GUIDE ON SUYIAN CONSERVANCY IN NORTHERN LAIKIPIA

Suyian Conservancy Introduction - Location, Wildlife & History

Suyian Conservancy takes its name from the Maa term for the African Wild Dog, an endangered animal, rare in these parts. Suyian has come a long way from being originally a sheep farm to its present-day status as a Boran cattle ranch. When purchased by William Ernest Powys in 1963, the estate was called Il Pinguone and passed on to his son Gilfrid after his death in 1978.

The property covering an area of 43,495 acres, is located in northwest Laikipia and is now owned and managed by the Powys, a Kenyan family of British descent. As you will learn on your safari vacation in Kenya, they are dedicated to conserving the large populations of wildlife that now thrive in these environs. We recommend Siruai Mobile Camp (exclusive and private use camp) when visiting Suyian Conservancy on your African safari. The camp is operated by Safari Collection - the same property brand that manages Giraffe Manor in Nairobi.

Key Takeaways

• Takes its name from the Maa term for African Wild Dog
• Formerly a sheep ranch, Il Pinguone, now converted into a Boran cattle ranch and conservation area
• Diversity of habitats with thriving 3,000-year-old forests, granite hills, Acacia forests, grassy savannas, and riverine vegetation
• The ranch is privately owned by the Powys family
• Recommended stay at Siruai Mobile Camp - sister property to Giraffe Manor in Nairobi city

Travel Guide Content - Start Here

1. What Are The Wildlife, Birdlife & Floral Experiences In Suyian Conservancy?

2. Suyian Safari Experiences

3. Suyian Trust

1. What Are The Wildlife, Birdlife & Floral Experiences In Suyian Conservancy?

Key Takeaways

• Rich concentrations of terrestrial fauna including the rare wild dogs and Lelwel hartebeest
• Predator and prey viewing opportunities
• Diverse birdlife in different habitats i.e. woodland to riverine locations
• A plethora of hardy plantlife used for food and making medicines for thousands of years

The forests of this Laikipian world are home to a rich diversity of animal life, and your bush holiday with AfricanMecca Safaris will be enriched by sightings of predators like the lion, spotted hyena, striped hyena, wild dog, leopard, genet, civet, and porcupine that keep the herbivore numbers in check. The endemic Lelwel hartebeest (aka Jackson's hartebeest), oryx, gerenuk, giraffe, buffalo, baboon, bush pig, and hippo, along with majestic elephants, are often spotted roaming the landscape.

The diversity of habitats in Laikipia also supports a unique, upland birdlife. You will be charmed by the plethora of species such as the aquatic sandpiper, black crane, African finfoot, three-banded plover, and goliath heron found in the riverine forests. Travel to the rocky hills, and you could spot the pearl spotted owlet, Verreaux eagle, paradise flycatcher, Boran cisticola, stone partridge, and cliff chat.

As you come down to the savannah grasslands, you can look for the black-bellied bustard, buff crested bustard, white-bellied bustard, and kori bustard. Trip out to the Acacia woodlands for sightings of the Abyssinian scimitarbill, banded parisoma, northern white-crowned shrike, African silverbill, and the rare white-headed mousebird. Should you have a chance to visit Laikipia in the wet season (when to travel), you could spot the long-tailed widow bird in full plumage, displaying its colors to attract females.

The northern area of Suyian Conservancy features stunning 3,000-year-old olive and cedar forests that form a lush green cover for the granite hills that rise from the hot, dry, and arid landscape. The seasonal Ewaso Narok River of Laikipia borders the land on the east and nourishes the abundance of indigenous plant life, including several that can be eaten as wild salads, succulents, and aloe vera varieties great for sunburn.

2. Suyian Safari Experiences

Key Takeaways

• Visiting the 3,000-year-old olive and cedar trees of the Desert Islands of Kenya
• Walking along old elephant trails and hiking tracks
• Learning more about the Laikipia flora of Suyian
• Exploring the five main landscapes of Laikipia, such as the Acacia woodland, grassy savannah plains, Granitic Inselberg complex, Phonolite escarpment, and riverine forests

Suyian’s safaris ​give you an in-depth peek into the gorgeous wilderness of the legendary “Desert Islands” of Laikipia, Kenya (where to stay). These forests are 3,000 years old and abound with ancient olive and cedar trees. Exploring them is a heart-warming feeling and fills you with reverence for nature. The Community Forest Rangers will guide you over age-old elephant trails and other well-worn tracks running through the landscape. You can sign up for full-day hikes, stopping for a picnic at a bespoke bush location. Or, indulge in a twilight safari activity where you can experience the glorious sunsets and sunrises over the landscape and listen to the songs of the birds and chirping of insects.

Learning More About The Plant Life

On your bushwalking tours, you will spend time listening in utter fascination as the guide talks about the in-depth knowledge the Samburus have of the land and its plant life that has sustained them for thousands of years. You will also get an introduction to edible succulents, seasonal berries, and wild salad plants, along with medicinal herbs that are great for healing sunburn. Visiting the local communities is a part of the excursion. You could get awe-inspiring tips about the medicinal uses of the plants described by the Samburu herbalists and botanists who have studied them for centuries.

Going on Patrols, Spotting Birds & Animals

Suyian Conservancy, and the surrounding conservancies around Laikipia showcase an array of diverse landscapes, such as the Acacia woodland, grassy savannah plains, Granitic Inselberg complex, Phonolite escarpment, and riverine forests, along with thickets of old Podocarpus trees. You could accompany the Community Forest Rangers as they patrol the bush and reveal secrets like tiny insects, tracks and spoor of animals, and wild bees nesting in a tree. Also, learn more about the gorgeous birds, their habits, and nesting techniques, and perhaps, encounter a herd of grazing hartebeest, thrilling vacation experiences that will remain with you forever.

3. Suyian Trust

Key Takeaways

• Suyian Trust instituted by Anne and Gilfrid Powys for raising funding for conservation efforts
• Works in collaboration with the government-run Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and the Kirisia Forest Community Associations
• Supports conservation programs in northern Laikipia and Samburu
• Initiatives like reforestation, tree and plant nurseries, wildlife monitoring, and beekeeping
• Provides jobs to the local communities by encouraging eco-tourism, patrolling the reserve, and marketing locally-made items to promote livelihoods

Suyian Conservancy has demonstrated immense success as a sustainable conservation unit thanks to the vision and dedication of Gilfrid Powys and his daughter, Anne Powys. They have diverted their efforts to preserve this beautiful corner of Laikipia and have been working for its upliftment for close to a century. In 2008, the duo founded the Suyian Trust to raise funding for their projects. The Powys realized early on that for their efforts to be successful, they would need the support of their friends, local communities, and other partners. And the Suyian Trust is the culmination of that vision.

Initiatives In Laikipia

Today, the organization is involved in several projects across ​northern Laikipia, including removing alien opuntia vegetation by hand to allow for endemic species to regenerate, reforestation to build a green cover for cooling the soil, and setting up 250 beehives that are critical for pollinating food crops and plants. As you will learn on your tour, Suyian Trust also funds wildlife monitoring drives and the development of solar fences to secure several species of flora from grazing herds. Educating the local communities on the importance of conservation is another of Suyian’s projects.

Initiatives In Samburu

Suyian Trust also has initiatives set up in Samburu. It has been instrumental in the institution of eco-tourism efforts, meeting with community elders to create awareness of the issues threatening the delicate ecosystems of Laikipia and Samburu, and publishing literature designed for school kids and adults. The local people can find employment working as custodians of the wildlife as rangers and gardeners running tree nurseries for preserving endemic plant species. Other programs include creating a platform for selling locally-made beadwork, baskets, herbal teas, and artifacts to support the livelihood of communities living close to the forests.