5 Day Black Leopard and Rhino Photography Safari, Kenya

This 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari spends 3 nights in Laikipia’s Ewaso Enclave Conservancy tracking the black leopard and wild dogs, then a night near Solio Game Reserve to photograph rhinos.

Overview

Day by Day

Safari Map

FAQs

Overview

This 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari is a private photography trip from Nairobi to Laikipia and Solio Game Reserve. You spend 3 nights at Sidai Camp in the Ewaso Enclave Conservancy tracking the black leopard and wild dogs, then 1 night at Rhino Watch Lodge for Solio’s rhinos. It runs all year round and costs from USD 2,415 per adult, suiting photographers and patient wildlife lovers.

The trip uses a 4×4 open-sided Land Cruiser set up for photography, with full board meals and drinking water, and guides who speak English, French, Italian, Spanish or German.

Why choose a 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari?

Laikipia is one of the few places in Africa where a melanistic (black) leopard has been photographed in the wild. Three nights in the Ewaso Enclave Conservancy give you two full days and a night game drive to search for it, along with African wild dogs and the northern species of the Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx.

Solio Game Reserve then adds a very different subject. This private reserve near Mount Kenya protects a large population of black and white rhinos, so the last two days are about close, open-country rhino photography. Read more in our Laikipia Wilderness guide and our Solio Game Reserve guide.

Photographers: an open-sided Land Cruiser and long sessions with each subject.
Rare species seekers: black leopard, wild dogs and striped hyenas in one conservancy.
Rhino lovers: a full day and a morning in Solio Game Reserve.

What to expect on the 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari

Day 1 starts with a meet-and-greet and safari briefing in Nairobi, then a drive to the Ewaso Enclave Conservancy in Laikipia in time for lunch at Sidai Camp. The afternoon game drive looks for the Special Five, vulturine guineafowl, lions and leopards.

Days 2 and 3 are full days tracking the black leopard and the endangered African wild dog, with visits linked to the Mpala Research Centre and a night game drive for nocturnal animals such as striped hyenas. You stay at Sidai Camp on both nights.

On day 4 you drive about 3 hours to Solio Game Reserve for a game drive with a picnic lunch, looking for white and black rhinos, buffaloes, lions and waterbucks, and stay at Rhino Watch Lodge. Day 5 begins with a morning game drive in Solio, then you leave around noon, have lunch on the way and are dropped at your Nairobi hotel or the airport.

Is a black leopard sighting guaranteed?

A black leopard sighting can never be guaranteed, because it is a single wild, shy cat in a large conservancy. Two full days of tracking with local guides, plus a night game drive, give you the best realistic chance, and wild dogs, Special Five species and Solio’s rhinos make the trip worthwhile either way. See our night game drives in Kenya guide for what to expect after dark.

What is included in this Laikipia photography safari?

The trip page lists a 4×4 open-sided Land Cruiser for photography, 4 nights of accommodation (3 at Sidai Camp and 1 at Rhino Watch Lodge), full board meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), drinking water, a professional local guide and the activities in the itinerary, including the night game drive. Arrival and departure are in Nairobi.

The page does not yet list its exclusions, so we confirm park and conservancy fees, drinks, tips, insurance, visas and flights in your written quote. You can also compare this trip with our 11 day Kenya Special Five and Big Five safari, which visits the same conservancy.

How much does the 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari cost?

From USD 2,415 per adult (regular price USD 2,805). The final price depends on your travel dates, group size and the lodges available, and we confirm every lodge in your written quote.

WhatsApp us on +254 706 223888, email [email protected] or request a free tailor-made quote, and we will reply with dates and availability.

Safari Highlights

2 full days tracking the black leopard of Laikipia
African wild dogs and the northern Special Five in the Ewaso Enclave Conservancy
Night game drive for striped hyenas and other nocturnal animals
White and black rhinos in Solio Game Reserve
4x4 open-sided Land Cruiser set up for photography

Day 01 :

Nairobi - Laikipia Wilderness

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by Divulge Adventures representative for meet, greet and safari briefing. Afterward, you will depart Nairobi for Ewaso Enclave Conservancy in Laikipia for the elusive black leopard tracking. You will arrive in time for lunch, check in followed by lunch and afternoon siesta.

Later, you will set out for an afternoon game drive in this completely unique ecosystem. Stay on the lookout for the special five comprising of gravy zebra, reticulated giraffe, somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx. Other animals include the vulturine guinea fowls, lions, leopard, stripped hyenas among other. Afterwards, return to the camp for dinner and overnight at Sidai Camp.

Day 02 & 03 :

Two Full Days Tracking the Black Leopard

For these two full days you will have a task to accomplish. This includes tracking the famous and elusive black leopard and the special five at the Mpala Research Centre. You will have an amazing moment by sighting the only Kenya’s black panther in its wild habitat. In addition, track the famous, vulnerable and endangered wild dogs.

These activities require much patience and calmness to spot these kind of animals. At Ewaso Enclave Conservancy you are guaranteed of such sightings in addition to other endangered wildlife like the stripped hyenas, lesser kudu, as well as large numbers of African elephants.

While at this conservancy, you will enjoy a remarkable night game drive to spot the nocturnal animals which become active during the night. Dinner and Overnight at Sidai Camp.

Day 04 :

Laikipia Wilderness - Solio Reserve

After three good nights of tracking the black leopard, you will have your breakfast, and proceed towards one of the most populated rhino area, Solio Game Reserve. Approximately, 3 hours’ drive, you will check in at Solio Game Reserve home to over 300 white and black rhinos for full day game drive at this reserve.

Be ready to spot hundreds of white and black rhinos, waterbucks, impalas, buffaloes, lions as well as the common plain zebras. You will have a picnic Lunch and proceed with the afternoon game drive till late in the evening. Afterwards, exit the reserve to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Rhino Watch Lodge

Day 05 :

Solio Game Reserve - Nairobi

After a steamy hot delicious breakfast head to Solio Reserve for a morning game drive, giving you a chance to click the last pictures of the amazing rhinos before dearting to Nairobi by around noon time. You will have your lunch enroute to Narobi. Drop off at your Nairobi Hotel or at the airport for your outbound flight.

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When is the best time for the 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari?

The 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari runs all year round. Laikipia and Solio are dry country, so game viewing works in every month, though the long rains in April and May can make tracks muddy. The black leopard is resident, so there is no single best month to see it, and we can advise on light and conditions for your dates.

What is included in the 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari?

The 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari includes a 4×4 open-sided Land Cruiser for photography, 4 nights of accommodation, full board meals, drinking water, a professional local guide, two days of black leopard tracking, a night game drive and game drives in Solio Game Reserve. We confirm fees, drinks, tips and flights in your written quote.

Where do you stay on the black leopard and rhino photography safari?

On this black leopard and rhino photography safari you stay 3 nights at Sidai Camp in the Ewaso Enclave Conservancy, Laikipia, and 1 night at Rhino Watch Lodge near Solio Game Reserve. Both are full board, and we confirm availability for your dates when we send your quote.

Is the 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari suitable for families?

The 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari suits older children and adults who can sit quietly for long periods, because leopard tracking takes patience. Drives are moderate, with about 3 hours from Laikipia to Solio. Tell us the ages in your group and we will advise on seating, room types and the pace of each day.

How do I book the 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari?

To book the 5 day black leopard and rhino photography safari, send the enquiry form on this page, WhatsApp us on +254 706 223888 or email [email protected] with your dates and group size. We reply with a written quote and camp availability for your dates, and you can adjust the itinerary before you confirm.