Sosian Ranch

Walking Safaris
AT SOSIAN

Sosian is now running walking safaris in north-west Laikipia using a light-weight but comfortable mobile camp which is moved each day. The camp provides hot showers, long drop loos, a fully stocked bar and freshly cooked meals around the campfire. Our tents are custom made gauze tents with comfortable bedrolls with fresh linen allowing you to lie under the stars at night listening to the nocturnal sounds of the bush.

You cannot get closer to nature than by being on foot amongst it and walking enables you to see so much more detail. Tracks on the ground, scratch marks on trees, droppings, a fresh kill, birds calling in alarm at the sound of a nearby snake, baboons shouting as they catch sight of a leopard. The smell of an acacia in blossom, the scent of long, dry grass underfoot on an early morning walk. Walking is a completely different experience and a wonderful way to see the bush.

Steve Carey who together with his wife Annabelle runs Sosian, is running the walking safaris together with a team of Turkana and Samburu staff and has 18 years walking experience behind him. Itineraries are flexible depending on the movement of the wildlife at the time. Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, buffalo, wild dog, zebra, warthog, hippo and many different antelope species are all common sightings on safari at Sosian as well as some unusual species such as Grevy’s zebra, Striped hyena, Beisa Oryx and aardwolf are often seen. The birdlife on Sosian is particularly good and there is a huge diversity of habitats from open plains, to riverines and cliff faces.

Safety is of great importance and Steve carries a rifle for protection and one of his Samburu or Turkana trackers always accompanies him providing an extra pair of experienced eyes and ears. We always carry a radio and a full first aid kit. These safaris are backed up by a team of Kenyan staff who use camels or a vehicle to move the camp each day.

Sample Walking Itinerary

Day One

Leaving Sosian in the morning, we will be dropped off by vehicle on the top of the northern plains of the ranch. This gives us the opportunity to enjoy the plains game which frequent this area including some unusual species such as Jackson’s hartebeest, Beisa Oryx, Grevy’s zebra which are all northern Kenyan specialities. There are also some interesting species of birds that live on the plains such as Rosy-breasted Longclaws, Rosy-patched Bush-shrikes and Kori Bustards.We walk across the plains dropping into the Samburumburu valley by late morning where we have lunch in the shade. In the afternoon we walk through the Samburumburu valley which is very popular with buffalo, and camp on the Ewaso Narok River. We expect to hear lots of noises during the night such as leopard, lion and hyena calling after dark. We generally have a vehicle at camp so that if we hear something interesting we can go and find it and do a night drive which can be very exciting. There is also a waterfall nearby this campsite where we can swim and fish in the pools.

Day Two

We leave the Ewaso Narok and walk through two major springs which are a major attraction for wildlife in the area. Here we often see giraffe, big numbers of zebra and elephant. We have a good chance of spotting our local pack of wild dogs whose territory is the lower Ewaso Narok valley. We have brunch under a shady tree overlooking a spring and relax here in the shade. The springs have spectacular birdlife including purple grenadiers coming in to drink, Ibises, Ducks, Snipe and waders on the water. This is a great place for photography and birding. In the afternoon we walk to Mutara river valley which is a spectacular valley with huge yellow fever acacia trees and some beautiful springs where we camp tonight. We would expect to see elephant, reticulated giraffe, greater kudu and spectacular riverine birds.

Day Three

We walk down the scenic Mutara river valley, an area of beautiful trees, birds and abundant wildlife. The morning takes us through acacia woodland towards another section of the Ewaso Narok river. This section of the river is dominated by large yellow fever acacia and palm trees with a very dramatic backdrop of granite escarpments and boulders. We have lunch on the sandbanks overlooking the river where we can also swim in the heat of the day. During the afternoon we climb onto some huge rocks which overlook miles of western Laikipia and from where we usually see giraffe, elephant, impala, eland. Black eagles nest in this area, the birdlife here is prolific. The rocks and this section of the river is home to a big leopard population and we often here them calling, and sometimes see them. We camp on the edge of the Ewaso Narok river near a popular drinking spot and this is a lively area at night with a lot of animals coming and going.

Day Four

We walk up the river this morning enjoying very good birdlife on the way and numerous animals, reaching Sosian by foot in time for brunch.

Longer Itineraries of 5 – 7 days continue east along the Ewaso Narok river to the Ewaso Ngiro river junction, from where we turn north through the escarpment up onto the northern Laikpia plains.