The Shompole Conservancy a large privately operated conservation area lies 120 kilometers south of Nairobi on the border with Tanzania in the heart of the Great Rift Valley between Lake Magadi to the north and Lake Natron to the south, two Soda Ash alkaline lakes. It is owned by the local Maasai community and its establishment has helped to both protect this stunning natural habitat and directly benefit the community.

The Shompole Conservancy lies 120 kilometers south of Nairobi on the border with Tanzania in the heart of the Great Rift Valley between Lake Magadi to the north and Lake Natron to the south. The conservancy covers part of the 35,000 acres Shompole group ranch, registered in 1979 and owned by the Loodokilani Maasai with over 2000 registered members.

It protects 35,000 acres of untouched wilderness and borders onto the shores of Lake Magadi.  Dormant volcanoes dot the horizon and towering over the conservancy is the extinct volcano which gives the area its name Shompole. Its establishment has helped to both protect this stunning natural habitat and directly benefit the community.

The conservancy has a dry climate, hottest in October and November and most likely to be wet in April and May. Running along one edge of the conservancy is the Nguruman escarpment whose forested slopes are home to buffalo and countless bird species. Stretching out from the escarpment are the vast sun baked plains, mud flats and swamp where zebra, giraffe, antelope and warthog roam and at night the resident prides of lion are heard calling to each other. 

The flora adapted to semi-arid conditions includes umbrella thorn trees and the colorful toothbrush tree.

The main source of water is the Ewaso Ng'iro (Brown River) which originates in the Mau forest to the north and flows into Lake Natron. There are riverine thickets along the banks of the river.

On the southern border of the conservancy lies Lake Natron, a soda encrusted lake where lesser flamingos come to breed. From the top of the escarpment the views are endless and in the heat of the day during the dry season the wind across the plains whips up the dust into impressive dust devils.

A spectacular artistic luxurious wilderness retreat camp is located on an elevated position on the side of the Nguruman Escarpment overlooking the vast Great Rift Valley plains below and the mountain Shompole Mountains.

Shompole is, above all, a spectacular wilderness destination and a successful community conservation area.

Why Visit Shompole Conservation Area Magadi, Kenya.

• Stay and visit a successful community based conservation area.
• Learn and experience the beautiful Maasai culture and way of life.
• Experience vast of untouched wilderness away from the touristic crowds.
• The best place to experience the Lake Magadi, Lake Natron and the Ngurumani Escarpment at the same time.
• Stay at a spectacular artistic luxurious wilderness retreat camp within the conservancy.

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