Soysambu Conservancy

Location: Lake Elementaita, Kenya Great Rift Valley Province, Nakuru County, Kenya

Area: 48,000 acre

Overview

An area rented by violent volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Huge Volcanoes to the south sent massive lava flows towards the lake which was then much higher than today. The western shore saw molten lava burst through the earth’s crust creating a jumble of black lava ridges and plateaus interspersed with hidden glades and hollows, filled with 10-foot-high bamboo grass, beautiful yellow acacias, and rich green Warburgia trees.

Obsidian tools and Sirikwa whole earthworks have been found on Soysambu, indicating distant ancestors occupied this area with evidence from the nearby archeological site in Kariandusi, Hyrax Hills, and Gambles Cave. This land was bought in 1905 by Lord Delamere and turned into the home estate of his burgeoning agricultural enterprise, after walking across it from Somalia in 1896.

Soysambu is 48,000 acres situated in Kenya’s central rift valley approximately 130kms northwest of Nairobi and approximately 25 km southeast of Nakuru, bordered by Lake Nakuru National Park on the west, volcanoes Ol Doinyo Eburru to the south, and Menegai to the north.

Lake Elementaita is part of the “Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley” World Heritage Site, a Ramsar Convention Wetlands Site and birdlife International, and an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area.

With a small population of resident lions, buffalo, leopard, hippo, hyena, jackal, eland, zebra, impala, Thompson’s and Grant’s Gazelle, waterbuck, reedbuck, warthog, Steinbok, Klipspringer, colobus monkey, Vervet monkey, and baboons and over 300+ bird species located on the African-Eurasian migratory flyway.

Created for the preservation of Lake Elementaita, its geological, physiographical, ecological, archaeological, cultural, or historic features. Help prevent or restrict the scope of any mining or mineral or aggregate workings that would adversely affect wildlife conservation and any subdivisions of the land that adversely affect wildlife conservation.

The Uniqueness of this Park

• • Part of a World Heritage Site.

• • Lake Elementaita RAMSAR site within its borders.

• • Included in an Important Bird Area (IBA).

• • Home to 140 endangered Nubian Giraffes.

• • Lake Elementaita supports the only known breeding site for the Great White Pelican in Kenya.

Accommodation Options

• • Lake Elementaita Serena Camp (24 luxury tents)

• • Mbweha Camp (ten guest rooms)

Activities at the Destination

Bird watching, Horse Riding Tour, Camel Trek, Motor Cycle Safaris, Supporting the Soysambu Conservancy, Day & Night game viewing drives