Nanyuki Safari

Take a trip down memory lane with a Nanyuki safari. It is bound to be an eye-opening experience as you witness the influence of the British on one of Kenya’s market towns.

Nanyuki is a resort town in Laikipia County situated at 0° 01′ north of the equator on the foot of Mount Kenya.

It snuggles up between the Great Rift Valley in the west and Mount Kenya to the east, which provides soul-stirring views of the country.

Founded by British settlers in 1907, Nanyuki plays host to the airbase of the Kenya Air Force and the British Army which conducts annual desert and jungle training on the mountain and in arid areas of Kenya’s northern frontier.

As you can imagine, all these soldiers make insecurity in Nanyuki nonexistent.

In the early days, settlers recognized Nanyuki’s immense potential, so they constructed a railway line linking it to Nairobi.

Consequently, Nanyuki has become one of Kenya’s cosmopolitan towns with the British, Indians and Kenyans from diverse tribes calling it home.

Nanyuki, the gateway to the Laikipia Plateau, is famous for its ranches, most of them owned by the descendants of British settlers, game parks, farms and wildlife conservancies.

Adrenaline junkies pitch tent in this market town before they summit Mt. Kenya through the Sirimon and Burguet routes.

Luxury Nanyuki safari goers will find a fitting abode at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club as well as the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.

Things to do on a Nanyuki safari

Explore the nightlife
Shop at Nanyuki Mall
Go on a helicopter safari
Quad bike on the rugged plains of Nanyuki
Watch traditional Maasai dances and ceremonies at Twala Cultural Manyatta
Enjoy finger-licking fish at Trout Tree Restaurant
Visit the Nanyuki Civil Airfield which once sheltered the No. 1340 Flight RAF during the Mau Mau revolt
Take photographs at the equator
Learn how to clean and spin wool at Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers
Watch the Coriolis Force at work as draining water swirls in a circular motion
Visit Mount Kenya National Park
Watch black rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Visit Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Tour the neighboring Samburu and Shaba National Reserves
Explore the nightlife
Treat yourself to some nyama choma at one of the numerous restaurants

Things to see at a Nanyuki safari

Equator Marker
Nanyuki River
Liki River
Views of Mount Kenya
Views of the Great Rift Valley
Ngare Ndare Forest
Mau Mau Caves
Mackinder’s Camp at Point Lenana
Teleki Valley
The endangered bongo
Grevy zebra
Reticulated giraffe

Places to stay in Nanyuki

Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
Mount Kenya Paradise Hotel
Sportsman’s Arms Hotel
Lion’s Court Hotel
Porini Rhino Camp
Kicheche Laikipia Camp
Hillpark OlPejeta House
Equatorial Hotel
Joskaki Hotel
Borana Lodge
Solio Lodge
Sere Enkang House
Batian Guest House

How to get to Nanyuki

By air: A flight from Nairobi to Nanyuki takes 20 minutes and lands at Nanyuki airstrip which is 6.5km from the town. It is open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm every day, with flights linking Nanyuki to Masai Mara, Lewa, Laikipia, Samburu, Meru, and Nairobi. You can then get a taxi from the airstrip to your lodge in Nanyuki town.
By road: Nanyuki can be accessed via the well tarmacked A2 road which stretches from Nairobi to Isiolo. This ride takes 2 and half hours. Most tourists combine a Nanyuki safari with a Samburu tour, Masai Mara safari, or Lake Nakuru safari.

What to pack for a Nanyuki safari

Scarf/ kikoy (to keep away windburn)
Moisturizer and lip balm (for windburn)
Sunhat
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Wet wipes
Camera
Binoculars (if you’re visiting a game park)
Crossbody day bag
Insect repellant
Antihistamines (For insect bites or if you have dust allergies)
Comfortable walking shoes
Warm clothing (evenings are cold)

Best time to plan a Nanyuki safari

Nanyuki is on the leeward side of Mt. Kenya so it is mainly dry and features semi-arid vegetation. Cold leeward winds blow at night from Mt. Kenya to the Aberdares so protect yourself from wind burn.

Like most destinations in Kenya, Nanyuki experiences two rainfall seasons; long rains fall from April to June and short rains from November to December.

January is the driest month and is best for game viewing and mountain climbing. Visiting Nanyuki during the long rains is not highly recommended – roads are muddy, Mt. Kenya slopes are slippery and wildlife tend to hide in the bushes.

If the gateway to Kenya’s Northern Frontier is on your wishlist, check out the Nanyuki safari packages available or call an agent to customize your trip.