Laragai House

The unique geographical location makes the 32,000 acre conservancy a haven for a wide diversity of wildlife: buffalo, eland, hartebeest and herds of plains game. Reticulated giraffe are commonly seen nibbling the acacias, while the cooler forests shelter bushbuck, colobus monkey, the endangered Patas monkey and elephant. Predators are also found here, but not in large numbers, including large packs of wild dog, leopard, lion and cheetah.

The best times to be out are from first light for the morning drive, and from tea time onwards for the afternoon drives. Night drives give you the opportunity to discover a range of unusual and nocturnal animals and view the breathtaking African stars.

Guests are able to track wildlife by open game drive vehicles, as well as by foot, or horseback (described below).

Kenya is where the concept of horseback safaris began in the 1970’s and when the Dyer family first came to Borana, horses were the only means of transport. It is certainly still their favourite way to enjoy the vast conservation area. Horseback game viewing is unique because a person on a horse is perceived by animals to be different to a person on foot or in a vehicle, often resulting in a more intimate experience.

Given its location, Borana is a perfect place to ride with it’s open plains, valleys, hills, forests and beyond. Its 26 horses can be used to explore the length and breadth of the ranch in the early morning, the afternoon as well as all day rides. Experience moving gracefully through herds of buffalo, giraffe and Grevy’s zebra or simply marvell at the majesty of a bull elephant.

There is a good selection of well-schooled thoroughbred or thoroughbred-cross horses to suit a wide range of riding abilities, including children. Both English and Australian stock saddles are available. The horses spend their days grazing freely on the ranch when they are not out being ridden and are very accustomed to the wildlife.

All guests below the age of 21 must wear riding helmets provided.

A visit to the nearby Ngare Ndere Forest offers a complete contrast to Borana Conservancy. Explore turquoise pools at the bottom of waterfalls where you can jump to swim, and walk 80 feet high above a canopy of 200 year old trees on a wood and wire suspension bridge, that extends into a deck where a delicious picnic lunch will be served. Elephant are frequently seen in this area.

A snow capped mountain, deserts, volcanic lakes, lush tropical forests, open savannahs – and plenty of mammals, birds and plant life in some of these awe-inspiring natural habitats – this is a land with so much to explore. Laragai House is extremely well placed to set off into the great north by helicopter, with the country’s most experienced pilots.

The most privileged way to feel the diversity and grandness of Kenya’s highest mountain is by helicopter at dawn. Circle above the vast and desolate mountain with its towering summit, sheer cliffs and glaciers. A delicious picnic breakfast is supplied and you can spend a few hours fly-fishing for rainbow trout from the lakeshore. Even more adventurous is a flight to Ol Lolokwe, the sacred mountain of Northern Kenya’s Samburu people. The mountain rises a virtually sheer 3,000 feet above the plains with a flat summit covered with giant cycads (one of the planet’s oldest plants) lending the whole place a distinctly ‘Lost World’ feel but without the inconvenience of carnivorous dinosaurs. Flying low level over the Ewaso Nyiro River, its banks shaded by graceful doum palms, amongst other animals, you should be on the lookout for crocodiles and hippo.

The helicopter takes a maximum of five passengers for a scenic flight only, or four people if landing on the mountain.

When the weather is nice and sunny , and you have energetic folk who enjoy the water, you can take the paddle boards out on the dam and enjoy some invigorating exercise.

Whilst game viewing is traditionally from a car especially in wildlife areas where Elephants, buffalo and lions and Rhino roam, Borana Conservancy has plenty of tracks through wide open spaces which are safe to cycle through where you can still observe the wildlife form a safe distance. You. will go with a guide and a back up vehicle is always close at hand.

Walking with the Borana Conservancy rangers is another activity which gets you out of the car and give you the opportunity to experience the finer details on the ground – harvester ants collecting grain, lion tracks in the mud, gorgeous wild flowers and stunning birdlife. You always go with an armed ranger and keep to the more open grassland to avoid any conflict with the wildlife.

A visit to the Il Ngwezi community on the northern boundary to Lewa and Borana. This community look after their own landscape, livestock and wildlife. The tribesmen and women enjoy to show them some of the tribal traditions. The journey down there and back takes approximately 5 hours.

Alternatively, you can visit a samburu homestead just below Laragai which is close by. Bimbi – the Laragai manager employs the ladies to make charming beaded works which enable them to earn extra money to better their livelihoods. The Borana Conservancy also help these communities with healthcare through the Borana mobile clinic.