Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.
Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet 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 a variety of other safari animals have been introduced as well.
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.
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. The Wet season (October to May) starts with the ‘short rains’ and ends with the ‘long rains’, with a drier period in between.
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.
Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.
Rhino overload
3/5
This is the most southerly conservancy in Laikipia, easily accessed from the towns of Nyeri or Nanyuki, and one of the few that actively encourages private day visits (the first lodge opened on the property as recently as 2011). Since 1970...