Seeing a rhinoceros, the two horned beast that seems to be a relic of the age of dinosaurs, in Africa’s wilderness is one of life’s greatest thrills. Many of us wonder how we can help the conservation efforts involved in protecting some of the remaining rhino, and Aardvark Safaris is delighted to suggest a way of doing so.

The Borana Conservancy in northern Kenya sits at the foot of Mt Kenya on the edge of the Laikipia Plateau as it tumbles into the valley of the Ewaso Nyiro River and the Samburu district. With a lovely mix of open grassland, thorn thickets, rivers, forest and classic savannah, Borana’s 30,000 acres are wonderful habitat for a large number of wildlife species, which includes black and white rhino. The conservancy was returned from purely cattle ranching to conservation nearly 30 years ago, thanks to the vision of the owner Michael Dyer. It is now one of the most successful rhino reserves in East Africa with thriving populations of both species.

Thanks to a successful conservation programme there is a healthy population of rhino at Borana

Borana is a conservation focused organisation, with the profits from hospitality funding much of the intensive work that is carried out here. This includes not only security patrols around the conservancy, and wildlife monitoring and tracking, but supporting local schools and clinics encouraging the Masai and Samburu people of the region to join in protecting their priceless natural heritage.

Wildlife at Borana, with Mount Kenya in the background

Spending four nights at Borana will allow guests to enjoy all that the reserve has to offer, as well as the spectacular scenery and fabulous hospitality.

A Conservation Safari on Borana Conservancy – Highlights
• Spend time using telemetry receivers to monitor the whereabouts of lion and rhino
• Join the mobile clinic to visit one of the two outreach centres in local communities
• Visit one of the schools that Borana supports
• Track rhino on foot with a team of scouts
• Help adding to the portfolio of rhino photographs
• Take rhino ID sheets on safari drives, to help identifying each seen and report its location to the Conservancy HQ
• Ride a mountain bike around the perimeter fence checking the voltage
• Go for a training walk with the Lolomarik tracker dogs
• Spend time with Michael Dyer, Borana’s MD, or Sam Taylor, Chief Conservation Officer, and get an inside view of how the conservancy works

Rhino tracking with the rangers at Borana Lodge

Day 1
Fly past Mt Kenya’s snow capped summit to Lewa Downs airstrip, where you will be met by your guide who will then drive you to Borana, your luxurious home in the bush for four nights.

Borana Lodge has a superb location on a hillside with views down to the river below and the Northern Frontier Districts beyond. The lodge has just eight spacious stone and thatch cottages which all have luxurious bathrooms, open fireplaces, lots of space inside, and private verandahs outside. The lodge has a beautiful main building where the dining room, bar and lounge offer a sociable space to relax and chat about the day’s adventures with other guests.

Luxurious accommodation at Borana Lodge

Once you’ve settled in and had lunch, and perhaps a siesta, there’s the chance to explore some of the reserve in an open safari vehicle, seeing some of the fantastic wildlife that lives here. After a sundowner, there will be time for a shower before gathering by the fire for drinks and then a delicious dinner.

Day 2
Take a morning drive on the reserve with telemetry receivers, looking for collared lions and rhinos. During the morning, you may also encounter elephant, buffalo, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, leopard, wild dog, and hyena, and will hopefully be able to identify specific individual lions from their whisker spots, and also help add to Borana’s rhino photograph library.

After lunch, there’s the chance to ride a mountain bike with the rangers checking the perimeter fence for integrity and consistent electric current.

Mountain biking at Borana is a great way to explore the reserve

Return to the lodge for a well-deserved shower and dinner, under the stars if it’s warm enough.

Day 3
This morning, join the mobile clinic for a visit to one of the outreach centres Borana supports in local villages, meet some of the people and gain some insight into some of the daily challenges they face.  Return to the lodge for lunch, and perhaps spend the afternoon horse riding a horse across the reserve.

Borana Lodge enjoys a magnificent wilderness setting

Return to the lodge in time for dinner and conversations about the day’s activities with fellow guests.

Day 4
An early start this morning allows you to get to one of the local schools in time to join morning assembly. Spend much of the morning here understanding how Borana helps with education, and how this assistance furthers the cause of conservation.

Visiting the local school is a lovely way to learn more about the local community

After lunch at the lodge, there’s a chance for a final evening drive on the conservancy, sundowners on Pride Rock, and  a night drive back to the lodge for dinner.

Day 5
This morning, it’s time to say farewell to the dedicated team at Borana, and return to Lewa airstrip for the flight to Nairobi. We can easily arrange for you to visit the Sheldrick Orphanage in Nairobi this afternoon; just sponsor one of the babies for $50 and you can join the 5.00 pm visit when all the orphaned elephants and other animals return to their barns for the night.

Cost is from £7,715 per person and includes meals, house drinks, safari activities, conservation activities, conservation fees, and internal flights and transfers.  If you would like any further information on this Borana Lodge Conservation Safari   please get in touch and we would be delighted to help.

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