If you are looking for something beyond the regular African safari experience, Laikipia Plateau in Kenya is a destination you simply cannot miss. Often called one of Africa’s best-kept secrets, Laikipia offers a rare combination of spectacular landscapes and extraordinary wildlife, making it one of the best wildlife photography tour destinations in Africa. Unlike many traditional safari parks, this region remains largely unfenced, allowing wildlife to roam freely across vast open spaces. The result is a raw, immersive wilderness experience with incredible photographic opportunities.
Home to large, permanent herds of elephants, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, common zebras, warthogs, hippos, buffaloes, and a variety of antelope species, Laikipia is a paradise for photographers seeking dynamic wildlife encounters. But what truly sets it apart is its population of rare and endangered species. More than 70% of the world’s remaining Grevy’s zebra are found here, alongside reticulated giraffes, Beisa oryx, zorillas, striped hyenas, aardwolves, wild dogs, and the star attraction — the melanistic (black) leopard.
Laikipia is also one of the best places in Africa to photograph African wild dogs, with frequent sightings of the famous Phoenix Pack, known for its fascinating social dynamics and high-energy hunts. The region gained worldwide fame in 2019 when photographer Will Burrard-Lucas captured the first high-quality images of a black leopard here. Since then, sightings of a resident female melanistic leopard — now well-habituated to human presence — have offered photographers unparalleled opportunities to capture one of nature’s rarest big cats.
Whether it’s the drama of predator-prey interactions, the grace of endangered species, or the thrill of tracking the legendary black leopard, Laikipia promises a wildlife photography experience unlike any other safari in Africa. This is not just a trip — it’s a masterclass in storytelling through your lens, set in one of the most biodiverse and visually stunning landscapes on the continent.
