Solio Game Reserve

A safe haven to rhinos, the Solio Game Reserve is a privately-owned wildlife conservancy in the Greater Laikipia Region, located between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains. The reserve plays a major part in the protection and breeding of black rhinos recognized as one of the most successful in Kenya.

Solio Game Reserve has an area of 17,500 acre reserve comprising of acacia forest, traversed by a river center to the conservancy. The reserve is a sanctuary to approximately 200 rhinos as well as other several wildlife species including lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and warthogs among others. Solio also offers some of the best leopard viewing in Kenya and is an ideal place for bird watching.

The Solio Game Reserve also known as Solio Ranch used to be a working cattle ranch, however in 1973 part of it was turned into a wildlife sanctuary resulting in to rhinos and wildlife coming back to the area. Today, it is a 49,000 acre ranch with 19,000 acres of wildlife sanctuary for black and white rhinos. The rhinos here live in harmoniously with other animals, such as buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, elands, antelopes, waterbucks and warthogs.

Solio Game Reserve is one of the best places for spotting rhinos in Kenya. The reserve is an ideal stop on a northern safari and the main attraction is the chance to see both black and white rhinos. This small reserve is also home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, various antelope species and a wide variety of birdlife. Additionally, visitors have the option to explore the reserve on foot by mountain bike or on horseback.

Climate in Solio Game Reserve

Generally Kenya has a cold season from June to November with average temperatures of 20°C during the day. Nights can be cold during this season, so it is a good idea to carry a sweater. Mid-October to November is the short rainy season, with temperatures rising up to 30°C during the day from December to April.

April and May receives showers again as it is the long rainy season. Normally it doesn’t rain throughout the day as one see sunny mornings with rain clouds building up towards the afternoons and evenings.

Wildlife in Solio Game Reserve

The rhinos are the start attractions in the Solio Game Reserve, however the reserve is home to a variety of wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas, as well as elands, oryx, impalas, waterbuck, warthogs, buffaloes, zebras and giraffes.

Birdlife in Solio Game Reserve

Solio Game Reserve is listed among the best birding destinations in Kenya, home to over 300 bird species thriving in diverse ecosystem, ranging from acacia woodland to wetlands. These birds include vultures, eagles, buzzards, sunbirds, weavers, hornbills, crowned cranes, secretary birds, kori bustards, and the striking Martial Eagle among others.

Solio Wildlife Game Experience

Visitors find that sightings of up to 40 rhinos on one game drive at a time are not uncommon here. This wildlife experience here is intense and exclusive with just the one luxury lodge with five cottages in the middle of it all.

Enjoy exploring this exclusive wildlife reserve by jumping on a horse, bike or even in a helicopter – an ultimate luxury experience.

Activities to Do in Solio Game Reserve

Visit the Solio Rhino Orphanage

The Solio Rhino Orphanage is a rescue and rehabilitation centre for abandoned baby rhinos found in Solio Game Reserve. Here a team of dedicated keepers care for baby rhinos, nursing them back to strength and health with the ultimate aim of releasing them back into the wild. From time to time, the orphanage also cares for other abandoned baby animals found on the reserve, including impalas, eland and zebras. Each orphan at this orphanage has a unique story and guests have the opportunity to learn about their backgrounds, recovery journeys and the long-term conservation efforts that support their reintegration into the wild.

Game Drives

Game drives in Solio Game Reserve allow visitors to enjoy peaceful mornings, afternoons and evening game viewing in one of Kenya’s least busy private game reserves. The reserve is home to abundant wildlife, making for easy and plentiful sightings, meaning there is no need to rush out first thing, unless you want to.

Game drives allow you the opportunity to spend time with the prolific numbers of black and white rhino and spot four out of the Big Five – there are no elephants at Solio Game Reserve as they have been purposely fenced out to preserve the vegetation for the endangered black rhino. Other wildlife species to lookout for include elands, reticulated giraffes, elands, waterbucks, lions, leopards and many other species.

Walking Safaris

Explore the African bush of Solio Game Reserve on foot offering a completely different and deeply immersive safari experience. In Solio Game Reserve the walking safari take place on Solio Ranch, just outside the core fenced rhino sanctuary in a safe and wildlife – rich area of the conservancy.

On this experience you are accompanied by one of expert walking guides, you will set off to discover the smaller details of the wilderness that are sometimes missed on game drives. Learn to identify animal tracks and signs such as paw prints, dung middens, feeding marks and scent trails. As you stroll through the reserve’s scenic landscape, your guide will introduce you to local plants and trees, some of which have traditional medicinal uses still known and used by local communities.

Horse riding

Horse riding in Solio Game Reserve offers unique and peaceful way to explore the reserve’s landscape and wildlife. Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced rider, Solio Lodge’s team will tailor the experience to suit your ability and comfort level. For seasoned/confident riders, there are wide – open plains just beyond the core rhino sanctuary. Perfect for exhilarating canters. For visitors interested in a gentler pace, scenic walking rides offer a relaxed way to take in the natural surroundings.

Best Time to visit Solio Game Reserve

Due to Kenya’s tropical climate, wildlife viewing at Solio Game Reserve is excellent year round. However, the best times to visit are during the dry seasons, from June to October and from January to mid- March.

The main dry season which is from June to October offers the best wildlife viewing. However, note that it is a high season with a number of visitors in Kenya being high than usual.

Temperature wise, the afternoon temperatures reach 25°C (77°F), while temperatures fall rapidly at dusk.

The shorts arrive from November to December, this season also offers good wildlife viewing with slightly lower prices.

Mid-March to March are long rainy season, marking the low season in Kenya and it can rail daily making the routes to the reserve impassable.

Where to Stay in Solio Game Reserve

There are only two safari lodges in Solio that is

• Rhino Watch Safari Lodge
• Solio Lodge

Getting to Solio Game Reserve

Solio Game Reserve is located 175 kilometers north of Nairobi between Aberdare National Park and Mount Kenya National Park, and can be accessed by road and air.

By road, it is a journey of 4.5 drive from Nairobi – the capital of Kenya and by air, domestic and charter flights from Wilson Airport are available. Flight time is 45 minutes.

Solio Game Reserve is an ideal stop during a northern Kenya safari providing a secluded experience.