Solio Game Reserve

Solio Game Reserve

Solio Ranch or Solio Game Reserve is a privately-owned wildlife conservancy located in Kenya’s Central Province.

The ranch is a fenced, privately-owned protected area geared toward rhino conservation. The 17,500-acre reserve, 22 km north of Nyeri Town, plays a major part in the protection and breeding black rhinos in Kenya, oldest rhino sanctuary, and an important breeding center for black rhinos. The rhino is a member of the ‘Big-Five’, which are a key tourist attraction. Solio Ranch is recognized as one of the most successful private rhino breeding reserves in Kenya. The animals live in harmony with other wildlife, including the buffalo, zebra, giraffe and plains game such as eland, oryx, impala, waterbuck, Thompson’s gazelle, and warthog. By the end of 2009, Kenya had 635 black rhinos and 353 white rhinos in various conservation areas around the country.

Self-drive safaris are permitted and while not necessary, it is helpful to be accompanied by a Solio guide (KSh500).

Rhino Conservation

In March 2003, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) adopted a new management plan for black rhino conservation in Kenya. Surplus rhinos from both private land and national parks and reserves were to continue being used to complete the stocking of new sanctuaries in both sectors. Kenya Wildlife Service reported that there was an urgent need to maintain a sustainable and high annual growth rate in population to develop and conserve a genetically viable population of black rhinos of the East African race or subspecies in their natural habitats in Kenya. This was to be accomplished through increased attention to biological management and law enforcement. The specific goal of the KWS strategy was to increase the black rhino numbers by at least 5% per annum and reach a confirmed total of 500 rhinos by 2005, 650 rhinos by 2010 and 1000 by 2020.

Visit Solio Game Reserve with Enclose Africa Safaris.