A private camp on a 56,000-acre conservancy is not news on its own. What makes Loisaba Lodo Springs worth a second look is what happened around it. In January 2024, Loisaba Conservancy in Laikipia became home to black rhinos again. That was the first time in more than 50 years. Twenty-one Eastern black rhinos arrived from Ol Pejeta, Lewa, and Nairobi National Park. The move was part of the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion project. Lodo Springs sits inside that same conservancy. It is one of a small handful of private camps that give guests access to the new sanctuary. Many travelers want rhino tracking without the vehicle queues that now shape parts of the Masai Mara. That access matters. Here is what the camp actually offers, how it fits inside Loisaba, and what it costs to get there.
What Is Loisaba Lodo Springs?
Loisaba Lodo Springs is a small, private camp inside Loisaba Conservancy. It opened in 2019 and operates under the Elewana Collection alongside the conservancy’s other properties. The camp sits alongside Loisaba Tented Camp, the treehouse-style Loisaba Star Beds, and the family-oriented Loisaba Kiboko House. Those camps lean toward open plains and river frontage. Lodo Springs sits closer to the conservancy’s rockier northern ground, near natural springs that give the camp its name. Elewana markets it as its smallest and most private Loisaba property. It is built for travelers who want a conservancy experience without a full lodge’s shared common areas. The conservancy’s actual newest stay is Galago Under Canvas, a rhino-focused camp Loisaba operates directly rather than through Elewana. See the comparison section below for details.
Where Loisaba Conservancy Sits in Laikipia
Loisaba Conservancy covers roughly 56,000 acres (about 227 km2) of land north of Mount Kenya, in Laikipia County. It is jointly managed by the Loisaba Community Trust and The Nature Conservancy, with camp operations run by Elewana. Laikipia itself is Kenya’s second-largest wildlife area after the Masai Mara ecosystem. It carries only a fraction of the visitor traffic. Neighboring conservancies include Ol Pejeta to the south and Suyian and Il Ngwesi further north. Several run open corridors that let wildlife, including elephants, move between properties without fences.
The Rhino Sanctuary Behind the Camp
Loisaba already held a resident white rhino population before 2024. In January 2024, 21 Eastern black rhinos arrived at Loisaba. They came from Ol Pejeta Conservancy (6), Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (12), and Nairobi National Park (3). The translocation was part of the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion project. That government-backed effort opens new sanctuary space for a species still recovering from near-extinction. The move made Loisaba Kenya’s 17th officially designated rhino sanctuary. It was also the first place in over 50 years to hold black rhinos again. For Loisaba, that means guests can now track both black and white rhino inside a single conservancy. That combination is still uncommon outside Ol Pejeta and a handful of other private sanctuaries.
Getting to Loisaba Lodo Springs
Most travelers reach Loisaba by scheduled flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Loisaba Airstrip. The route runs about 55 to 65 minutes with carriers like Safarilink. Driving is possible but longer. Figure roughly 280 km and 5 to 6 hours from Nairobi. From Nanyuki, the nearest town with its own airstrip and fuel stops, it’s about 78 km and 1.5 hours. Road conditions inside the conservancy are unpaved in stretches. Most camps, Lodo Springs included, recommend the flight unless a longer road safari is already part of the itinerary.
| Route | Distance | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi (Wilson) to Loisaba Airstrip | ~280 km by air | 55-65 min flight | Scheduled service, e.g. Safarilink |
| Nairobi to Loisaba by road | ~280 km | 5-6 hrs | Tarmac to Nanyuki, unpaved after |
| Nanyuki to Loisaba by road | ~78 km | ~1.5 hrs | Nearest town with its own airstrip |
| Loisaba Conservancy size | ~56,000 acres | ~227 km2 | Managed by Loisaba Community Trust + The Nature Conservancy |
| Black rhinos returned, January 2024 | 21 individuals | from Ol Pejeta, Lewa, Nairobi National Park | First black rhinos at Loisaba in 50+ years |
Loisaba Lodo Springs vs Other Loisaba Camps
Elewana runs four distinct properties on the same conservancy, and the differences matter more than the shared address suggests. Loisaba Star Beds puts guests on open-air rooftop beds under mosquito netting. It’s built for travelers chasing a specific photo and a night under stars with no roof at all. Loisaba Tented Camp is the conservancy’s classic option, mid-sized and set above a waterhole. Kiboko House, meanwhile, is a private, self-catered home suited to families or small groups traveling together. Lodo Springs positions itself as the smallest and most private of the four. It suits a solo traveler or couple who wants a conservancy experience without a larger lodge’s shared dining schedule.
A fifth option sits outside the Elewana lineup entirely. Galago Under Canvas is Loisaba’s own newest camp, owned and run directly by the conservancy rather than by Elewana. It markets itself explicitly around the rhino story, branded “The Home of RHINO.” Travelers deciding between the two face a clear choice. Lodo Springs is an established, Elewana-run private camp with a fixed set of amenities. Galago is a newer, conservancy-run stay built specifically around the rhino sanctuary narrative. Confirm current rates and availability directly with Loisaba or a partner operator. Galago is new enough that third-party listings have not caught up.
What a Stay Actually Looks Like
A typical Lodo Springs itinerary includes dawn and dusk game drives and rhino tracking on foot with an armed ranger. Guests can also take camel walks across the conservancy’s drier northern sections. That’s a Laikipia activity rarely offered in the Mara ecosystem. Night drives are permitted, since Loisaba operates as a private conservancy rather than a government reserve. That rule alone opens up sightings a Masai Mara day-tripper never gets. High-season nightly rates for Elewana’s Loisaba properties, including Lodo Springs, run an indicative USD 700 to 1,200 per person sharing. That range is all-inclusive of meals, drinks, and activities. A specific rate always depends on season and current camp promotions.
Chui Mama Centre and the Wider Conservation Picture
Loisaba’s rhino work sits alongside other recent conservation additions. In June 2025, the conservancy opened the Chui Mama Centre. It is a training and production hub for women’s eco-enterprises: beadwork, beekeeping, and organic soap making. The centre runs in partnership with the Land & Life Foundation and Elewana. It is a separate project from the rhino sanctuary, focused on community livelihoods rather than wildlife security. Yet it points to the same pattern. Loisaba has spent recent years adding named, verifiable community and conservation infrastructure, rather than simply marketing an existing reputation. For a traveler weighing conservancy fees against a national park’s flat gate charge, that kind of visible reinvestment matters. It’s part of what the higher nightly rate is paying for.
Explorer Notes
Ask directly whether a Lodo Springs stay includes rhino tracking on foot or only from a vehicle. Foot tracking with an armed ranger is Loisaba’s strongest activity. It’s worth confirming before booking rather than assuming it is automatic.
Pack for temperature swings. Laikipia sits higher and drier than the Mara, so mornings and nights run noticeably colder even in warm months. A fleece layer earns its space in the bag.
Ask your camp host how the 2024 rhino translocation has changed sighting patterns since. New arrivals settle into predictable ranging areas over time. Camp guides tend to know the current pattern well before it reaches general travel write-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Loisaba Lodo Springs a good fit for a first safari? It works better as a second or third Kenya trip. Lodo Springs suits travelers who already know they want a quieter, more private conservancy setting. It’s less suited to a first look at the country’s classic wildlife density.
Can I see both black and white rhino at Loisaba? Yes. Loisaba held a resident white rhino population before 2024. A January 2024 translocation added 21 black rhinos from Ol Pejeta, Lewa, and Nairobi National Park. That gives the conservancy both species on one property.
How does Loisaba compare to Ol Pejeta for rhino viewing? Ol Pejeta holds a larger, longer-established rhino population and sells day access without an overnight stay. Loisaba is camps-only and smaller in rhino numbers, but offers a quieter, lower-traffic setting.
What is the best way to combine Loisaba with a wider Kenya itinerary? Laikipia pairs well with a Masai Mara or Amboseli leg. Most travelers add it as a 2 to 3 night stay, flown in and out of Nairobi. Road transfers between the two regions run long.
Does Loisaba allow night game drives? Yes. As a private conservancy rather than a national reserve, Loisaba permits night drives and off-road tracking. Both are restricted in the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Rhino tracking on a quiet Laikipia conservancy is a different trip from a Mara safari. It is worth planning as its own leg rather than an afterthought. Touring Insights recommends starting with the site’s Tour Packages page. It shows how a Laikipia stay can slot into a wider Kenya itinerary. A partner operator can also confirm directly whether Lodo Springs currently has availability alongside their own Loisaba allocation.
What to Read Next
- Comparing Loisaba against its Laikipia neighbors? Read our Laikipia conservancies compared: Ol Pejeta, Lewa, Borana, and Loisaba.
- Curious about Loisaba’s community conservation work? See our Chui Mama Centre women’s enterprise guide.
- Want the wider Kenya rhino picture before you book? Check our where to see white rhinos in Kenya guide.
Further reading
More safari planning resources
- Kenya national parks map from SafariPure
- Ol Pejeta and Sweetwaters safari package from Valley Safaris
- Maasai Mara National Reserve guide on Touring Insights
- Big Five safari collection on FindMySafari
Related guides: Dunia Camp: Inside Asilia’s All-Women-Run Camp in the Serengeti.
