Borana Conservancy: Rhinos, Horse Riding and Mount Kenya Views

Entice Africa October 30, 2026Destinations, Experiences & East Africa Travel

Borana Conservancy is a private wildlife reserve of about 30,000 acres on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, just north of the equator on the Laikipia plateau. It introduced a founding population of 21 black rhinos in 2013 and, with neighbouring Lewa, now shares a connected landscape of about 90,000 acres that Borana says supports more than 250 black and white rhinos. Visitors track rhino on foot, ride horses, join game drives and stay at Borana Lodge, whose 2026 inclusive rates start at USD 1,025 per adult per night.

Borana is one of the conservancies in our guide to the Laikipia conservancies. Below you will find the rhino story, the activities, the lodge rates, how to get there and when to go. People searching for Borana Kenya usually mean either the conservancy or Borana Lodge, and we cover both.

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Borana Conservancy at a glance

What Borana Conservancy is

Borana combines conservation with tourism, and the lodge helps pay for the conservancy. Borana Lodge welcomed its first guests in 1993. In 2007 the Dyer family committed all retained earnings from commercial activities to conservation costs, and the lodge says its profits fund the conservancy’s core operating costs. The 2026 lodge rates include a 24 percent contribution to Borana Conservancy.

Borana also reports that its tourism properties and administrative centre run about 95 percent on solar power, and that it is independently audited by The Long Run. Published sizes vary, with 28,000, 30,000 and 32,000 acres all in use, so we say about 30,000 acres.

If you would like to see this part of Kenya as part of a longer trip, the 9 Days Untamed Safari to the Hidden Northern Kenya Circuit is a good place to start. It is from USD 7,840 per person, and prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice. Tell us that Borana is on your list and we will say whether it fits that route.

Rhinos at Borana

The 2013 black rhino reintroduction

Borana’s rhino work began in 2013, when a founding population of 21 black rhinos was introduced to the conservancy. The lodge lists tracking rhino on foot at first light among its activities, which is a very different experience from watching from a vehicle. No conservancy can promise a sighting on a given morning.

The joint Lewa-Borana landscape

Borana does not manage its rhinos alone. Together with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy it covers about 90,000 acres of connected habitat, including the Ngare Ndare Forest. Borana says the landscape supports over 250 black and white rhinos, with birth rates occasionally above 9 percent. Lewa’s own figures are higher, at about 93,000 acres and over 280 rhinos, so treat any count as a snapshot.

The programme is closely monitored: the Kenya Wildlife Service reported that 46 rhinos were ear-notched across Lewa and Borana in 2024, and 4 were fitted with transmitters. Borana is also exploring habitat expansion under the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion project.

The same landscape matters for Grevy’s zebra. Lewa counts 264 of them across the Lewa-Borana landscape, the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust area and the Mount Kenya elephant corridor. Our guide to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, its rhinos and where to stay covers the other half of the landscape.

Things to do at Borana

Borana Lodge lists a wider range of activities than a standard game-drive safari. The table shows which extras carry a separate price in the 2026 rates.

Horse riding

Borana’s horse riding goes by the name Riding Wild. The rates page gives no separate price, so ask what is included and what riding experience is needed. For comparison, Elewana Lewa Safari Camp next door lists a two-hour guided horse or camel safari at USD 120 per person in 2026, for ages 12 and over. For other ways to explore the plateau, see our guide to things to do in Laikipia, from walking and riding to camels and night drives.

Where to stay at Borana

Borana Lodge

Expert Africa describes Borana Lodge as a comfortable and striking lodge, and its price puts it at the upper end of Laikipia. Borana publishes its rates on its own rates page. The 2026 figures below are in US dollars per person per night and are all inclusive.

The minimum stay is 2 nights in standard season and 3 nights in peak season. For 2027 the standard adult rate rises to USD 1,040, while the peak rate stays at USD 1,320. These are Borana’s own prices, not Entice prices. Fees last verified: October 2026.

Private houses

Borana also has exclusive-use houses. A travel-agent summary names three, Laragai, Sirai and Arijiju, while Lewa’s lodge list says Borana has five properties, so the count depends on how you tally. We give no house prices because we have no published figures to quote; ask us and we will check your dates.

How to get to Borana

The access details we can verify are Lewa’s. Borana shares the same stretch of the plateau, so use them as a guide and confirm the exact gate or airstrip with your lodge.

Best time to visit Borana

Borana does not publish a wildlife calendar, so its rate seasons are the clearest guide. Peak season runs from 15 June to 30 September and from 20 December to 5 January. Standard season covers the rest of the year and costs about 22 percent less for an adult. Elewana Lewa Safari Camp calls 1 April to 31 May its Green season, which points to the main rains.

Lewa describes the days as usually hot and dry and the nights as cool. The Lewa Safari Marathon was held on 28 June in 2025 and 27 June in 2026, so check that date against lodge availability if you plan to be nearby in late June.

What to pack and practical notes

• Layers. Lewa gives the altitude as 1,400 to 2,000 m (4,500 to 6,500 ft), so bring a fleece or jacket for early drives and evenings.
• Sun protection and footwear. A hat, sunglasses, sun cream and closed shoes for bush walks. If you plan to ride, ask what boots and helmets the lodge supplies.
• Health. Lewa describes the malaria risk in its area as low. Speak to your doctor or a travel clinic before you go.

Who Borana suits

Borana suits rhino enthusiasts, riders and walkers who want more ways to move through the landscape than a vehicle alone. At USD 1,025 or more per adult per night, it is usually a highlight of a trip rather than the whole of it. If cost matters most, other Laikipia conservancies such as Ol Pejeta list simpler tented camps. Families should check minimum ages for individual activities.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Borana Conservancy?

Borana is on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, just north of the equator, on the Laikipia plateau. It shares a connected landscape with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Ngare Ndare Forest.

How much does Borana Lodge cost?

In 2026 Borana Lodge charges USD 1,025 per adult per night in standard season and USD 1,320 in peak season, inclusive, with a child rate of USD 513 or USD 660 for ages 5 to 15. Fees last verified: October 2026. Confirm current rates with the lodge before you book.

Can you see rhinos at Borana?

Borana introduced 21 black rhinos in 2013, and the Lewa-Borana landscape now supports more than 250 black and white rhinos by Borana’s count. The lodge offers tracking rhino on foot at first light. Wildlife is wild, so a sighting cannot be guaranteed.

Does Borana offer horse riding?

Yes. Borana Lodge lists horse riding under the name Riding Wild. The rates page shows no separate price, so ask the lodge about cost, rider experience and age limits.

How far is Borana from Nairobi?

Lewa, next door, says it is about 4 hours by road from Nairobi, and Nairobi to Nanyuki is about 190 km. There are also daily flights from Wilson Airport to Lewa Downs. Confirm your lodge’s own gate or airstrip.

Is Borana the same as Lewa?

No. They are separate conservancies that share one rhino landscape. A visit to Lewa from Borana Lodge is an extra, at USD 183 per adult and USD 92 per child in 2026.

Photo: Lewa 2018-1 (42514426200) by Weldon Kennedy from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons