Laikipia District is a vast plateau in central Kenya covering an area of approximately 2 million acres. The plains stretch from the Great Rift Valley and the Aberdare Mountains in the west to the magnificent escarpments, which descend into the Northern Frontier districts. Laikipia is unique because its wildlife numbers have increased over the last two decades. It is home to over 2000 elephants - Kenya's largest population outside the National Parks and Reserves. They are still free to undertake a seasonal migration that takes them more than 100 kilometers north into the Samburu rangelands during the rainy season. Laikipia is also one of the last refuges for the black rhino, with ranchers setting up five heavily protected rhino sanctuaries, which now hold the majority of Kenya rhino. The District also provides a haven for Grevy's Zebra, and about 25% of the world's population of this species is believed to live in Laikipia. Other species include common zebra, oryx, eland, buffalo and reticulated giraffe while predators include cheetah, lion, leopard and wild dog. This combination of abundant wildlife and beautiful scenery has encouraged Laikipia to become the centre of new developments in high quality tourism and, in addition to this, has developed the most advanced community conservation and wildlife management programme outside of Kenya's protected areas.