Ol Malo House

AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife
Laikipia covers a significant portion of dramatic countryside in northern Kenya, sandwiched between Samburu and Mount Kenya in the east and the Aberdare Mountains and Great Rift Valley in the west. The central section of the area is covered by a lava plateau which creates a series of rocky escarpments offering epic views, whilst a series of rocky outcrops and hills dot the landscape revealing the landscapes much more ancient history (some of these rocks are thought to be around 80 million years old). The region is divided into a number of private ranches, conservancies and community lands with farming (cattle mainly), wildlife conservation and local populations all existing in relative harmony. As the region is increasingly closely managed, and the local communities are made more aware of their role in conserving wildlife and benefitting from this, there has been an increase in properties dedicated solely to wildlife, and in these areas the wildlife populations are growing steadily. Some private ranches have been concentrating on wildlife conservation for many years and offer superb game viewing experiences, though in general the Laikipia region is better known for its wilderness, scenery and the wide variety of activities on offer.

The terrain and habitat is varied with two main rivers dissecting the region – the Ewaso Nyiro and Ewaso Narok. These rivers are fed from Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains respectively, and provide year round water through what can otherwise be described as a dry and harsh environment. Around 250 species of birds have been recorded and the mammal list includes greater kudu, gerenuk, wild dog, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, lion, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Thompson and Grants gazelle, eland, Beisa oryx, defassa waterbuck, striped hyaena, spotted hyaena, baboon, vervet monkey, jackal, warthog and many smaller species such as caracal, African wild cat, serval, genet, civet, porcupine, aardvark, aardwolf and rock hyrax.

Activities
Game drives by day and night are available from Ol Malo House, though this is not the prime reason for your visit as game viewing can be unpredictable.

Cultural visits usually form a significant part of your stay with the local region being home to several Samburu and Ndorobo villages. Ol Malo work closely with the local communities and have supported various initiatives, in particular starting the Samburu Trust. Guests at Ol Malo can learn about the trust and experience first-hand conservation and community activities if they choose.

Walking, horse riding, mountain biking and camel riding are all possible on the ranch, and various options exist from shorter activities to more dedicated, longer excursions.

For the adventurous, fly-camping is possible, or perhaps you will choose to spend a night out under the stars on their sleep out platform or in their Leopard Hide!
Andrew Francombe is also a qualified helicopter pilot and offers helicopter trips around northern Kenya. This is a fantastic chance to reach remote and beautiful places and enjoy the aerial exploration.

It is also possible to visit the working side of the cattle ranch, or to go tubing on the river when water levels allow.

Lastly, simply relaxing in camp is an activity to be encouraged. At Ol Malo House there is a rooftop terrace which offers stunning views and is a great place to spend a few hours, especially leading up to sunset.

Seasons
Ol Malo is open from December to March and then again from June through to October.