cottages along a stone pathway.

All have indulgent copper bathtubs, outdoor showers, and vast arched windows, while open fireplaces and slouchy, crumpled linens nod to old-world safari. A constellation suite on the roof offers unbridled views of the expansive night sky. Find out more about the house below:

Arijiju Retreat Holiday Home | Click Here

Borana Lodge

Borana Lodge is located in the 32,000-acre Borana Conservancy in Laikipia, about 27 km (17 miles) north of the equator (Nanyuki Town).  Borana Lodge is set on the edge of the Samangua Valley with panoramic views of Mount Kenya and Kenya’s Northern Frontier.

Borana Luxury Lodge is a 4-hour drive from Nairobi and an hour from Nanyuki. We can arrange scheduled flights or private charters for your trip. Scheduled flights land at the Lewa airstrip located 50 minutes from Borana.

The journey to the lodge can of course take longer depending on how much wildlife is seen on the way. Steeped in history and style, the lodge is set against a beautiful hillside with unobstructed views of the conservancy. By staying at Borana Lodge, our guests are directly contributing to the sustainable conservation of land, and wildlife and building local livelihoods. Find out more about the Lodge below:

Borana Lodge Borana Conservancy | Click Here

Lengishu House

Lengishu is an exclusive-use family home offering unparalleled luxury accommodation in Laikipia at the heart of Kenya’s 32,000-acre Borana Conservancy, one of the country’s most successful rhino sanctuaries. Borana Conservancy is the most successful rhino sanctuary, located 30km north of the equator at an altitude of 2000 meters on the foothills of Mt Kenya.

Daily scheduled flights are available from Nairobi Wilson to Lewa Downs followed by a 1-hour 30-minute road transfer to Lengishu house. Lengishu house is a 5-hour drive from Nairobi. Private charter flights are also allowed to the Borana Conservancy Airstrip, a 15-minute game drive to Lengishu. Find out more about the house below:

Lengishu House Borana Conservancy | Click Here

Laragai House

Laragai House in Laikipia offers luxurious accommodation with 8 bedrooms, including 4 double rooms, 2 twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms, and 2 children’s twin rooms sharing a bathroom. The house comfortably sleeps 16 guests and is booked exclusively for a minimum of 6 guests. Each room provides unique views of the surrounding conservancy.

The two master bedrooms feature fireplaces. Guests can enjoy freshly prepared meals from the kitchen and various amenities, including a swimming pool, tennis court, croquet, and a gym with yoga equipment, a bike, a rowing machine, and a cross-trainer. Find out more about the house below:

Laragai House Borana Conservancy | Click Here

Sirai House

Sirai House is an exclusive-use luxury property with six suites spread across four cottages, accommodating up to 12 guests. The house is available year-round, with a minimum stay of three nights.

The suites are arranged to cater to both couples and families, with some rooms configurable as double or twin. The property features various amenities, including verandas and terraced lawns for outdoor dining, a heated infinity pool, a lounge, a bar, and dining areas with stunning views.

Guests can enjoy recreational activities such as tennis, croquet, boules, table tennis, billiards, and a luxurious spa. For entertainment, there’s a cinema, a Sonos sound system in every room, and fiber-optic Wi-Fi throughout the property. Find out more about the house below:

Sirai House Borana Conservancy | Click Here

Mobile: + 254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com