Kenya Parks
By Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
The sanctuary on Solio Ranch (also Solio Game Reserve) on Laikipia Plateau was founded in 1970 as a breeding ground for white and black rhinos. This has been extremely successful, and many rhino have been translocated to other parks and reserves. The small park is literally full of rhino and both species seem to mingle quite happily in a way that doesn’t feel very natural. A variety of other safari animals have been introduced as well.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
Solio Ranch supports a big population of black rhino and white rhino – the breeding program has been so successful that many individuals have been translocated out of Solio. The reserve also protects zebra, buffalo, giraffe and several antelope species. All the usual predators including the big cats are also present.
Scenery
Solio Ranch is located in the valley between the dramatic, snow-capped peak of Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains. Most of the terrain consists of grassy plains, and the acacia-lined Moyo River traverses the entire reserve.
Weather & Climate
Throughout the year, there’s little change in temperature because of Solio’s proximity to the equator. But it gets significantly cooler when the sun dives – worth remembering when you’re dressing for an early-morning game drive. The Dry season (June to September) is generally sunny, but rain can fall at any time. The Wet season (October to May) starts with the ‘short rains’ and ends with the ‘long rains’, with a drier period in between.
Best Time to Visit
November, near the start of the Wet season (October to May), sees the closure of the ranch thanks to that month’s characteristic downpours. You can track animals at other times in that season, but inaccessible roads and scattered wildlife need to be factored in. The drier months are more reliable for watching animals. Even though these coincide with the local high season, the lodge hardly ever gets booked out.
