Where to stay in Soysambu Conservancy
3 hand-picked glamping camps and lodges in and around the park.
Soysambu Conservancy guide
Overview
Soysambu Conservancy covers about 48,000 acres in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, around most of the shore of Lake Elmenteita, a shallow soda lake between Naivasha and Nakuru. The conservancy was set up in 2007 on land that had long been a cattle ranch, and it is part of the Kenya Lake System World Heritage Site.
The landscape is a mix of grassland, acacia woodland, rocky lava hills and the lake shore. Because there are no elephant and few dangerous animals, it is ideal for walking, cycling and horseback riding among the wildlife.
Soysambu is about two and a half hours from Nairobi, so it is an easy first or last stop on a Kenya trip, and it combines well with Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha.
Wildlife & Biodiversity
Mammals
Soysambu protects a significant population of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Buffalo, zebra, eland, waterbuck, impala, Thomson’s gazelle and colobus monkeys are common, and leopard and hyena are present.
Birds
Lake Elmenteita attracts flamingos and pelicans. The lake is an important breeding site for great white pelicans, and more than 450 bird species have been recorded around it.
Best Time to Visit
Short answer: June to October and January to February, the dry seasons, for walking and game viewing.
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Jun – Oct | Long dry season | Pleasant days and good walking. |
| Nov – Dec | Short rains | Showers and green grass. Migrant birds arrive. |
| Jan – Feb | Short dry season | Warm and dry. |
| Mar – May | Long rains | The wettest months. Some tracks become muddy. |
Flamingo numbers vary with lake levels, so ask locally what to expect.
Getting There
By air
| Airport | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO), Nairobi | Most international visitors | About 2.5 hours by road. |
By road
From Nairobi, drive north-west on the A104 through Naivasha towards Nakuru. The conservancy gates are signed off the highway near Elmenteita.
Entrance & Fees
Soysambu charges a conservancy fee per person per day for day visitors and overnight guests, with separate rates for Kenyan residents.
Check the current rate with the conservancy or your lodge before visiting.
Fees last checked October 2026 against the Soysambu Conservancy website.
