Destinations, Experiences & East Africa TravelLoisaba Conservancy is a wildlife conservancy and working ranch of about 58,000 acres in northern Laikipia, Kenya, known for its open-air star beds, a founder population of rhinos and views towards Mount Kenya. It protects a wildlife and livestock corridor between Laikipia and the Samburu and Isiolo counties, and most guests fly in from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to its own airstrip. It is one of the places covered in our complete guide to the Laikipia conservancies.
This page explains where Loisaba is, who runs it, what lives there, where you can sleep and how to get there. Sources give the size as anything from 56,000 to 58,000 acres, or 250 square kilometres, so we use Loisaba’s own figure of 58,000 acres and say “about” throughout.
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Loisaba Conservancy at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Laikipia, linking Laikipia with Samburu and Isiolo counties |
| Size | About 58,000 acres (other sources: 56,000 to 57,000 acres, or 250 km2) |
| Model | Wildlife conservancy and working ranch, owned by the Loisaba Community Trust since 2014 |
| Elevation | 1,400 to 2,000 m |
| Getting there | Daily direct flights from Wilson Airport (Safarilink or Air Kenya), or road routes from Nanyuki and Nyahururu |
| Places to stay | Loisaba Lodo Springs, Loisaba Star Beds, Loisaba Tented Camp, Galago Private Canvas |
| Wildlife to know | Black and white rhinos, elephants; wild dogs reported (sightings never certain) |
| Malaria risk | Low, according to Loisaba (ask your doctor before you travel) |
| Medical help | On-site clinic with nurses 24 hours a day |
Loisaba sits in northern Laikipia, close to the Samburu and Isiolo counties. If you want to see more of the north in one trip, our 7 Day Untamed Skies Safari: Flying The Hidden North of Kenya is a seven-day route through the region by air. Tell us you want Loisaba and we will check how it can fit.
Who owns and runs Loisaba
The Ancilotto family bought the land in the early 1970s and ran it as a cattle ranch. The Loisaba brand was set up in 1997. In 2014 The Nature Conservancy, with donor backing, helped move ownership to the Loisaba Community Trust, which Loisaba says secures conservation use “in perpetuity”. You can read the full account on Loisaba’s own history page.
Today Loisaba describes itself as a wildlife conservancy and a working ranch, so livestock and wildlife share the land. Its position on a wildlife and livestock movement corridor is the reason it matters beyond its own boundary.
Loisaba star beds: sleeping under the open sky
Loisaba Star Beds is a four-room camp built on a rocky kopje above a permanent waterhole. Each room has an open-air star bed, and the camp’s hosts are Samburu and Laikipiak Maasai. Elewana’s description of the camp mentions watching the sunrise from your bed.
Expert Africa’s directory calls it a “simple camp”, while the other Loisaba properties carry luxury or exclusive-use wording. The appeal is the setting and the night sky rather than extra comforts. At 1,400 to 2,000 m the nights can be cool, so ask us how the camp handles wet or cold nights when you enquire.
Wildlife at Loisaba: rhinos, elephants and wild dogs
Rhinos
From 16 January 2024, 21 black rhinos were translocated to Loisaba to start a founder population: 3 from Nairobi National Park, 6 from Ol Pejeta and 12 from Lewa. An Elewana newsletter from late 2025 reports 26 black and 11 white rhinos, four new calves, ten white rhinos moved in during mid-August 2025, and no poaching incidents. Treat these as a snapshot, because counts change.
Elephants
The same newsletter records 167 elephants, in 41 family groups, including 23 bulls. As part of a movement corridor, Loisaba’s herds are not confined to one property.
Wild dogs
Wild dogs are the animal most readers ask about, and the honest answer is that sightings are never certain. A 2019 post on Loisaba’s blog said that many Laikipia wild dogs died of canine distemper after the 2017 drought, and that a pack had been heard again in 2019. Traveller reviews describe wild dogs as regularly seen at Loisaba, but we could not confirm that independently, and no operator can promise a sighting. Our guide to seeing African wild dogs in Laikipia explains where else to look.
Other species in the north
Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe are listed at other northern and north-western Laikipia properties, such as Suyian, Mugie and Ol Jogi. Whether you will find them at Loisaba on a given day depends on the season and the animals’ movements, and we can ask the camp before you go.
Where to stay at Loisaba
| Place | What it is | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Loisaba Lodo Springs | Eight rooms, ultra-private, with an infinity pool; opened in 2019 | Travellers who want privacy and a pool |
| Loisaba Star Beds | Four rooms with open-air star beds on a rocky kopje above a permanent waterhole | Travellers who want to sleep outdoors and accept a simpler camp |
| Loisaba Tented Camp | Luxury tented rooms on a ridge facing Mount Kenya; rebuilt in 2016 | Travellers who want a classic tented camp |
| Galago Private Canvas | A fully private camp built for one group and packed up after each stay | Families or friends who want a camp to themselves |
The sources we used do not publish nightly rates for these camps, so we do not quote them here. Your Entice quote itemises the lodge costs for your dates. For the wider picture, see our guide to where to stay in Laikipia, by conservancy.
Two northern Kenya routes to start from
- 7 Day Untamed Skies Safari: Flying The Hidden North of Kenya: for travellers who would rather fly than drive long distances. From USD 3,700 per person.
- 9 Days Untamed Safari to the Hidden Northern Kenya Circuit: for travellers with more time who want a fuller circuit of the north. From USD 7,840 per person.
Prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice.
Getting to Loisaba
- By air: Safarilink and Air Kenya fly direct from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to the Loisaba airstrip every day, according to Loisaba. We do not quote a flight time here because the sources we used do not give one. Your itinerary will show the schedule.
- By road: Loisaba publishes routes from Nanyuki and from Nyahururu, but no drive times, so ask us to confirm the time for your day.
- In your own vehicle: only 4×4 vehicles in green or brown shades are allowed inside the conservancy.
What you can do at Loisaba
Game drives and watching the sunrise from a star bed are confirmed in Elewana’s description of the camp. Travel directories also point to horse riding and camel trekking, but we could not read Loisaba’s own activities page, so please treat those as unconfirmed and let us check the current programme for your dates.
Planning a Loisaba Kenya safari
Loisaba suits travellers who want a remote conservancy stay with distinctive places to sleep. Three practical points help.
- Pack for a cool altitude. At 1,400 to 2,000 m, mornings and evenings can be cool. Bring a warm layer for early drives and for a night in a star bed.
- Dress in neutral colours. Greens, browns and khaki are the usual safari choice.
- Ask about fees. Loisaba does not publish a conservation fee on its pages, and Elewana lists conservancy fees as excluded or separate from some rates. Ask whether yours is included. Fees last verified: October 2026.
For two northern routes we price, see the trip cards above. They start from USD 3,700 and USD 7,840 per person, depending on season, group size and lodge choice.
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Frequently asked questions
How big is Loisaba Conservancy?
About 58,000 acres, according to Loisaba. Other sources give 56,000 acres, 57,000 acres or 250 square kilometres, so the figure depends on who you ask and which unit they use.
Who owns Loisaba?
Since 2014, the Loisaba Community Trust, after The Nature Conservancy and donors helped move ownership. Before that, a family bought the land in the early 1970s and ran it as a cattle ranch.
Can you see wild dogs at Loisaba?
Sometimes, but no one can promise it. Loisaba’s own 2019 blog post describes a distemper die-off across Laikipia and the return of a pack, and traveller reviews report regular sightings. Plan for wild dogs as a bonus, not a certainty.
What are the Loisaba star beds?
Loisaba Star Beds is a four-room camp on a rocky kopje above a permanent waterhole, where each room has an open-air bed under the sky. Samburu and Laikipiak Maasai hosts look after guests.
How do you get to Loisaba from Nairobi?
Safarilink and Air Kenya fly direct from Wilson Airport to the Loisaba airstrip every day. You can also drive from Nanyuki or Nyahururu, and we will confirm drive times when we plan your route.
Is there malaria at Loisaba?
Loisaba describes the malaria risk as low. Speak to your doctor about your own plans. There is also a clinic on site with nurses available 24 hours a day.
How much does a Loisaba safari cost?
We do not quote Loisaba’s nightly rates because the sources we used do not publish them. Our northern Kenya routes start from USD 3,700 per person for 7 days and USD 7,840 per person for 9 days, depending on season, group size and lodge choice. Ask for a quote for your dates.
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