Loisaba Conservancy is the kind of place most first-time Kenya travelers never hear of until a guide mentions it, tucked into the northern Laikipia plateau well off the standard Mara-Amboseli circuit. That obscurity is exactly the appeal. You track black rhino on foot with a ranger instead of from a vehicle window. You fall asleep on an open-air Star Bed with no tent walls between you and the sky, lions occasionally calling somewhere out in the dark. Even in peak season, a dozen vehicles might be the most you encounter across the entire 58,000-acre property. Sense of Adventure routes guests here specifically for that emptiness, something the Mara can no longer promise.
Discover Loisaba Conservancy
Message us to plan a private Laikipia safari built around Loisaba low-density exclusivity.
What Makes Loisaba Conservancy Different From the Mara
Loisaba Conservancy sits within Laikipia, a region of more than 2 million acres of ranch land and private conservancies stretching from the Great Rift Valley toward Mount Kenya, and unlike the Mara it has no fixed public entrance gates or shared reserve roads. The conservancy protects over 60 mammal species and functions as one of Kenya newest black rhino sanctuaries, alongside endangered reticulated giraffe, Grevy zebra and African wild dogs that have largely disappeared from more crowded parks. A one-hour flight from Nairobi puts you on the ground here, or a 6 to 7-hour drive via Nanyuki if you prefer to go overland.
We slept on the Star Beds our first night with zero expectations and woke up to an elephant herd passing maybe eighty metres from the platform, no tent, no glass, nothing between us and it. My husband still brings it up more than any single game drive from the whole trip.
— Sense of Adventure guest, Laikipia and Loisaba Conservancy safari
5 Reasons to Visit Loisaba Conservancy
1. Star Beds — sleeping under open sky with no tent walls
Loisaba pioneered the open-air Star Bed concept in Kenya, wheeling a bed onto a private rooftop platform so guests fall asleep watching stars with no canvas or glass overhead, one of the more genuinely unique nights available on any East African safari.
2. Black Rhino Sanctuary — one of the newest in Kenya
Loisaba established its own black rhino sanctuary as part of a wider Kenyan rewilding push, adding a genuine Big Five species back to a landscape that had gone without rhino for decades, tracked here on foot rather than purely by vehicle.
3. Rare Species — reticulated giraffe, Grevy zebra and wild dogs
Loisaba protects three of Kenya rarest large mammals in one landscape, species that have vanished from much of their former range further south, making a single game drive here more likely to turn up an endangered animal than a common one.
4. Low Vehicle Density — a dozen vehicles across 58,000 acres
Even during peak season, Loisaba rarely has more than a handful of safari vehicles operating across the entire conservancy at once, a sharp contrast to the Mara reserve during migration season, and it means sightings feel private rather than shared with a convoy.
5. Community and Conservation Model — every dollar reinvested
100 percent of tourism revenue earned at Loisaba goes back into conservation and community programs, funding education, healthcare and anti-poaching work in the surrounding area rather than sitting with a single private owner.
Book Your Laikipia and Loisaba Safari
Our 5-day Laikipia & Loisaba Conservancy Luxury Safari puts you exactly where the crowds are not.
Loisaba Conservancy: Quick Reference
- Size: 58,000 acres of protected wilderness on the Laikipia plateau.
- Access: a 1-hour flight from Nairobi, or 6-7 hours by road via Nanyuki.
- Signature stay: the Star Beds, an open-air rooftop sleeping platform with no walls.
- Key species: black rhino, reticulated giraffe, Grevy zebra and African wild dogs.
- Birdlife: over 350 species recorded across the conservancy.
- Conservation model: 100 percent of tourism revenue reinvested locally.
Fitting Loisaba Into a Wider Kenya Safari
Loisaba pairs naturally with the rest of Laikipia and the wider northern circuit rather than standing entirely alone. Read our full Laikipia Plateau safari guide for how the wider region fits together, or our Ol Pejeta Conservancy safari guide if you want to compare it against Laikipia most visited conservancy. Our own Laikipia & Loisaba Conservancy Luxury Safari (5 Days) and Northern Kenya Cultural Safari (5 Days) both build Loisaba into a broader northern Kenya route.
Kenya Most Exclusive Wilderness Is Waiting
Message us today and let us build a private Laikipia itinerary around Loisaba Conservancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Loisaba Conservancy known for?
Loisaba Conservancy is known for its open-air Star Beds, low vehicle density across 58,000 acres, and rare species including black rhino, reticulated giraffe, Grevy zebra and African wild dogs, all within an hour flight of Nairobi.
How do I get to Loisaba Conservancy?
Loisaba Conservancy is reached by a roughly 1-hour scheduled flight from Nairobi to the Loisaba airstrip, or by road via Nanyuki, which typically takes 6 to 7 hours depending on conditions.
Is Loisaba Conservancy good for seeing the Big Five?
Loisaba Conservancy offers black rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard, making four of the Big Five realistic, though lion sightings are less predictable here than in Mara or Amboseli since the conservancy focuses more on its rare specialist species.
What are the Star Beds at Loisaba?
The Star Beds are open-air rooftop sleeping platforms with no tent walls or glass, wheeled out for guests to sleep directly under the night sky, a signature Loisaba experience found at very few other camps in Kenya.
Can I combine Loisaba with Samburu or Ol Pejeta?
Yes, Loisaba combines easily with both Samburu and Ol Pejeta since all three sit within the greater Laikipia and northern Kenya conservation area, typically linked by short road transfers or light aircraft as part of one multi-day itinerary.
