Karisia Walking Safaris & Tumaren Camp
- KENYA | Tumaren Conservancy, Laikipia
Karisia Walking Safaris and Tumaren Camp offer two distinct safari experiences in Kenya’s Laikipia region, both rooted in a deep commitment to conservation and experiential travel. Founded by Kerry Glen and James Christian, who share strong ties to the area’s wildlife and communities, the operation blends comfort with authenticity.
Tumaren Camp is a permanent, tented camp with ensuite bathrooms and wide-open views, offering guided walks, game drives, and excellent wildlife viewing. For a more adventurous experience, Karisia’s mobile walking safaris take guests deep into remote areas on foot, with camels carrying supplies and camps set up in new, scenic spots each night, offering a unique and intimate way to connect with Laikipia’s wild landscapes and rich culture.
Fast Facts
Key highlights
- Perfect for families
- 15,000 acres of privately owned land
- Rich in wildlife
- Conservation and community focussed
- Ideal for honeymooners
Type
Family-run and owned safari lodge and walking safaris
Rooms
- 7 double ensuite rooms at Tumaren
- Double canvas mobile safari tents at Karisia for groups of 2 up to 24
Location
Tumaren Conservancy, Laikipia
Getting there
- 5hr drive from Nairobi
- Charter flights into own airstrip
- 2hr drive from Nanyuki
- 5hr drive from Loisaba
- Transfers can be arranged from Lewa, Ol Pejeta, Borana and other surrounding conservancies.
Child policy
- All ages welcome at Tumaren
- 5+ years on Karisia Walking Safaris
Open
All year round
Meet the Owners
Kerry and Jamie’s safari journey began in childhood, exploring the wilds together back in the 1970s. Kerry studied Environmental Science at Cape Town University, while Jamie pursued Wildlife Biology at the University of Vermont. By 2003, Kerry was working in London for a safari company and Jamie was a Biological Research Assistant.
After an adventurous safari to Alaska, they decided to return to Kenya, where Kerry introduced Jamie to the magic of camel safaris. Their shared passion soon became a lifelong partnership, marriage followed, along with twins, and now three generations continue to embark on safaris together, carrying forward the traditions and rhythms they’ve cherished since those early days.
Experiences
Whether guests are staying at Karisia Walking Safaris or Tumaren Camp, there are endless activities to enjoy. At Karisia, the focus is on walking safaris with a mobile camping experience, allowing guests to explore remote locations on foot with camels carrying all supplies. Guests at Tumaren can also take part in these guided walks but return to the fixed camp each evening.
Across both camps, activities include tracking wildlife with expert Ndorobo trackers, game drives from Tumaren, bush breakfasts, picnics, sundowners, birdwatching, rock climbing, camel rides, and visits to camel bomas. Cultural experiences such as traditional Maasai beadwork, survival skills, spear throwing, and community games with local schools enrich the stay, alongside opportunities to engage with important conservation projects like wild dog and baboon research. There is an incredible array of wildlife within the conservancy with guests being regularly treated to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and rare species too such as Grevy’s zebras and the Reticulated giraffe.
Accommodation
Tumaren: 7 spacious ensuite safari tents, which can be configured as singles, doubles, twins or triplets with 4 of the tents offering a partition for increased privacy when sharing. All tents face the watering hole which attracts a lot of wildlife. Tumaren also boasts a stunning pool and pool house which makes the perfect sundowner spot and you might even be so lucky to have a giraffe come close to the pool whilst you swim.
Karisia: Each safari is designed to suit guests accordingly. Each mobile safari is then supported by a team and camels who carry all the gear from camp to camp. The trips are offered with different levels of accommodation- Classic Walking Safaris and AirBnC Walking Safari, to suit needs, preferences and budget.
Guests can include nights spent at both Karisia Walking Safaris and Tumaren Camp in a variety of combinations- it’s totally up to you!!
Why We Love Karisia & Tumaren
What sets Karisia Walking Safaris and Tumaren Camp apart is the profound connection you build, not just with the land, but with the people who call it home. Evenings spent beneath a canopy of stars, swapping stories with Maasai guides who quickly become trusted companions, reveal layers of knowledge and heritage woven into every step of the landscape. Tracking wildlife on foot invites a rare intimacy with nature, allowing you to move at the pace of the bush and truly inhabit its rhythms, rather than whizzing past in a vehicle. The heartfelt warmth of the team, coupled with Kerry and Jamie’s unwavering passion and thoughtful approach, crafts a safari experience that we feel is both authentic and inspiring. In a world that often rushes by, Karisia offers a sanctuary where time slows, and you get a chance to breathe and connect back into what really matters.
Your Stay makes a Difference
At Karisia Walking Safaris, conservation is central to their mission, combining a passion for natural history with sustainable tourism that supports local communities and protects ecosystems. Guests contribute directly to wildlife management through conservation fees, while they engage in habitat restoration, invasive species control, and community education. Guests become active participants in preserving Laikipia’s rich biodiversity, helping to ensure this extraordinary landscape thrives for future generations.
Since Kerry and James settled at Tumaren, their dedication to wildlife conservation has transformed the land. Once a cattle ranch with damaged soil and sparse game, Tumaren now spans 15,000 acres managed exclusively for wildlife, connecting with large neighbouring conservation areas. Thanks to careful stewardship, wildlife populations have flourished, herds of plains game, reticulated giraffe, oryx, and eland have grown, predators are more common, and elephant herds now use the Tumaren Conservancy as a trusted sanctuary for birthing and raising their young.
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